This photo seems to have been taken on Saturday 15th February 1947 before the 1.30 p.m. “Gala Opening’ of the Odeon National Cinema Club which was being introduced by Greater Union at the time. The Rank Organization took a 50% interest in the circuit in 1945 and this club idea – along with the Odeon name – came from that UK group. Screening that night at 7.30 p.m. was Yvonne De Carlo in “The Lady Objects” (the Australian release title of “Frontier Gal”). Starting Monday was Belita in “Suspicion”.
This photo seems to have been taken on Saturday 15th February 1947 before the 1.30 p.m. “Gala Opening’ of the Odeon National Cinema Club which was being introduced by Greater Union at the time. The Rank Organization took a 50% interest in the circuit in 1945 and this club idea – along with the Odeon name – came from that UK group. Screening that night at 7.30 p.m. was Yvonne De Carlo in “The Lady Objects” (the Australian release title of “Frontier Gal”). Starting Monday was Belita in “Suspicion”.
Current attraction here is MGM’s holiday release of Disney’s “The Boatniks” which opened 17 December 1970 and ran daily at 11-2-5-8 until 6 January 1971.
As well as digital, it currently features a 35/70mm Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 with Xebex Supersol-N series xenon lamphouse and platters for film presentations.
It was actually built (in 1936) by Chatswood Theatres Ltd. headed by George M. Webster. It was operated as part of his independent Kings chain until the circuit was taken over by Greater Union ten years later.
Actually, it was only known as the Prince of Wales for six years. From 1930 it was called Regent, then Sun and finally Savoy. For a more detailed chronology of events, follow the text to be found with my sequence of images in the photo section.
For a more detailed chronology of events (with several mysteries answered), follow the text to be found with the photos which accompany this theater listing. Also, for an article by Kevin Cork and Les Tod about The Liberty Theatre Leura, including interior photos, see CinemaRecord #117 published by the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society of Australia Inc.
There is no evidence that the current 1st Hazelbrook Scout Hall at 70 Railway Parade has ever served as a 35mm commercial cinema. It was the original 1928 Scouts’ Hall located at 201 Great Western Highway which showed films as Golby’s Hazelbrook Talkies in the 1930s.
Some newspaper reports at the time - like this one on opening day 15th November 1940 - referred to it as the ‘Roxy Drive-In’. However, advertisements by the exhibitor never referred to it as such. It was described as Australia’s first Drive-In at the Sports Ground North Ward, later simplified to ‘North Ward Drive-In Theatre’ or ‘The Drive-In’. (A sharing of the Roxy name with the hardtop would only be confusing for intending patrons.)
This is not the Roxy North Ward Drive-In. It certainly looks like a vehicular outdoor cinema, but this one seems to be lost. I’m sorry PeterS, but in no way could this be an aerial view of the Townsville North Ward Sports Ground Drive-In which operated for two years 1940-42. (It doesn’t look like any of the other three conventional Drive-Ins that were built in Townsville in later years, either).
The wooden hoarding being built over the footpath in Berry Street alongside WESTS cinema indicates that it is closed and in the early stages of demolition, around the late 1960s. (Its Theatres and Public Halls Act license was cancelled 11th February 1970.)
Looking into the dusty gloom you can spot partial remains of the rim around the huge dome (55 feet in diameter), which was the main feature of the auditorium ceiling. (It can be seen in another picture from this collection).
Trivia: Granville Cinema was “Crocodile Dundee” star Paul Hogan’s local picture show. He grew up in Albert Street, which is the next street to the right off Parramatta Road.
Granville Cinema was closed 17th September – 26th December 1955 for reconstruction, due to 16 feet of the frontage being resumed for road widening. This is the somewhat bland post-1955 truncated look, with entrance foyer and facilities relocated to the western side (left). The downstairs projection room was probably left unaltered.
Ooops – Sorry for the 1975 typo above: With their Entertainment Centre due to open next door by Christmas 1976, Hoyts vacated the Regent at a time of their choosing - after the 1975 Xmas School Holiday period - on 11th February 1976 not 75.
REGENT SYDNEY Staff November 1968 (from notes and memory)
Hoyts Sydney City Circuit Supervisor: John P. ‘Jack’ O’Callaghan.
Regent Manager: William ‘Bill’ Lincoln.
Assistant Manager: John ‘Jack’ Hibbert.
Trainee Assistant Manager: David Coles.
Chief Projectionist: Clifford Field.
Projectionist: Trevor Cotton.
Assistant Projectionist: David Alton (with Cliff).
Assistant Projectionist: David Orme (with Trev).
Spool Boy: Almost always one - as new Hoyts Sydney projection trainees usually started at the Regent.
Treasurer: Not employed.
Booking Clerk: Miss Dorothy Gill, Miss Judith Cook.
