Queue with a view
26 May 2010 - 6:51pm — debritz
A group of passionate people are organising a "queue" to draw attention to the closure of the Regent and the fact that the cinema can be saved. It will be held on Saturday, 29 May, between 11am and 11.30am in Reddacliffe Place, at the top of the Queen St Mall near the casino. The organisers write:
. There will be a simple 'queue', symbolically waiting, I guess, for the government and the developer to realise that the existing plans are inadequate.
I am all in favour of any way we can draw attention to this issue and, on the understanding that it's being organised properly and will be conducted in a legal and safe manner, I urge people who can do so to attend it.
- Brett Debritz
savetheregent.com webmaster
Comments
SAVE THE REGENT!!! FOR WE DIDNT SAVE OURS!!!
Old buildings are important for our children's heritage! Why do we need more ugly boxy office buildings?! The architecture of the old regent theaters should never be lost! I live in Daylesford and they've just taken away our beautiful old Rex Theatre and made it into a dark, narrow ugly shopping mall! Which nobody goes to and barely any businesses are going into the lots! Had they made it into a small movie theatre, which Daylesford doesn't have! Then alot more locals and tourists would have benefited. SO PLEASE SAVE BRISBANE'S THEATRE BECAUSE TOO MUCH OLD ARCHITECTURE HAS BEEN LOST ALREADY!!!!!! WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO GET RID OF IT?!
save the regent
While we're about it, let's knock down City Hall too! And sell the Botanic Gardens for real estate. Don't laugh. Remember the Belle Vue and Cloudland. Anyone checked the Deen Brothers' appointment diary??? Haven't we destroyed enough of Brisbane's lamentably few historic places?
Don't Repeat History
As a young person I awoke on too many occasions to yet another progress report on the wholesale destruction of yet another of Perth's beautiful classic and art deco cinemas. I currently live outside of Brisbane but I can assure you that like the late Sir Charles Court standing against the destruction of the historic arches blocking the view from the West Australian parliament windows, I would be with you. So, don't just think it will be OK, stand up to big business and short-sighted planning views and, I can tell you once it is gone it's ..........
Keep up the good work
Sorry didnt know about it earlier, we were inside queuing to see A Night at the Opera.
A good mix of young and old cinemagoers and a lot of hysterical laughing for the Marx Bros.
Anna and Cambell you both put Joh to shame!
Well
The biggest problem I have is the attitudes of government around development. They, both parties, shug their shoulders and go meh we don't look after entertainment and cinema venues. Now that is true but in this case they just wash their hands at things.
My second point is if I was held at gunpoint, I would agree to most of the redevelopment even Elizabeth Street going. What I strongly object to is the demolition of Cinema 1 and the bar area. All this nonsense that in 1978-79 it was just put together from bits and pieces blah to that, it can be saved they have the technology. We have suits who don't care it is simply as that.
Thirdly, I resent the implications many on here make that the modern skyscrapers appearing in Brisbane ain't nice. Some are. Having said this, it is obvious how horrible this project is.
Forth, I don't blame Newman and Bligh totally but they are obviously at the hands of developers giving in, you can tell by their avoidence and their glee at the new Gateway and Clem 7 because they want Brisbane like many do to be like Seattle. It is almost like the Godfather, they obviously gave them an offer they could not refuse and to jump out and refuse this project would be far worse in consequence than votes. Conspirarcy theory? Maybe but someone has made the governments jump plus the party lines of decades of State Governments have been who cares about history. Their silence over this suggests something more is going on than just a growing city.
Fifth, facades might be 'ugly' like the Myer Centre but I would rather have that then total destruction. I am not saying the Regent should not 100% be saved totally for theatre, but concessions are fine by me.
Sixth and last, there is no absolute that Billy Elliott or Wicked won't come up here, it depends on many things. I think part of it is this sad reputation Brisbane still has down south which is less than it was but still exists.
May the Regent be saved!
Regent QUEUE
I will be there. This is an important cause.
When will it stop?
When will it stop? Queensland governments have an appalling tradition of demolishing our iconic heritage buildings. It is our heritage that informs us about our past and helps guide us into the future and in fact shapes our identity. Without any evidence of what came before and shaped our State, we will become a bland, characterless society. The Regent must be saved.
Save the Regent.
As a young serviceman in the 50/6070's, I had the pleasure of visiting the Regent Theatres in Bribane, Sydney and Melbourne. All three were a pleasure to attend and as a civilian visited them when possible, unfortunately I now rarely visit capital cities.
It was a tragety that the old Regent in Sydney was destroyed for what, another ugly high rise and history was gone.
Do not do the same to Brisbane, keep your history and tell the Local Government to back off, they destroy things now that can never be replaced, politician are replacable (Thank god for small mercies) but history cannot and neither can the Regent.
Brisbane will be the the sadder and poorer if that beautiful building is destroyed and I believe all Queenslanders who have had the priviledge to attend there will be sorry if this blight on our Government is permitted to proceed.
SAVE OUR HERITAGE
Australia is in dire threat of losing its architectural heritage as all our old buildings are consistantly removed to make way for the new. The little that remains of the Regent after the demise of its beautiful old theatre 30 odd years ago, is a small but significant link to Brisbane's theatrical and cultural heritage. Other countries of the world go to extremes to retain and preserve their historical buildings. The Governent's support of this latest redevelopment only compounds the disasterous decisions made for this site in the 1970's. The Regent's site is historically a theatre, and should remain that way. Each time this site is redeveloped, a little more of our history is lost for future generations.
Pride over Progress
I could not agree with you more. The progess and devolpment of our city should not cost the people of Brisbane it's hertiage and landmarks. Does our progessive government not remember the outrage from residents at the demolishment of Cloudlands and other historic landmarks of Brisbane.
How can the government determine that heritage listed and histroic landmarks should be demolished. Brisbane residents are proud of it's history and the Regent Theatre. Qld Premier Anna Bligh, you have yourself made the history books when you proudly achieved the honour of becoming Australia's first female Premier. Brisbane residents are proud to have The Regent Theatre as one of Australia's greatest architectural and cultural theatres. The demolishment of this building does not show it the pride and respect it deserves.
They remember....
Its simple.... they dont care.....
I hope they look forward to the glass and concrete cube rows that will be Brisbane's streets of the future.
Be There!
I urge everyone who cherishes the Regent, its Showcase areas and unique Elizabeth St facade to make an effort to attend. Don't let the rain scare you off... be part of history and help save the Regent. See you there in Radacliffe Place (opposite the casino, off the mall)!
This heartbeat of the Regent must be kept alive!
oh Anna
Come on for goodness sake what more do you want to sell or knock down, leave Queensland with some history or Australian owners ,i gave you a fair go, now how about listening to us.
Lesley..
Listen to QLD'ers
Hear-hear! to Lesley's comment.