The Regent Plaza Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
Entrance foyer, the Plaza Theatre, which was below the Regent, Collins Street, Melbourne, opened on 10 May, 1929. It seated 1235 in its single-level Spanish-style auditorium, with its entrance adjacent to that of the Regent.
"Seating only twelve hundred people, and furnished in true old-world Spanish style, the Plaza provides the acme of comfort for every patron. Every seat is a luxurious lounge armchair. The entire floor space is covered with deep rich carpets. At every turn an objet d'art, never obtrusive but bringing a dash of old-world adventure and romance to the new world masterpiece of theatre construction." [Plaza Theatre advertisement (full-page), The Herald, 10 May, 1929, p. 11].
"Following the recent practice of designing theatres in accordance with the style of some particular period, the Plaza is Spanish in its decorative scheme. Entrance from Collins Street is by way of stairs leading to a court constructed after the manner of a Spanish close. the floor simulates the rough paving of a courtyard, and on one side a fountain pays. Through archways to the right is a rockery with orange trees, and here furniture of the appropriate Spanish period has been placed.
The auditorium also is decorated in a Spanish scheme, in which atmosphere rather than any particular period is suggested. On the roof a variegated design in which red, yellow and green are prominent, gives an appearance of solidity, and the scheme is extended to the leather chairs...
The 'talkies' provide their own accompaniment, and consequently an orchestra is unnecessary. An organ had been installed, however, to supplement the pictures when that is called for, and for solo items." [The Argus, 11 May, 1929]
In February, 1959, a new Cinerama screen and projection system were installed in the Plaza. The Regent Plaza Theatre is cited as one of the few cinemas adapted for Cinerama outside of North America.
The Cinerama screen was well forward of the proscenium, in front of the pit and the organ chambers. Although the organ was no longer able to be played in public, it was still operable, and was used by organists playing at the Regent for practice between the Cinerama sessions.
The Plaza closed in November, 1970. In December that year an auction was held at the theatre where everything that was not bolted down was auctioned off, raising a few thousand dollars.
Entrepreneur David Marinner earmarked the Regent for restoration when he established a revival movement for classical performing arts theatres in Melbourne during 1991. The Plaza Theatre was also fully and magnificently restored to its original ballroom format and reopened in 1996.
The Regent Plaza Theatre, Melbourne, Australia
Entrance foyer, the Plaza Theatre, which was below the Regent, Collins Street, Melbourne, opened on 10 May, 1929. It seated 1235 in its single-level Spanish-style auditorium, with its entrance adjacent to that of the Regent.
"Seating only twelve hundred people, and furnished in true old-world Spanish style, the Plaza provides the acme of comfort for every patron. Every seat is a luxurious lounge armchair. The entire floor space is covered with deep rich carpets. At every turn an objet d'art, never obtrusive but bringing a dash of old-world adventure and romance to the new world masterpiece of theatre construction." [Plaza Theatre advertisement (full-page), The Herald, 10 May, 1929, p. 11].
"Following the recent practice of designing theatres in accordance with the style of some particular period, the Plaza is Spanish in its decorative scheme. Entrance from Collins Street is by way of stairs leading to a court constructed after the manner of a Spanish close. the floor simulates the rough paving of a courtyard, and on one side a fountain pays. Through archways to the right is a rockery with orange trees, and here furniture of the appropriate Spanish period has been placed.
The auditorium also is decorated in a Spanish scheme, in which atmosphere rather than any particular period is suggested. On the roof a variegated design in which red, yellow and green are prominent, gives an appearance of solidity, and the scheme is extended to the leather chairs...
The 'talkies' provide their own accompaniment, and consequently an orchestra is unnecessary. An organ had been installed, however, to supplement the pictures when that is called for, and for solo items." [The Argus, 11 May, 1929]
In February, 1959, a new Cinerama screen and projection system were installed in the Plaza. The Regent Plaza Theatre is cited as one of the few cinemas adapted for Cinerama outside of North America.
The Cinerama screen was well forward of the proscenium, in front of the pit and the organ chambers. Although the organ was no longer able to be played in public, it was still operable, and was used by organists playing at the Regent for practice between the Cinerama sessions.
The Plaza closed in November, 1970. In December that year an auction was held at the theatre where everything that was not bolted down was auctioned off, raising a few thousand dollars.
Entrepreneur David Marinner earmarked the Regent for restoration when he established a revival movement for classical performing arts theatres in Melbourne during 1991. The Plaza Theatre was also fully and magnificently restored to its original ballroom format and reopened in 1996.