Paris Cinema
188 Albert Street,
Brisbane,
QLD
4000
188 Albert Street,
Brisbane,
QLD
4000
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Hoyts Theatres
Architects: D.F. Cowell Ham, George Rae
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Empire Theatre, Hoyts St. James Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Located near the corner of Albert Street and Queen Street. The Empire Theatre was opened as a vaudeville theatre in January 1911. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. It was equipped with a projection box and screened films as part of the vaudeville programme.
It was re-modelled in an Art Deco style in 1933 to the plans of architects George Rae and D.F. Cowell Ham and re-opened on 15th April 1933 as the St. James Theatre, becoming a full time cinema as part of the Hoyts Theatres chain. It was equipped with Todd-AO 70mm projectors and played “South Pacific”, “Around the World in 80 Days” and “Cleopatra”.
In 1965 minor alterations were carried out and it re-opened as the Paris Cinema with “The Sound of Music” on 28th July 1965. Hoyts Theatres continued to operate the Paris Cinema. Other big hits to play here were “My Fair Lady”, “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Last Tango in Paris” and “The Poseidon Adventure”.
The Paris Theatre was closed in 1980 and was demolished in 1986. Part of the Myer Centre now stands on the site.
Contributed by
Ken Roe
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Recent comments (view all 2 comments)
The seats were very steeply tiered and there was not much leg room. The screen was very large an the curtain was beautiful. The 70mm did not get much use in the late 1970’s and 1980’s but the big 70mm event I attended was the first session of the first day of the release of the first Star Wars movie. That was a good day.
Showcased The Sound of Music in 70mm in 1965 - the longest running film in Brisbane’s history. I think it ran for over 12 months.