Roxy Theatre, Parramatta facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Roxy Theatre
The Roxy Theatre in 1993, while still a working cinema
Location	65–69 George Street, Parramatta, City of Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
Architect	Moore & Dyer in association with Herbert & Wilson
Owner	The Palace Group
New South Wales Heritage Register
Official name: Roxy Theatre; Roxy Spanish Theatre; Hoyts Roxy Centre; Village Roxy 3
Type	state heritage (built)
Designated	2 April 1999
Reference no.	711
Type	Cinema
Category	Recreation and Entertainment
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The Roxy Theatre is a special old building in Parramatta, Australia. It used to be a movie theatre. It's known as a "heritage-listed" site. This means it's important to history and needs to be protected.

The theatre was designed by architects Moore & Dyer, along with Herbert & Wilson. Over the years, it has had a few different names, like Roxy Spanish Theatre and The Roxy. It was officially added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on April 2, 1999.

History of the Roxy Theatre

The Roxy Theatre was meant to be the first of many cinemas built by Roxy Theatres Ltd. It was named after a famous cinema owner. When it first opened, it had 1923 seats. Even though it showed "Talkies" (movies with sound), it also had a huge and amazing organ.

Building the Theatre

In June 1929, a local newspaper reported that a good spot had been found on George Street. This land was bought to build a theatre just for "Talkies." The land included several properties.

The Roxy Theatre officially opened on February 6, 1930. It was a very important event for the community. Many people came, and thousands watched from the street. The Mayor of Parramatta led the opening ceremony. People praised the theatre as a sign of progress for the area. Famous movie stars even sent greetings from the screen!

Design and Style

The building was designed in a "Spanish style." This was popular in Australia at the time. It had a simple but beautiful look with arches in the front. Inside, the main entrance led to a grand two-story lobby with Spanish designs. The main movie hall had a striking stage area and a ceiling dome with cool sunburst lights. It even had air conditioning, which was very modern back then!

Changes Over Time

In 1937, a company called Western Suburbs Ltd leased the cinema. Then, in 1946, Hoyts bought the theatre. During World War II, some fancy ceiling lights were removed. In the 1950s, the big organ was sold. Not much else changed until the 1970s.

In 1974, Hoyts thought about selling the theatre. People worried it might be torn down. The National Trust of Australia (NSW) stepped in. They said the Roxy was an important example of a suburban "picture palace." It became the second cinema in New South Wales to be listed by the Trust.

Even though the theatre wasn't torn down, Hoyts made big changes in 1976. They turned the one large cinema into three smaller ones. They removed the original stage area. The ceiling and upper walls of the main hall stayed, but the lower part was divided. Small changes were made to the entrance area. New shops were also added next to the theatre.

In 1976, the Prime Minister Gough Whitlam even attended the re-opening of the Roxy. In 1979, Hoyts sold the Roxy to Village Cinemas.

In 1982, the outside of the building was repainted. In 1988, the front courtyard was updated, and new shops were added. The building was painted inside and out. Village Theatres took over in July 1996.

Old photos show that the Roxy's front courtyard used to have special palm trees. These trees were replanted in the courtyard later. They matched the theatre's old style and gave it a Hollywood feel.

Closing and Future Plans

The Roxy Cinema closed its doors for good in March 2002. It had been a cinema for 72 years. In 2004, the Palace Group bought it. They changed the two lower cinemas into a nightclub.

In March 2004, the Roxy reopened as an entertainment place. It was called "The Roxy" again. It had a bar and hosted live shows and events. It was a modern place inside a beautiful old building.

However, due to some issues, the owner decided to close The Roxy Hotel on July 31, 2014.

In December 2017, a company suggested a new plan for the site. They wanted to restore the Roxy Theatre for movies, talks, and events. This would be part of a larger building with a tall office tower on top. This plan would mean changing the original lower parts of the theatre. The National Trust of Australia and a group called the Roxy Theatre Action Group were worried about these plans. They felt the changes would stop the Roxy from ever being a full theatre again.

In July 2018, the Heritage Council of New South Wales suggested rejecting the plan. They thought the new tower was too big compared to the theatre. They wanted the tower to be much smaller. The owner disagreed and even thought about reopening it as a nightclub if the plan was rejected. The local council also did not approve the plans to build a large residential tower. This decision was supported by the Land and Environment Court.

What the Roxy Theatre Looks Like

The Roxy Theatre is a special building from between World War I and World War II. It's built in the Spanish Mission style. It has a large central entrance with beautiful decorations. On each side, there are covered walkways with shops. The Roxy is one of the best examples in Australia of this style used for a big public building.

The main part of the theatre is set back from the street. It has a large open area in front, about 24 meters by 12 meters. This area is lined with arched walkways and small shops.

