AS reported in the preservation alert on this page…time is running out of The Regent…before it becomes part of an office tower. A story in yesterdays paper included part of the report from the developer…mentioned that heritage parts…may be lost…or cracks may appear in main walls of grand lobby due to nature of demolition/construction work for a new 38 story building beyond the marble staircase.
Nothing would surprise me. Would love to see a theatre operator move in and do something with the current cinemas. Very sadly …over the past couple of years , you’d have to be Columbo to know there was actually movies screening inside. No outside display of attractions above the entrance (used to be the hand placed letters) , likewise inside in the foyer…nothing saying what is on. You would have to go find a green photocopy sheet with session times. Now on several occasions I witnessed….no sheets available….movie goers just walked out..assuming to the Myer Centre. Anyone would think they wanted this place to fail !!
Now while the lobby is heritage protected (please keep in mind this means nothing in Qld…so was David Jones interior…and Shingle Inn…and many others. A hotel operator may be able to make changes.
Also of concern is down downstairs lobby area…which was the original lobby upstairs…with plaster elements moved to the lower level. While the “showcase” cinema pales compared to the original IT DOES contain major elements and features cut down from the original auditorium. This is all that is left. If a hotel goes…what becomes of these last fragments of the Regent ??
Mu understanding , none of these original parts…re-located in 1980 complex would be protected. I would suspect a deal would be done ensuring no other cinema operator could use the complex (same deal as with Albert sale). It always angers and saddens me that Brisbane…apart from The Plaza (antiques) and the Princess at the Gabba….had nothing left at all.
In regards to the above link , those interior shots are actually of The Forum , not the Alberts. The Forum was a mid 60’s cinema , twinned in the early 80’s and closed at the same time as the Alberts.
It was gutted inside and is now a Border’s Books. As for the the Alberts/Metro it is a boarded up vacant lot with remants of bricks etc. The new development has not gone ahead as yet.
Does anyone have any good interior shots of The Brisbane Metro pre tri-plexing??
As for its Adelaide cousin , I was in Adelaide for a month late last year and it was still in tact , including the art deco facade…just looking abandaned and boarded up.
A story about the now demolished Metro Theatre(Albert Cinemas) has now appeared in a local independent inner city paper (the main newspaper never mentioned this theatre’s passing). You can read it on their website , go to www.theindependent.com.au
The story refers to the developer of the sight , who is quoted as saying “evidence of the original form of the theatre and MGM office facade’s were lost in the 70’s conversion”. Not quite true as the art deco facade of the MGM office’s (theatre and office’s “L” shaped building with two street frontages) was completly in tact prior to demolition late last year. The main art deco Theatre facade was covered up by by a 70’s type false facade. The article mentions that all that will remain will be a plaque on the new building stating what was once there…. wow !
As of this week (Mon October 25) demolition due to begin on this building. This was reported in local weekend papers.
As you can see from other comments , this once superb theatre was a mere shadow of it’s former self. The only trace of it’s days as the Metro Theatre (prior to the 1972 multiplex conversion) was in the lane way behind the theatre …where a painted sign clearly said Metro Theatre Engine Room. Luckily I took a photo of this about six months back. Also lucky to come upon a copy (photocopy) of the opening magazine issued upon the opening in the 30’s.
Wish I had some more detailed colour photo’s , not sure how many shots were taken inside pre 72 when Greater Union purchased the theatre from MGM…and tri-plexed it…then covered up the art deco facade with a false 70’s facade.
It was here in Brisbane “Gone With The Wind” screened first time around.
This theatre is currently being stripped of it’s tacky 70’s interior to be used as retail for a while – prior to it’s eventual demolition.
Loved this Metro theatre. As a child growing up in the 60’s as an MGM house it screened all the disney features. Went there many times.
However all its amazing Art Deco features were wrecked when it was tri-plexed in 72/73.
Even the facade was altered – covered up with a 70’s style cover over the original facade. I wonder if any of the old interior will be un covered in the current stripping. As the lobby area and upstairs lobby remained the same space with the conversion.
