Roxy Community Theatre facts for kids
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The Roxy
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Roxy Community Theatre
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| Former names | Roxy Theatre |
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| Location | 114-118 Pine Avenue, Leeton, Leeton Shire, New South Wales, Australia |
| Coordinates | 34°33′07″S 146°24′19″E / 34.551953°S 146.40516°E |
| Type | Civic/Movie theatre |
| Capacity | 880 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1929–1930 |
| Opened | 7 April 1930 |
| Expanded | 1933 |
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Building details
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Art Deco/Art Nouveau/Spanish Mission |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Kaberry and Chard |
| Official name | Roxy Community Theatre; Roxy Theatre; Big Red |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 24 February 2006 |
| Reference no. | 1747 |
| Type | Cinema |
| Category | Recreation and Entertainment |
| Builders | W. H. Hones for George Conson |
The Roxy Community Theatre is a special building in Leeton, Australia. It's a place where you can watch movies, see live shows, and enjoy concerts. It's also known as the Roxy Theatre or its fun nickname, Big Red.
This amazing building was designed by architects Kaberry and Chard in a cool mix of Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Spanish Mission styles. It was built between 1929 and 1930. Today, the Leeton Shire Council owns it, and it's listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because it's so important!
Contents
A Look Back: The Roxy's History
The Roxy Theatre first opened its doors on April 7, 1930. It was built for George Conson, who was a big name in theatres in the Riverina area.
The name "Roxy" became very popular for theatres because of the famous Roxy Theatre in New York. That New York Roxy, built in 1927, was the biggest movie palace in the world at the time! It was named after a master showman called Samuel "Roxy" Rothapfel. So, the name "Roxy" became a symbol of exciting shows and grand movie theatres, especially as Hollywood movies became popular worldwide.
The Roxy in Leeton was built with seating for 1091 people on two levels. It had a unique Spanish Mission style. At night, huge red neon signs lit up the theatre, making it visible from far away because it was on top of a hill. That's how it got its nickname, "Big Red"! These lights were added in 1933 when a full-sized concert stage was built. To celebrate, the famous Australian singer, Miss Gladys Moncrieff OBE, performed there in October 1933.
Saving the Roxy
In 1977, the Roxy Theatre was in danger of being changed or even torn down. But the people of Leeton didn't want that to happen! A meeting was held, and everyone agreed that the theatre should be saved.
The community worked together and started a huge fundraising effort. They raised $27,000 to help buy the theatre for $75,000. This amazing effort meant the Roxy was saved by the community! The Leeton Shire Council then took ownership of the building.
Since then, the theatre has been improved with a bigger stage and new dressing rooms. It now has 880 seats. The Roxy is run by a small team and volunteers. Besides showing movies, it's a busy place for school events, discos, and local musical shows. It has been beautifully restored to look just like it did in the 1930s.
What Makes the Roxy Special?
The Roxy is a great example of a cinema built between the World Wars. It mixes Art Deco, Art Nouveau, and Spanish Mission styles. The building is made of brick, with a fancy front covered in plaster. It has a corrugated iron roof and timber floors.
Inside, there's a full-sized concert stage and two levels of seating. There's also a foyer (lobby) and a ticket box. The big red neon "Roxy" signs are still there, lighting up the building from three directions, along with other neon lights on the front.
How is the Roxy Today?
The theatre is in good shape, though it always needs some care. Money has been given over the years to help keep it looking great. For example, in 2018, the NSW Government announced a big grant of $3.9 million for more upgrades.
The Roxy and its attached shop are still mostly the same as when they were first built, which is amazing!
Changes Over Time
- 1933: A larger concert stage and dressing rooms were built.
- 1933: Neon lighting and the red "Roxy" sign were installed. They were fixed up again in 1992.
- 1995-1998: The electrical wiring was updated because the old wiring was worn out.
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The Roxy Community Theatre at dusk
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Leeton Roxy Community Theatre viewed from the corner of Kurrajong Ave and Wade Ave South
Why is the Roxy a Heritage Site?
The Roxy Community Theatre is very important because it's one of the few old cinemas left in country New South Wales from a time when going to the movies was a huge deal. It shows how popular cinema was before television existed, especially in the 1920s and 1930s.
The Roxy also shows how American pop culture, like Hollywood movies, first came to country Australia. Its design and even its name were inspired by the huge Roxy Theatre in New York. This brought new entertainment, ways to communicate, and even influenced Australian tastes in architecture, fashion, music, and how people behaved.
The Roxy is a beautiful example of Art Deco design with Spanish Mission and Art Nouveau touches. It's amazing how much of its original look it has kept. Out of hundreds of cinemas that used to be in country towns, only a few, like the Roxy, still look like they did. It's also one of only three surviving works by the famous theatre architects Kaberry and Chard.
Important History
The Roxy Theatre shows how important "cinema going" was in NSW towns before TV. Its large size (over 1000 seats originally) and central location show how popular movies were. Going to the cinema was almost as popular as sports!
The theatre's style, age, purpose, and name also show how American pop culture came to country NSW. This brought new entertainment and influenced Australian tastes in everything from architecture to music. The Leeton Roxy was named after the famous Roxy Theatre in New York, which was the biggest movie palace of its time.
The building of the cinema helped Leeton grow. It has been a key part of the town for most of its history, serving the community for over 75 years.
Special People Connected to the Roxy
- Gladys Moncrieff OBE: She was Australia's most famous female singer in the 1930s and 1940s. She performed at the Roxy in 1933 to celebrate the new stage.
- Kaberry and Chard: These were major theatre architects. The Roxy is one of only three of their original designs that still looks mostly the same today.
Beautiful Design
The Roxy Theatre is a rare example of the work of Kaberry and Chard. It's a beautiful country cinema from the 1930s, with its Art Deco, Spanish Mission, and Art Nouveau styles. It still has its original interior and two levels, giving you a chance to see what a cinema from that time was really like.
The theatre's size, its dramatic front, and the bright red neon signs make it a landmark in Leeton. Along with the nearby water towers designed by Walter Burley-Griffin, the Roxy stands out. Because it's on a hill, you can see it for many kilometres at night, especially when its red neon lights are glowing!
Community Connection
The Roxy is very important to the people of Leeton and the surrounding areas. For over 75 years, it has been a key place for social gatherings, community events, and entertainment. It's a huge part of the town's social and cultural life.
The Roxy was the first country cinema in NSW that the community bought to save it from being torn down in the 1970s. This shows how much people cared about these old buildings. The nickname "Big Red" also shows how much the community loves the building.
Learning from the Past
Because the Roxy is still so much like it was when it was built in 1930 (with its 1933 additions), it can teach us a lot about how early theatres worked, especially when "talky" movies first came out. There are also old photos and items from the early cinema days that help us learn more.
A Rare Find
The Roxy is rare because:
- It's one of only three intact country cinemas designed by Kaberry and Chard that still exist.
- It's one of only eleven intact country cinemas left in NSW, out of hundreds that used to exist.
- It's one of the few Inter-War cinemas in NSW that still has its original two levels of seating.
The Roxy Theatre is a great example of a 1930s country cinema that shows how important movies were before TV. It also shows how American pop culture influenced Australia. It's a beautiful example of Art Deco/Spanish Mission style and a rare surviving work by Kaberry and Chard.
See also
- List of theatres in Australia
