Ambassadors Theatre

Perth, Western Australia

Hay Street

, Perth, Western Australia 6000 Australia

(map)

Status:	Closed/Demolished
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Atmospheric, Italian Renaissance

Function:	Unknown
Seats:	1993
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	John Eberson
Firm:	Bohringer, Taylor, and Johnson

Opened 29 Sep 1928 with Dolores Costello in "Glorious Betsy", it was designed by John Eberson. The local architects were Bohringer, Taylor and Johnson. The Ambassadors Theatre was equipped with a Wurlitzer organ which was opened by organist Les Waldron. Originally built for Union Theatres, it was taken over by Hoyts Theatre in the 1930's, and over the years they removed many of the statues and other decoration. The Wurlitzer organ was removed in 1946, to be installed in the Regent Theatre, Melbourne, which had been destroyed by fire.

This beautiful theatre closed without any fanfare on 2 Feb 1972 with Sean Connery in "Diamonds Are Forever", and was demolished. Wanamba Arcade was built on the site, and this included the 750 seat, Hoyts Cinema Two, which opened in 1973.

Contributed by Graeme McBain, Ken Roe

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This theatre was called the Ambassadors Theatre,with the s,which I,m sure I put on the contribution.The sign on the exterior also said Ambassadors'.
atmos.

posted by atmos on Nov 23, 2004 at 1:45am

Perth's Ambassadors was one of three Eberson-inspired atmospheric picture palaces built by Australia's Union Theatres Ltd in the late 1920s, the other two being Sydney's Capitol (opened 7 April 1928) and Melbourne's State (opened 23 February 1929). The architectural theme of The Ambassadors was that of a 'Florentine renaissance garden', complete with stuffed pigeons and peacocks imported from Durban in South Africa. A faithful replica of the 'Bridge of Sighs' was one of many artistic flourishes that made The Ambassadors a flamboyant experience for patrons.

I didn't experience The Ambassadors until the late 1960s, by which time it had been long-stripped of most of its lavish decoration and statuary (by the Hoyts theatre chain which took it over c.1938). However, it was still a wonderfully atmospheric environment. One of the most poignant photographs depicting the demise of a picture palace was taken in 1972 during the early stages of The Ambassadors' demolition. Taken from the rear of the dress circle, a dramatic shaft of sunlight dissects the auditorium. This and other photographs of The Ambassadors can be found at:
http://theatreorgans.com/southerncross/WA/Ambassadors.htm

Barry in Perth

posted by barryinperth on Jul 25, 2005 at 8:23pm

Here is another interior view of the Ambassadors Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Dec 7, 2007 at 10:59am

Links to vintage photos here:

http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/illustrations1/002150d.jpg

http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/illustrations1/002149d.jpg

http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd095/095902PD.jpg

http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd341/341142PD.jpg

posted by Mark Nicol on Jul 4, 2009 at 6:38pm

A demolition photo from early-1970's

http://www.slwa.wa.gov.au/images/pd341/341229PD.jpg

posted by Mark Nicol on Jul 7, 2009 at 11:23pm

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