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Regent Theatre
Opened in 1929, gutted by fire 1945, reopened 1947, closed 1970 and lay derelict for 24 years.
Restoration started and was reopened in 1996 with Sunset Boulevard starring Hugh Jackman.
Orginal seating 3253, current seating now about 2100.
Some archive shots from around 1945 of the auditorium, the circle, the front proscenium and ceiling chandelier can be seen.
The ceiling relit after restoration in 1996 can also be seen here.
Rescuing The Regent Theatre - article on the successful campaign to restore this Melbourne landmark
Plaza Theatre / Plaza Ballroom
The Plaza was built as a ballroom. When Hoyt's tried to get a liquor licence in 1929 for the Plaza as a Ballroom, it was refused so they made it a 1240 seat cinema.
After almost seventy years, it is now a ballroom / reception area! However, the council had ripped the guts out of it and turned it into an arcade of shops, take away etc. which was a commercial failure. The only original part of the theatre untouched was the beautiful hand painted Spanish ceiling. Everything else was re-created from photos. The theatre also launched Cinerama here, the lower half of the auditorium dug out to make it deeper for the huge screen.
The interior as a cinema.
The interior as a ballroom.
(Information and interior photos courtesy of Ian Williams)
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