Regent Theatre, Brisbane facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Regent Theatre (Brisbane) |
|
|---|---|
Queen Street Mall facade, 2020
|
|
| Location | 167 Queen Street, Brisbane, Australia |
| Design period | 1919–1930s (interwar period) |
| Built | 1928–1929 |
| Architect | Richard Gailey, Junior, Charles N Hollinshed, Aaron Bolot |
| Architectural style(s) | Classicism |
| Official name: Regent Building, Regent Theatre | |
| Type | state heritage (built) |
| Designated | 21 October 1992 |
| Reference no. | 600140 |
| Significant period | 1929 (fabric) 1929–1970s (historical) 1929–ongoing (social) |
| Significant components | office/s, foyer – entrance, steps/stairway, shop/s |
| Builders | J & E L Rees, A J Dickenson |
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
The Regent Theatre in Brisbane, Australia, was once a grand cinema. It was built between 1928 and 1929. The theatre was designed by architects Richard Gailey, Charles N Hollinshed, and Aaron Bolot. It was one of the first "Picture Palaces" owned by Hoyts, a famous cinema company.
The building is also known as the Regent Building. While the main cinema area was changed into four smaller screens in 1979–1980, the beautiful entrance and main foyer still remain. Because of its history and design, the building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register in 1992.
Contents
A Look Back: The Regent Theatre's Story
The Regent Theatre in Brisbane was the first and only American-style "picture palace" built in Queensland. These grand cinemas were designed to look very fancy, like the movie sets from Hollywood's Golden Era. They were meant to be both cinemas and live theatre venues.
Building a Grand Cinema
The Regent Theatre was designed by Charles N. Hollinshed from Melbourne. He worked with local Brisbane architects Richard Gailey Junior and Aaron Bolot. The theatre opened on November 8, 1929. Building it cost a lot of money, about £300,000 back then! The very first movie shown at the Regent Theatre was Fox Movietone Follies of 1929.
The Regent Building was part of a larger complex. It had a basement, four floors of offices, and shops. The most impressive parts were the fancy entrance hall and the grand foyer. These led into the huge original Regent Theatre, which could seat 2500 people.
The office part of the building was ready in late 1928. The theatre itself opened in November 1929. In the late 1970s, the theatre was changed. The large cinema space was divided into four smaller cinemas. It reopened in 1980 as the Hoyts Entertainment Centre. The entrance hall, grand foyer, offices, and shops were kept. One of the new cinemas was designed to look like the original Regent Theatre.
Where the Regent Theatre Stood
The Regent Building was located on Queen Street, Brisbane, a main street in Brisbane's city center. It was in the middle of shopping, business, and entertainment areas. The building's shape was unusual because it was built on long, narrow plots of land. The fancy entrance and grand foyer were on Queen Street, giving the theatre a prestigious address. The large cinema area was built on the wider part of the land, facing Elizabeth Street, Brisbane.
The land for the theatre was owned by different people over time. Some parts were owned by the Mayne family since the 1850s. Later, a film director named J. C. Williamson bought some of the land. Eventually, Hoyts Theatres Ltd took over the leases and ownership. After the Mayne family members passed away, their land was left to the University of Queensland.
A Hub for Entertainment
In 1926, the Brisbane City Council approved the building of the Regent Theatre. This was when "picture palaces" were becoming very popular around the world. The Regent joined many other theatres and cinemas in central Brisbane. This area was a lively place for culture and social events.
By 1930, Queen Street had several theatres, including His Majesty's, the Wintergarden, and the Majestic. Other theatres were nearby on Albert Street and George Street. Many of these older theatres were later demolished or changed.
Designing the Regent's Splendor
The architects Charles Neville Hollinshed and Richard Gailey Junior worked together on the Regent Theatre. Aaron Bolot, who worked for Gailey, also helped. Their designs were shown in architecture magazines, which described the building's grand size and beauty.
The Queen Street part of the building had offices, shops, the entrance hall, and the grand foyer. It was first planned to be called the Capitol Building, which is why you can see "CB" (for Capitol Building) on the front of the building. The theatre part on Elizabeth Street had six shops and a large basement car park.