The front of the building is balanced and grand. It has a large arch over the main entrance. This arch is decorated with a wavy pattern and fancy carvings. The entrance is reached by a grand set of steps. The outside walls are covered in stucco (a type of plaster) and painted in different colors. The original name sign at the top of the tower is part of the design.

The main lobby is very tall. It has stairs on both sides leading to an upper level. The lobby still looks much like it did originally. It has stucco walls, arched doorways, and a "Spanish" style ceiling made of painted wood. Even the light fixtures, furniture, and floor tiles keep the Spanish Mission style.

The main movie hall inside has lots of decorative plasterwork. This includes arched windows and false balconies. There's also a big dome in the ceiling. The original stage area was changed when smaller theatres were added below it. But you can still see parts of the original decorations behind the current screen. The theatre also still has its original seats.

The building is made of brick inside and out. It has terracotta tiles on the floor and roof. Inside, there's painted wood, wrought iron, and molded plaster decorations.

Changes to the Building Over Time

• World War II: Fancy ceiling lights were taken out.
• 1950s: The original Christie organ was removed and sold.
• 1976: Hoyts changed the theatre into three smaller cinemas. The original stage area was removed. The upper part of the main hall stayed, but the lower part was divided. Small changes were made to the entrance area.
• 1982: The outside of the building was repainted.
• 1988: The front courtyard was brought back to its original look. The building was painted inside and out.

Why the Roxy Theatre is Important

The Roxy Theatre is very important for its history and design. It's a great example of the "Picture Palaces" that were popular between the two World Wars. Its design and original features show what these grand cinemas were like. It's also an excellent example of the "Interwar Spanish Mission" style. It has unique and high-quality architectural design.

The theatre also shows how movie theatres and going to the movies have changed since the 1920s. Its design and purpose have been affected by new movie technology and how people watched films. It started as one big cinema for almost 2000 people. Later, it became a multi-screen complex. The size and style of the building also show how much American culture influenced Australia back then. It also shows how profitable these "Picture Palaces" were.

The Roxy Theatre is a well-known landmark in Parramatta. It's especially valued by people who went there often in its early years. It's also important to those interested in movie and architectural history. Groups like the National Trust helped save it from being torn down in the 1970s.

Historical Importance

The Roxy Theatre shows how movie theatres and going to the movies have changed over time. Its design and purpose were shaped by new movie technology and how people watched films.

The theatre's large main hall (which originally held 1,923 people) shows how popular movies were in Australia in the years between the World Wars. Even though it was later divided into smaller theatres, the building as a whole still reflects this early mass-culture trend. The theatre's later history, including its decline and conversion, shows all the changes in Australian movie-going over many years.

The theatre also shows how much American culture influenced Australia, especially in architecture and popular culture like movies. The building's richly decorated Spanish Revival Style is part of how this style developed in Australia. It's one of many "exotic" styles used for theatres across the country. The building's size and design also show how profitable movie theatres were back then, with large audiences attending regularly.

The theatre's location is linked to the growth of Sydney's suburbs, especially Parramatta. It was built as the first in a planned chain of suburban cinemas. Its opening was a big event, with local politicians, huge crowds, and special greetings from Hollywood actors.

Design and Beauty

The Roxy Theatre is an outstanding example of the "Picture Palaces" from the interwar period. Its overall shape and original features show the main qualities of these buildings. For example, it shows how movies and movie theatres were designed to help people escape from everyday life. It also shows the influence of the United States, where both the films and architectural ideas came from. It reflects how theatre-going was affordable for almost everyone, but still offered luxury and grandeur.

The Roxy is also a notable example of the "Spanish Revival Style." It shows how this style was used in Australia and specifically for theatre design. Its design includes many original and well-thought-out features. This includes the open-air, arcade-lined front courtyard. This courtyard was a useful and attractive lobby. It also allowed people to see the main parts of the building well, which was very original for its time. The building's decorations are a notable and creative example of Spanish Mission forms. Even though it was considered refined and not "flashy" in its day, it is now seen as one of the most grand suburban picture palaces in Australia. It was spacious and well-furnished. The main hall, with its original lights, organ, and air-conditioning, was as good as most city cinemas back then.

The beauty of the building comes from its style and its own design features. This is made even better because the building is still very much intact, especially on the outside and in the main lobbies and main hall.

The building is also a well-known local landmark. Its overall size, striking tower, and set-back position from the street, with arched wings, make it an important part of the streetscape.

Community Connection

The theatre is important to several groups in the community. This includes people interested in Australia's early movie and theatre history. It's also important to heritage groups like the National Trust of Australia (NSW). They actively helped prevent its demolition in the 1970s.

The building has strong connections for those who were regular visitors in its earlier years, especially during its most popular time from the 1930s to the 1950s.

Rarity

This building is considered rare because it is such a good and well-preserved example of its type and style.

See also

• Burnie Theatre
• Spanish Colonial Revival architecture