(Bookings normally available six days in advance – 12 for major shows).
Ticket Seller (Mon - Sat 3.30 – 9.30 p.m.): Miss Barbara Rosevear.
Telephonist: Two (c 10.30-4.30 & 4.30-10.30 inc. late ticket sales) - (As the Hoyts Maintenance Department was housed backstage, telephone traffic was more involved than for a normal cinema).
Head Girl (chief usher): Miss Joyce Sutton.
Usherettes: Usually about 8 (No males employed in this role).
Doorman (Fri & Sat 7 – 10 p.m.): Mr Hank Lemkert.
Day Page Boy/ Messenger (Mon – Fri): Donald.
Night Page (Mon – Sat): Allan.
Head Male Cleaner: starts 11 p.m.
Male Cleaner: finishes 9.30 a.m.
(Before Sunday screenings were introduced, watchmen were employed c 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday servicing seven Hoyts city cinemas on their rounds.) [I did this a few times - GREAT FUN!]
Female Cleaners: 3 – All work six mornings with rostered late afternoon call backs.
Utility Man (Mon – Fri plus Sat morning): John ‘Jack’ Cobby.
Parking Area Attendant: Day Man – Kevin. Night Man – Harry.
Air Conditioning Engineers did the rounds of all Hoyts City cinemas.
Available evidence suggests that this Hoyts De Luxe Dress Circle ticket was for the 7.45 p.m. session of Fox’s Laurel & Hardy comedy “Great Guns” plus “The Gay Falcon” on Friday, 1st May, 1942.
The third James Bond film, “Goldfinger” represented the gold standard of the 007 formula. Opening 25th March 1965 at the Regent, it ran for eleven weeks, before transferring to the Palace Theatre on 10th June 1965. It continued its city season there for a further nine weeks.
Palace frontage June 1953 advertising RKO’s “The Lusty Men” plus “The Thief”. At this time the cinema was gradually transitioning from operation by Snider & Dean to joining the Hoyts Suburban Circuit. It was advertised as Hoyts from 24th November 1955 until closure 16th September 1967. Quite a large two level venue, its licensed seating capacity was 1,481.
Seven week season as Xmas attraction at Regent Thursday 24 December 1959 to Wednesday 10 February 1960.
August 1928
This photo seems to have been taken on Saturday 15th February 1947 before the 1.30 p.m. “Gala Opening’ of the Odeon National Cinema Club which was being introduced by Greater Union at the time. The Rank Organization took a 50% interest in the circuit in 1945 and this club idea – along with the Odeon name – came from that UK group. Screening that night at 7.30 p.m. was Yvonne De Carlo in “The Lady Objects” (the Australian release title of “Frontier Gal”). Starting Monday was Belita in “Suspicion”.
This photo seems to have been taken on Saturday 15th February 1947 before the 1.30 p.m. “Gala Opening’ of the Odeon National Cinema Club which was being introduced by Greater Union at the time. The Rank Organization took a 50% interest in the circuit in 1945 and this club idea – along with the Odeon name – came from that UK group. Screening that night at 7.30 p.m. was Yvonne De Carlo in “The Lady Objects” (the Australian release title of “Frontier Gal”). Starting Monday was Belita in “Suspicion”.
Metro was renamed Dendy in 1971. Current attraction here is Brian De Palma’s “Obsession” which would date this as 1977.
Current attraction here is MGM’s holiday release of Disney’s “The Boatniks” which opened 17 December 1970 and ran daily at 11-2-5-8 until 6 January 1971.
As well as digital, it currently features a 35/70mm Cinemeccanica Victoria 8 with Xebex Supersol-N series xenon lamphouse and platters for film presentations.
Current equipment for film showings features a 35/70mm Century projector with Xebex Supersol-N series xenon lamphouse and platters.
It was actually built (in 1936) by Chatswood Theatres Ltd. headed by George M. Webster. It was operated as part of his independent Kings chain until the circuit was taken over by Greater Union ten years later.
Presence of vintage passenger carrying vehicles suggests a promotion for the current attraction in June 1972: “On The Buses”.
For articles giving a more detailed history of the theater, and the man who built it, see the quarterly magazine CinemaRecord issues # 114-117.
Actually, it was only known as the Prince of Wales for six years. From 1930 it was called Regent, then Sun and finally Savoy. For a more detailed chronology of events, follow the text to be found with my sequence of images in the photo section.
For a more detailed chronology of events (with several mysteries answered), follow the text to be found with the photos which accompany this theater listing. Also, for an article by Kevin Cork and Les Tod about The Liberty Theatre Leura, including interior photos, see CinemaRecord #117 published by the Cinema and Theatre Historical Society of Australia Inc.
There is no evidence that the current 1st Hazelbrook Scout Hall at 70 Railway Parade has ever served as a 35mm commercial cinema. It was the original 1928 Scouts’ Hall located at 201 Great Western Highway which showed films as Golby’s Hazelbrook Talkies in the 1930s.