The theatre building was made with a brick shell and a strong steel and concrete frame. The Regent in Brisbane was inspired by the "picture palace" idea from the 1913 Regent Theatre in New York City. These cinemas aimed to create a fantasy world inside, where audiences could get lost in the beautiful decorations. Hoyts built many Regent theatres like this across Australia and New Zealand.
The Brisbane Regent's interior mixed different styles, including Gothic, Baroque, and Classical themes. The building and its furnishings were very expensive, costing about £400,000. This included antique furniture, paintings, a huge chandelier, Belgian carpets, a Wurlitzer organ, and a modern air conditioning system.
Opening Day and Beyond
When the Regent Theatre opened on November 8, 1929, it was called "palatial" and "strikingly beautiful." It was one of Australia's largest theatres, seating over 2500 people. It had a big stage, a large movie screen, modern lights, and a £25,000 Wurlitzer organ from New York.
A huge dome above the seats had a one-ton bronze chandelier in the middle. The detailed plaster work was done by Picton Hopkins and Son Pty Ltd from Melbourne. Special "Craftex" board was used to make walls look like stone and marble. The furniture and art were chosen by Hoyts' Managing Director, Frank Thring Senior, during his travels in Europe.
The office building on Queen Street was successful. It had tenants like a dressmaking school, hairdressers, and accountants. Hoyts also had offices in the basement.
During tough times like the Great Depression, the Regent offered people a temporary escape. It also showed newsreels, keeping audiences informed, especially during World War II.
Later, new forms of entertainment like drive-in theatres (from the 1950s) and television (from 1959) made fewer people go to large cinemas. In the 1970s, cinema companies started building multiplexes with many smaller screens to show more films.
Changes and Challenges
In the late 1960s, Hoyts and the Mayne Estate (who owned the land) started planning to change the Regent Theatre. In 1973, these plans were announced, which led the National Trust of Queensland to list the theatre as a heritage site.
Since the lease was ending, they decided to replace the large theatre with smaller cinemas to keep making money. The National Trust objected to these plans and tried to save the theatre. They suggested other ideas, but these were not seen as financially possible.
In June 1978, the Brisbane City Council approved a plan that kept the entrance hall, grand foyer, cafe, and offices, but replaced the auditorium with four cinemas and shops. A "Save the Regent" campaign started, and the theatre was added to the National Heritage Register.
The last movie was shown in the original Regent Theatre on August 27, 1978. The University of Queensland tried to delay the demolition to explore keeping it as a live theatre. A "Green Ban" was placed on the site by workers to help these talks. However, no financially viable option was found, and the ban was lifted.
Demolition began on December 9, 1979. Workers used sledgehammers and chainsaws to destroy the interior. Some parts, like the plaster on the walls and the "royal boxes," were ruined. Some fittings were saved for other cinemas. The "Save the Regent" group complained about the demolition.
The $5 million redevelopment opened on August 2, 1980, as the Hoyts Entertainment Centre. It had new, smaller cinemas. One cinema was decorated with plaster from the original theatre. The Regent Building on Queen Street remained mostly the same and served as the entrance to the new cinema complex.
In 1992, the Hoyts Entertainment Centre was listed on the Queensland Heritage Register. However, after an objection, the heritage boundary was reduced in 1994. This meant the part with the four new cinemas was not considered historically significant.
The Regent Theatre complex continued to operate until June 2010. It hosted events like the annual Brisbane International Film Festival (BIFF). There are plans for a new development that would involve demolishing the cinema box and building an office tower. The heritage-listed Regent Building, including the entrance hall and grand foyer, would be kept and integrated into the new complex.
The Theatre from the 1970s to the 2000s
In 1978, the Regent was set to be demolished. But after efforts from the "Save the Regent" campaign, a compromise was reached. The original building was saved, and only the interior decorations were removed. Many of these decorations were later used in the new Regent cinemas. The marble staircase and vaulted ceilings of the entrance hall and grand foyer were saved, along with murals and plaster castings.
