Paragon Theatre facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Paragon Theatre |
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Paragon Theatre, 2011
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| Location | 75 Churchill Street, Childers, Bundaberg Region, Queensland, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1927 |
| Architect | Arthur Robson |
| Official name: Paragon Theatre | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 28 April 2000 |
| Reference no. | 601618 |
| Significant period | 1927 (fabric) 1927–ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | auditorium, foyer – entrance, proscenium arch, shop/s, projection booth/bio box, dress circle |
| Builders | P Mellefont, Jnr |
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The Paragon Theatre is a special old cinema and theatre. It is located at 75 Churchill Street in Childers, Queensland, Australia. An architect named Arthur Robson designed it. P Mellefont, Jnr built it in 1927. This theatre is so important that it was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on April 28, 2000.
Contents
The Story of the Paragon Theatre
Early Days in Childers
The Paragon Theatre was built in 1927. It was made for a group of local film owners called Gee, Philpott and Gee. The theatre replaced an older building on the same spot. That building had refreshment rooms and showed movies.
Childers was a busy sugar town in 1927. It grew a lot because of the sugar industry. A railway line opened in 1887. This helped transport timber and later, sugar. By 1895, Childers was a thriving centre. Its population grew from 91 to 4000 people.
From Sweet Treats to Silent Films
Mr. William Gee, a sweet maker, moved to Childers around 1906. He bought a shop where the theatre now stands. He and his wife opened it as a refreshment room. They sold fruit, tea, and offered catering.
By 1908, they added a second floor. This became a ballroom for dances. Later, roller skating damaged the floor. In 1912, the Gees got a lighting system. Their hall, called Gee's Hall, started showing silent movies. The first film was "The Iron Claw," starring Pearl White. The Gees even took their movie show to other towns.
A New Cinema is Born
By 1923, another cinema opened in Childers. It was called the Palace Theatre. William Gee later sold his share of Gee's Hall. His son Dudley and Harold Philpott took over.
Movies became very popular. So, in 1927, Philpott & Gee decided to build a new, modern cinema. William Gee's daughter, Margery, joined them. They formed a new company: Gee, Philpott and Gee. They built the Paragon Theatre where Gee's Hall used to be. Some materials from the old hall were even used.
Designing a Tropical Theatre
The famous architect Arthur Robson from Brisbane drew the plans. He had designed over twenty cinemas in Queensland. Robson designed the Paragon Theatre as a "tropical theatre." This meant it had special features for Queensland's warm climate.
The theatre used timber lattice and fretwork. These were on the ceiling and around the stage. They hid high windows that let in fresh air. This design was popular in Queensland in the 1920s and 1930s.
The theatre was planned to hold 1200 people. However, it likely held about 600. It had a large stage for plays and music shows. There was also a screen for movies. Dressing rooms were next to the stage. An orchestra pit was below the stage.
The stage area was decorated with timber fretwork. It had hidden electric lights. The ceiling and walls were covered with timber lattice. The theatre had a special "dress circle" section with comfy seats. Other areas had canvas seats or long benches.
The main part of the theatre was made of timber. It had a metal roof. But the front of the building looked like a fancy Mediterranean style. It was made of brick and stucco. The entrance had brick columns with shiny tiles. It led to a wide lobby. The design also included two small shops at the front. It even had the first cantilevered awning in the area. This is an awning that sticks out without visible supports from below.
From Silent to "Talkie" Films
While the Paragon was being built, films were shown at other places. The new theatre officially opened in 1928. It might have shown "The Jazz Singer" as its first film. This movie was famous for being one of the first "talkies" with sound. If so, the Paragon Theatre opened as a modern "talkie" cinema!
Soon after opening, Harold Philpott sold his share. Dudley and Margery Gee ran the theatre. It was the only cinema in the area. They showed films and cartoons regularly.
Changes Over the Years
The theatre was sold in 1949 to Peter and Mary Sourris. They updated the sound system. They also changed the entrance and some seating. In 1960, the Sourris family sold it to Granville and Iris Knowles. They added a ticket box and a Cinemascope screen. This screen was wider and covered the stage. The theatre was sold again in 1962 to the Ricciardi family. The last film was shown there in 1998.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
In 2007, Thomas Griffiths and Merissa Ricciardi bought the theatre. Merissa is the granddaughter of the 1962 owners. They worked hard to fix and restore the building. They wanted it to be an entertainment place for the community again.
In 2011, Merissa Ricciardi and Nigel Craft continued the restoration. Merissa and Nigel even got married in the theatre in 2012! The theatre finally reopened in July 2014. In 2015, they received an award for their great work.
What the Paragon Theatre Looks Like
The Paragon Theatre is a big timber building. It has a brick front that stands out on Churchill Street. The back part of the building looks like a large shed. It is covered with unpainted timber. It has a sloped metal roof. The side walls have high windows that open to let air in.
The Front of the Building
The front of the building has a decorative top section. It has brick pillars that divide the wall into three parts. These parts are covered with a rough plaster. The top edge has a rectangular sign block. There are also three sets of timber windows. These windows have been painted. Each set has small awnings above them. The top part of the front is painted dark brown.
A large awning sticks out from the front. It is held up by iron rods. The awning has a shallow arch in the middle. This arch marks the entrance. The word "PARAGON" is written on the front of the awning.
You enter through concrete steps to four glass and timber doors. Tall, narrow pillars stand next to the doors. They support another arch over the doorway. These pillars and arches are painted bright red. The rest of the lower front is dark green.
There are two small shop fronts at the corners of the building. The entrance area has also been divided. This created a smaller space for a tenant. These shop areas are currently empty. The original ticket office is on the right side of the entrance.
Inside the Theatre
Inside, the theatre still has many of its original features. These include the seats, timber fretwork, and light fittings. The ceiling and most of the side walls are covered with timber lattice. This lattice stops just above the exit doors. The bottom edge of the lattice has shallow arches. These are decorated with a double black stripe. A wide band of decoration is at the top of the side walls. It uses a pattern picked out in black paint within the lattice.
The screen is covered with long curtains. It is framed by panels that now cover the original stage arch. The orchestra pit, where musicians would play, has also been covered over.
Most of the seats on the ground floor are like canvas deckchairs. There is one row of seats that fold up against the back wall. The upstairs balcony has a sloped, stepped timber floor. Each row of seats is on a different level. The first three rows have fixed, upholstered timber seats. Then there are two rows of canvas seats. The very back row is called the "dress circle" seating. The projection box, where the movies are shown, is at the back of the balcony.
A small timber house is connected to the back of the theatre. There is also a metal shed and a water tank nearby.
Why the Paragon Theatre is Special
The Paragon Theatre is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. This means it is very important to Queensland's history.
- Shows Queensland's History: The theatre was built in 1927. It is one of the oldest cinemas still working in Queensland. It shows how popular entertainment grew in the state. It also highlights the important role of small, independent cinemas in country towns.
- A Rare Find: The Paragon Theatre is a rare example of a 1920s country theatre. It still works as a cinema today. This makes it a special part of Queensland's cultural history.
- A Great Example: The building is a good example of how theatres were designed in the 1920s. It was built to suit Queensland's climate. Its inside is still very much like it was. This helps us understand what it was like to watch movies in a country theatre a long time ago.
- Looks Beautiful: The Paragon Theatre is at the front of Childers' main street. Its unique front makes the street look very special. It has great aesthetic significance.
- Important to the Community: From the late 1920s to the 1960s, the theatre was a main place for social life in Childers. It has a strong connection to the local community. It reminds people of a time before TV and video players were common.
