Save the Regent

If you have recently contacted the Premier's office, you will have received, or will soon receive, a misleading form letter from one of her advisors which would let you believe everything is hunky-dory at the Regent. It claims, erroneously, that the Showcase cinema and bar area have no heritage significance, and that the Regent will continue to screen films. Yes, but only on weekends and public holidays in just one 300-seat cinema and maybe two tiny auditoria - and for how long this wll last and what kind of films will be screened, nobody will say. Please don't settle for this non-answer.
PS: Take the time to read this comment from Cynthia Webb.

Mary Poppins, the mega-musical based on the popular Disney film, is "coming home" to Australia, where the author of the original Poppins books, P.L. Travers, was born. Except the musical, predicted to be the biggest ever, is opening in Victoria, not Queensland - even though Travers came from Maryborough, north of Brisbane. Why? Because the Victorian government threw in a "modest amount" of cash, and Melbourne has the theatre space to accommodate its expected lenghty run, and Queensland doesn't because our government thinks the Lyric Theatre is all we need. Many Queenslanders will, of course, fly south to see the show, giving Victorian Premier John Brumby and his state's tourism industry a big return on their investment. More here.
- Brett Debritz

Veteran journalist and radio announcer John Knox, a great lover of all things Brisbane and Queensland, has used his editorial on Radio 4KQ to urge listeners to support the Heritage listing of the Showcase cinema and former bar area. Here's the audio of Knoxy and 4KQ breakfast star Laurel Edwards talking about the Regent:

Here's everything you need to make an application for the Heritage listing of the Showcase cinema and former mezzanine area. Please take the time to copy this document, personalise it (as simple as deleting the instructions, rewording some of it then adding your name and contact details and sending it to the given address, or feel free to use entirely your own words and other facts you may be aware of).

HERITAGE REGISTER APPLICATION
Application to have the Brisbane Regent “Showcase Cinema” and adjoining vestibule/bar areas heritage listed.
(Includes Cinema 1 and the area formally the mezzanine area in the pre-1978 Regent Theatre, Brisbane).
Heritage Reference Number: 600140
CLOSING DATE FOR WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS IS JULY 6, 2009

Address your written submission to:
The Chief Executive
Quote the Heritage Reference Number: 600140
Postal Address:

The Site Registrar
Cultural Heritage
DERM
P.O. Box 15155
City East
Qld 4002

On what grounds can a submission be argued?