The four new Regent cinemas were built inside the original 1929 building. Cinema One used original decorations from the old theatre. In 1992, the building was added to the Queensland Heritage Register. The basement car park was rebuilt and for many years housed Australia's largest McDonald's restaurant.
The Regent had the largest cinema screens in Brisbane for a long time. It was the most popular cinema well into the 2000s. In 2001, Hoyts and Greater Union merged. This meant Hoyts had to stop operating at the Regent. Greater Union then ran the cinemas for a while. In 2003, Birch, Carroll & Coyle leased the building and updated cinemas three and four.
Later, Birch, Carroll & Coyle lost interest in the Regent. The cinemas fell into disrepair, making the owners question the future of the site. In 2007, the University of Queensland Mayne Trust sold the property. The new owners planned a redevelopment.
Office Tower Plans
The historic facade, entry, and mezzanine foyer of the Regent Theatre are meant to be kept in the redevelopment. However, most of the building was controversially demolished to make way for a forty-story office tower and car park. There was criticism about the lack of public input on this decision.
In 2012, the developers were fined for breaking project rules. This happened after historic statues on the Elizabeth Street side of the building were destroyed, despite promises they would be saved.
A new "Save The Regent" group formed in 2008. They fought to save the Regent, arguing that it still showed movies and much of its original structure remained. Public protests were held.
The battle to save the theatre was lost. The Regent was demolished between June 2011 and March 2012. The new office tower will not have cinemas. It will have three multi-purpose rooms that could be used as cinemas, but only on weekends. It will also include a new Queensland Film and Television Centre.
In 2013, news reported that the Regent Tower development was stopped. However, in November 2014, the Brisbane Visitor Information Centre moved into the Regent's entrance hall and grand foyer. The development director said the project would still happen, but the design might change to fit market conditions. As of December 2014, construction had not yet started.
What the Regent Building Looks Like Today
The Regent Building is at 167 Queen Street, accessible from the Queen Street Mall. It is near other important buildings like the Brisbane Arcade and the Wintergarden Shopping Centre. This five-story building is what remains of the original theatre complex. It has the decorated entrance hall, a small shop, and a coffee shop on the ground floor. Levels one to four have offices, and there is a basement. Behind the entrance hall is the grand foyer with its marble staircase.
Outside the Building: Facades
The Queen Street facade (front) of the Regent Building was finished in late 1928. It has a classical design with an Art Deco feel. It is symmetrical, with three window sections and four stories above ground. The first floor looks like stone with arched windows. The second and third floors have tall, decorative pilasters. All windows have their original metal frames.
Below the third-floor windows are panels with the letters "CB" (for Capitol Building) inside circles. The top of the building has the name "REGENT BVILDING" written across it. A large cornice (a decorative molding) projects over the top.
Part of the side of the Regent Building can be seen from the Queen Street Mall. It shows orange brick walls and concrete frames. The windows are original metal frames. The other side of the building cannot be seen because the Wintergarden Building is next to it.
Roofs and Awning
The Regent Building has different roof types, including gable and flat roof sections. A large roof covers the grand foyer.
At street level, the Regent Building has an entrance to the hall and a small shop. The facade under the awning is covered in marble. A large awning extends over the Queen Street Mall. It has decorative leadlight (stained glass) along its edges, which is an important heritage feature.
Inside the Building: Ground Floor Interiors
When you enter from the Queen Street Mall, you first go through a small entrance space. Then you reach the large, tall entrance hall. Beyond that is the grand foyer, which has a beautiful marble staircase. This staircase once led to the theatre's upper level.
These spaces are very decorated with styles like Art Deco, Spanish Gothic, Baroque, and Neo-classical. These styles were mixed to create a stunning visual effect.
The first entrance space has a patterned terrazzo floor and marble trim. The entrance hall is a long, tall space. It connects the Queen Street Mall to the coffee shop, upper offices, and the grand foyer. On the right, there is a ticket booth.
