It will be a sad day indeed when the Regent Cinema closes it's doors for demolition in June 2010. This grand old dame has been around since the 1920's and pays homage to the golden era of cinema houses, with it's Gothic architecture and vaulted cathedral like ceilings. To celebrate it's long life, the cinema is running it's final festival of "8 Decades in 8 Days". I wasn't missing this chance for anything - I remember seeing movies as diverse as 'The Titanic' and 'Das Boot' here. Couldn't go pass the chance at seeing 'Casablanca' on the big screen, so we trooped along for the Sunday afternoon session. It was fantastic to see this masterpiece in a cinema - which I'd only ever seen on DVD. You could imagine what it was like back in the day, when going to the pictures was glamorous and a real outing (as opposed to now, which involves avoiding punks and popcorn littered aisles).
Brisbane has lost too many interesting cinemas to this similar end - the Classic in Woolloongabba, the Metro and now the Regent. Luckily, there are still a few gems out there, where you can see something more than the usual "event-cinema-mainstream" fare, such as the Tribal Theatre, Palace Cinemas and the Regal Twin in Graceville.
For now, it's farewell to the Regent. Or as Rick in 'Casablanca' would say, 'Here's looking at you, kid'. savetheregent.com (photos courtesy of www.ourbrisbane.com.au)
What's going to happen to the building? Surely they aren't going to knock a place this beautiful down?
ReplyDeleteActually Richie it is all facades and cheap plaster. On the outside just part of the Brissie Mall. None the less Pen is quite right it is always a joy to enter and look around as you proceed to your seats. Even the little coffee shop that really did not do good coffee at all was fun to sit at while you waited for your cinema to open and one would deliberately arrive early just to sit and wait.
ReplyDeleteNice one Penne. One of those things I miss about Brisbane.
It's going to be turned into an office building apparently. Crazy. The foyer is heritage listed and will be the reception area - or something like that. Will be a real shame though, it's such a nice treat to see a movie this way.
ReplyDeleteWell hopefully in the future they can still then use the foyer for an occasional fold out chair cinema experience. Drop a big white curtain and bang open air cinema. I hope they do something like that.
ReplyDeleteNice bog site by the way I mean tot mention it ages ago. I was telling your bro he needs to read it more often.