Roxy Theatre

Photo Info

Uploaded on: March 18, 2020

Software: Google

Size: 99.8 KB

Views: 791

Full EXIF: View all

License:

Roxy Theatre 69 George Street, Parramatta, NSW

(Pictured) Roxy Theatre Program / Weekly News – 1930s – Courtesy Parramatta Council’s Heritage Centre.

This item is held in the cultural collection at the Parramatta Heritage Centre is an entertainment program from the Roxy Spanish Theatre. This booklet lists a program of entertainment including a range of 1930s movies such as This is the Night with Cary Grant and No More Orchids with Carol Lombard. There are many other films listed on the packed program as well as boxing matches, wrestling, vaudeville and an organ recital.

The Roxy Theatre opened on 6th February 1930 with a packed audience coming to watch Maurice Chevalier’s, Innocents of Paris. An interested crowd of several thousand observed the proceedings in the street opposite.

The End of an Era

The Roxy is one of the few remaining examples of the “Picture Palaces” that were built between the wars. It is set back from the street behind an open air, arcade-lined forecourt. The main entrance is surmounted by an impressive arch and an ornate tower. The Spanish Mission style theatre is richly decorated and retains much of its original layout including stuccoed walls, arches, false balconies, a ‘Spanish’ style ceiling of paneled and painted timber and a central dome in the main auditorium.

Huge seating capacity

Originally the theatre had 1,923 seats and it also had a Christie theatre organ which reputedly was one of the largest and finest in New South Wales - Contributed by Greg Lynch -