Majestic Theatre 117 Meade Street, Glen Innes, NSW - Entrance to the Majestic Theatre built 1915.

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Majestic Theatre 117 Meade Street, Glen Innes, NSW - Entrance to the Majestic Theatre built 1915.

The Majestic Theatre Glen Innes was built by J. A. Amstead to show pictures. The building was designed by architect F.J. Madigan.and opened on 15th September 1915. On occasions it was affectionately known as Amstead’s Picture Palace. In July 1928 the business was sold to the Yardley Bros of Sydney who advised that all existing film distribution contracts would be honored. At the same time a lease had been obtained by the brothers for the Grand theatre in Glen Innes. Talkies were introduced in both theatres during 1930 utilizing Australian Racophone sound equipment.

In September 1936 the Yardley Brothers announced a name change from the Majestic to the Roxy . The new Roxy theatre Gen Innes opened on Tuesday September 24, 1936 with a complete make over costing £3000.

March 1944 and the Glen Innes Examiner announced that the Yardley Brothers have sold the Roxy theatre to Cecil H. Sully of Glen Innes. It is understood that the Grand theatre Glen Innes was included in the sale. With the advent of Television the Roxy closed in 1962. Over the years the building was used by various retailers, finally as an art gallery In July of 2008, the Glen Innes Council voted unanimously to approve the demolition of the Roxy Theatre building and replace it with a McDonald’s Restaurant, even though it was covered by a Heritage listing.

FOOTNOTE : The ABC writes - The National Trust says the Glen Innes Severn Council could have approved a new McDonald’s restaurant without having sacrificed the historic Roxy Theatre. The cinema is being demolished to make way for the restaurant, supporters say will provide much needed jobs.The trust’s executive director, John Neish, says the theatre was a significant historic landmark representative of buildings developed before 1914. Mr Neish says the council could have worked with the company to save the historic street-scape by incorporating it in the new restaurant’s design. “I believe very much that McDonald’s could have. They’re a very large organisation. They’ve got very good architectural staff,” he said. - “If the council had pushed them harder they could have found another site or come up with a better integrated solution.”

Contributed by Greg Lynch -