The coffee shop has modern fittings, but some of the Art Deco-style decorative trim is original. Stairs and a lift to the upper floors are at the back of the coffee shop. At the end of the entrance hall, marble steps lead up to the grand foyer.
Entrance Hall Details
The most striking part of the entrance hall is its high, curved ceiling. It is decorated with Neo-classical designs and murals. The patterns are raised, geometric shapes and decorations painted in bronze. The end sections of the ceiling have colorful medieval scenes. Two original, fancy chandeliers with red glass hang from the ceiling. The walls look like large blocks of stone. Decorative columns divide the long walls. Brass candle holders are attached to these columns.
Grand Foyer Details
The grand foyer is a very impressive space with richly decorated walls and ceiling. It mainly features Spanish Gothic style with Baroque elements, like fancy plasterwork and large mirrors. It is about 22 meters long, 12 meters wide, and three-and-a-half stories high.
The ceiling is vaulted and painted with medieval figures and patterns. The colors are warm, mostly reds, browns, greens, and cream. The ceiling has twisted vine patterns and shields. Figures in medieval costumes are painted on the lower parts of the arched panels. Three large circles with sunburst designs are in the center of the ceiling, with two large lanterns hanging from them.
All four walls of the grand foyer are heavily decorated with thick, vine-like swirls and leaves. These are painted in cream, beige, and pale grey. This detailed plasterwork, along with the mirrors, gives the foyer a Rococo style.
The long side walls have four "blind balconies" (decorative balconies that don't lead anywhere). These have low plaster railings and tall mirrored panels behind them. Fancy plaster canopies hang above them, with red velvet curtains. Between the balconies are paired, rounded columns with detailed patterns. Brass candle holders are fixed to the walls.
A large false Gothic window made of plaster is on one end wall. This design is repeated on the opposite wall, where the grand marble staircase leads up.
The grand staircase is a key feature in the foyer. It is about five meters wide and nine meters long, built to fit the large space and the many people who used to visit the theatre. It is covered in white marble with grey veins. The bottom steps curve out. The railing is made of plaster with the same decorations as the walls. A copper and brass handrail runs up the middle of the staircase.
The floor of the grand foyer is covered in carpet, but marble trim is used throughout.
Basement and Office Levels
The basement has several empty rooms. The stairs to the basement from Queen Street have been closed off.
The four levels of offices above the ground floor mostly have a central hallway with rooms along it. The original staircase from 1928 has a wrought iron railing. The lift is not original. There are also toilets and service spaces.
On level one, there is a small theatre room overlooking Queen Street. It has tiered seating and is decorated with curtains and brass candle holders, possibly from the original 1929 fit-out. Some original wooden doors and plaster decorations are also found here.
On all four office floors, original parquetry (wooden block flooring) is believed to be under the carpet.
Why the Regent Building is Important
The Regent Building is listed on the Queensland Heritage Register because it meets several important criteria:
- It shows how Queensland's history has changed.
The Regent Building's location on Queen Street shows how this street became a cultural center in the 1920s.
- It is a rare example of Queensland's cultural heritage.
The Regent Building is a great example of a 1920s "picture palace." It is one of only four Hoyts/Regent picture palaces built in Australia at that time.
- It shows the main features of its type of place.
The Regent Building is a typical 1920s picture palace. It is one of only four Hoyts/Regent picture palaces built in Australia during that period.
- It is beautiful and well-designed.
The community values the Regent Building. The fancy interior of the entrance foyer is considered very beautiful.
- It has a special connection with people.
The Regent Building is important to the community for social and cultural reasons. The ornate interior of the entry foyer has a special aesthetic quality that people appreciate.
Images for kids
-
Queen Street Mall facade, 2020
-
Display for war bonds on top of the Regent Theatre, 1942
-
The once magnificent 2,000 seat Regent Theatre, Brisbane, ca. 1955 (now internally demolished)
-
Aromas Coffee House at the Theatre Foyer, 2008
-
Foyer, 2016
-
The mezzanine foyer of the Regent Theatre with its high-vaulted ceiling
-
Columns in the foyer, 2016
