Plaza Theatre, Perth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Plaza Theatre and Arcade |
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Plaza Theatre facade (Hay Street Mall)
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| Alternative names | Paris Theatre |
| General information | |
| Architectural style | Streamline Moderne/Art Deco |
| Town or city | Hay Street, Perth, Western Australia |
| Country | Australia |
| Coordinates | 31°57′15″S 115°51′34″E / 31.9541°S 115.85932°E |
| Inaugurated | 17 September 1937 |
| Client | Hoyts Theatres Ltd |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William G. Bennett H. Vivian Taylor |
| Main contractor | E. Allwood (Theatre) W. Drabble Ltd (Arcade) |
The Plaza Theatre is an old building in Perth, Western Australia. It is located on Hay Street. This building was special because it was the first cinema in Perth designed in the Art Deco style. The Plaza Theatre first opened its doors in 1937. It was built for a company called Hoyts Theatres Ltd.
Contents
History of the Plaza Theatre
The Plaza Theatre opened on 17 September 1937. It could seat 1,275 people in different sections. The first movie shown was Lloyd's of London. The theatre was built where an older cinema, the Majestic Picture Theatre, used to be.
Design and Style
The Plaza Theatre was part of a new shopping arcade. This arcade connected Hay Street and Murray Street. The arcade is still very busy today. The theatre, however, has been used for other things in recent years.
The building was designed by William G. Bennett and H. Vivian Taylor. Its front looks narrow but impressive. It has a "skyscraper effect" which was popular in the Art Deco style. The Plaza Theatre opened a year before the nearby Piccadilly Theatre and Arcade.
A New Level of Comfort
The Plaza Theatre, along with others built in the late 1930s, offered new comforts. Movie-goers in Perth enjoyed a better experience. Unlike older, larger cinemas, these new Art Deco theatres were compact. They were also very stylish and modern.
In 1940, the Plaza Theatre was updated. More changes happened before the movie South Pacific opened in 1960. These updates included new sound systems and a refreshed inside. South Pacific was a huge hit, playing for 45 weeks.
Changes Over Time
In 1961, the theatre's seating was reduced to less than 1,000. With these improvements, the Plaza became Hoyts' most important theatre in Western Australia.
On 17 August 1965, the theatre closed briefly. It reopened two days later with a new name: the Paris. Soon after, Hoyts no longer managed the theatre. In 1984, the theatre closed for good. This happened because new cinemas with many screens were opening. For a short time, the old theatre became a youth disco.
In 2003, the Plaza Arcade was bought by a new group. A big renovation of the arcade started in 2005. This $5 million project made the arcade look new and modern. It was finished in October 2006.
Building Design and Look
The Plaza Arcade has 40 shops on its ground floor. The old cinema is located above these shops. The main entrance to the arcade is on Hay Street. It is in the middle of the building's front.
The front of the building on Hay Street is in the Inter-war Art Deco style. The upper part of the building is divided into three sections. The middle section is the most important. It looks like a tall skyscraper.
An architecture historian named Ross Thorne described the building. He noted the tall window strips and the central part that stuck out. He also mentioned the vertical sign that curved back into the roof. Inside, the auditorium had simple, straight lines. These lines made the room look long. Hidden lights lit up the ceiling and walls.
Heritage Value
The Plaza Theatre and Arcade is an important historical building. It was recognized by the National Trust of Australia (WA) on 3 December 1990. This means it is protected for its historical and architectural importance.