AS reported in the preservation alert on this page…time is running out of The Regent…before it becomes part of an office tower. A story in yesterdays paper included part of the report from the developer…mentioned that heritage parts…may be lost…or cracks may appear in main walls of grand lobby due to nature of demolition/construction work for a new 38 story building beyond the marble staircase.
Any photo’s etc can help for the site below
The regent site is now set up
www.savetheregent.com
Nothing would surprise me. Would love to see a theatre operator move in and do something with the current cinemas. Very sadly …over the past couple of years , you’d have to be Columbo to know there was actually movies screening inside. No outside display of attractions above the entrance (used to be the hand placed letters) , likewise inside in the foyer…nothing saying what is on. You would have to go find a green photocopy sheet with session times. Now on several occasions I witnessed….no sheets available….movie goers just walked out..assuming to the Myer Centre. Anyone would think they wanted this place to fail !!
Now while the lobby is heritage protected (please keep in mind this means nothing in Qld…so was David Jones interior…and Shingle Inn…and many others. A hotel operator may be able to make changes.
Also of concern is down downstairs lobby area…which was the original lobby upstairs…with plaster elements moved to the lower level. While the “showcase” cinema pales compared to the original IT DOES contain major elements and features cut down from the original auditorium. This is all that is left. If a hotel goes…what becomes of these last fragments of the Regent ??
Mu understanding , none of these original parts…re-located in 1980 complex would be protected. I would suspect a deal would be done ensuring no other cinema operator could use the complex (same deal as with Albert sale). It always angers and saddens me that Brisbane…apart from The Plaza (antiques) and the Princess at the Gabba….had nothing left at all.
Oz Marky…would love that zip file .au
Brent
In regards to the above link , those interior shots are actually of The Forum , not the Alberts. The Forum was a mid 60’s cinema , twinned in the early 80’s and closed at the same time as the Alberts.
It was gutted inside and is now a Border’s Books. As for the the Alberts/Metro it is a boarded up vacant lot with remants of bricks etc. The new development has not gone ahead as yet.
Does anyone have any good interior shots of The Brisbane Metro pre tri-plexing??
As for its Adelaide cousin , I was in Adelaide for a month late last year and it was still in tact , including the art deco facade…just looking abandaned and boarded up.
This theatre complex was still intact…and not demolished late 2004.
A story about the now demolished Metro Theatre(Albert Cinemas) has now appeared in a local independent inner city paper (the main newspaper never mentioned this theatre’s passing). You can read it on their website , go to www.theindependent.com.au
The story refers to the developer of the sight , who is quoted as saying “evidence of the original form of the theatre and MGM office facade’s were lost in the 70’s conversion”. Not quite true as the art deco facade of the MGM office’s (theatre and office’s “L” shaped building with two street frontages) was completly in tact prior to demolition late last year. The main art deco Theatre facade was covered up by by a 70’s type false facade. The article mentions that all that will remain will be a plaque on the new building stating what was once there…. wow !
As of this week (Mon October 25) demolition due to begin on this building. This was reported in local weekend papers.
As you can see from other comments , this once superb theatre was a mere shadow of it’s former self. The only trace of it’s days as the Metro Theatre (prior to the 1972 multiplex conversion) was in the lane way behind the theatre …where a painted sign clearly said Metro Theatre Engine Room. Luckily I took a photo of this about six months back. Also lucky to come upon a copy (photocopy) of the opening magazine issued upon the opening in the 30’s.
Wish I had some more detailed colour photo’s , not sure how many shots were taken inside pre 72 when Greater Union purchased the theatre from MGM…and tri-plexed it…then covered up the art deco facade with a false 70’s facade.
It was here in Brisbane “Gone With The Wind” screened first time around.
It is to be replaced by an 8 storey building.
This theatre is currently being stripped of it’s tacky 70’s interior to be used as retail for a while – prior to it’s eventual demolition.
Loved this Metro theatre. As a child growing up in the 60’s as an MGM house it screened all the disney features. Went there many times.
However all its amazing Art Deco features were wrecked when it was tri-plexed in 72/73.
Even the facade was altered – covered up with a 70’s style cover over the original facade. I wonder if any of the old interior will be un covered in the current stripping. As the lobby area and upstairs lobby remained the same space with the conversion.