Save the Regent

Trevor, an expat now living in London, writes:

I read the article about the Regent Theatre with great interest. Last time I was in Brisbane, back in 2005, I made time to have a snoop around the still existant foyer but I couldn’t bring myself to use any of the multi-cinemas inside. But just the foyer by itself brought the old memories tumbling out. I remember on at least two occasions sitting in one of the faux baronial chairs by the bottom of the stairs doing my damndest to finish the book of the film I was just about to see. Desiree was one, The Egyptian was another. And of course the night when that lovely old red velvet curtain flew for the first time to reveal the huge CinemaScope screen and the opening scene of The Robe, the film that almost made me a believer. That didn’t last, of course.
I do wish you well for your campaign but I should imagine that the developers will only be persuaded to create a new theatre to attach to the old foyer if it can be regarded as a viable scheme - in other words, would there be any money in it for them? I assume when you say theatre you mean a live auditorium rather than a cinema. Anyway, let us know how it all works out.

Anonymous writes:

The Regent is my favourite movie theatre, but I was very diappointed to use the ladies bathroom recently. The lock on one door was missing, and the cubicle I used had two empty rolls of paper. Is this a subtle way of discouraging people from going to the movies here? I couldn't find anyone on my way out to make a complaint to either.

This observation dovetails with suggestions that the current tenant has no interest in the theatre. Others have noted that blockbuster films don't usually screen at the Regent - ensuring that it doesn't attract big audience numbers - and that many movies advertised at the venue are, in fact, screening at the Myer Centre.

The Courier-Mail says the Regent is a Brisbane icon that should be preserved.

Thanks, yet again, to Mike for spotting the review in Brisbane News of the film Shine A Light, and the accompanying picture of the Rolling Stones at the Beacon Theatre in New York. Mike suggests that the Beacon, built in 1929 as part of Samuel "Roxy" Rothapfel's New York theatre empire, is a good example of an old picture palace that has been converted into a successful live venue - and thus further inspiration for what could be done with The Regent.

One negative outcome of the proposed redevelopment of the Regent will be the loss of the theatre's famous sign which, in various styles, has hung over Queen Street for a century. It is the last of its kind and, some would suggest, worth preserving in its place in its own right. Here, thanks again to Mike, are some pictures.