Some newspaper reports at the time - like this one on opening day 15th November 1940 - referred to it as the ‘Roxy Drive-In’. However, advertisements by the exhibitor never referred to it as such. It was described as Australia’s first Drive-In at the Sports Ground North Ward, later simplified to ‘North Ward Drive-In Theatre’ or ‘The Drive-In’. (A sharing of the Roxy name with the hardtop would only be confusing for intending patrons.)
This is not the Roxy North Ward Drive-In. It certainly looks like a vehicular outdoor cinema, but this one seems to be lost. I’m sorry PeterS, but in no way could this be an aerial view of the Townsville North Ward Sports Ground Drive-In which operated for two years 1940-42. (It doesn’t look like any of the other three conventional Drive-Ins that were built in Townsville in later years, either).
The wooden hoarding being built over the footpath in Berry Street alongside WESTS cinema indicates that it is closed and in the early stages of demolition, around the late 1960s. (Its Theatres and Public Halls Act license was cancelled 11th February 1970.)
Looking into the dusty gloom you can spot partial remains of the rim around the huge dome (55 feet in diameter), which was the main feature of the auditorium ceiling. (It can be seen in another picture from this collection).
Trivia: Granville Cinema was “Crocodile Dundee” star Paul Hogan’s local picture show. He grew up in Albert Street, which is the next street to the right off Parramatta Road.
Granville Cinema was closed 17th September – 26th December 1955 for reconstruction, due to 16 feet of the frontage being resumed for road widening. This is the somewhat bland post-1955 truncated look, with entrance foyer and facilities relocated to the western side (left). The downstairs projection room was probably left unaltered.
Ooops – Sorry for the 1975 typo above: With their Entertainment Centre due to open next door by Christmas 1976, Hoyts vacated the Regent at a time of their choosing - after the 1975 Xmas School Holiday period - on 11th February 1976 not 75.
REGENT SYDNEY Staff November 1968 (from notes and memory)
Hoyts Sydney City Circuit Supervisor: John P. ‘Jack’ O’Callaghan. Regent Manager: William ‘Bill’ Lincoln. Assistant Manager: John ‘Jack’ Hibbert. Trainee Assistant Manager: David Coles. Chief Projectionist: Clifford Field. Projectionist: Trevor Cotton. Assistant Projectionist: David Alton (with Cliff). Assistant Projectionist: David Orme (with Trev). Spool Boy: Almost always one - as new Hoyts Sydney projection trainees usually started at the Regent. Treasurer: Not employed. Booking Clerk: Miss Dorothy Gill, Miss Judith Cook. (Bookings normally available six days in advance – 12 for major shows). Ticket Seller (Mon - Sat 3.30 – 9.30 p.m.): Miss Barbara Rosevear. Telephonist: Two (c 10.30-4.30 & 4.30-10.30 inc. late ticket sales) - (As the Hoyts Maintenance Department was housed backstage, telephone traffic was more involved than for a normal cinema). Head Girl (chief usher): Miss Joyce Sutton. Usherettes: Usually about 8 (No males employed in this role). Doorman (Fri & Sat 7 – 10 p.m.): Mr Hank Lemkert. Day Page Boy/ Messenger (Mon – Fri): Donald. Night Page (Mon – Sat): Allan. Head Male Cleaner: starts 11 p.m. Male Cleaner: finishes 9.30 a.m. (Before Sunday screenings were introduced, watchmen were employed c 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. Sunday servicing seven Hoyts city cinemas on their rounds.) [I did this a few times - GREAT FUN!] Female Cleaners: 3 – All work six mornings with rostered late afternoon call backs. Utility Man (Mon – Fri plus Sat morning): John ‘Jack’ Cobby. Parking Area Attendant: Day Man – Kevin. Night Man – Harry. Air Conditioning Engineers did the rounds of all Hoyts City cinemas.
Available evidence suggests that this Hoyts De Luxe Dress Circle ticket was for the 7.45 p.m. session of Fox’s Laurel & Hardy comedy “Great Guns” plus “The Gay Falcon” on Friday, 1st May, 1942.
The third James Bond film, “Goldfinger” represented the gold standard of the 007 formula. Opening 25th March 1965 at the Regent, it ran for eleven weeks, before transferring to the Palace Theatre on 10th June 1965. It continued its city season there for a further nine weeks.
Palace frontage June 1953 advertising RKO’s “The Lusty Men” plus “The Thief”. At this time the cinema was gradually transitioning from operation by Snider & Dean to joining the Hoyts Suburban Circuit. It was advertised as Hoyts from 24th November 1955 until closure 16th September 1967. Quite a large two level venue, its licensed seating capacity was 1,481.