Melbourne — City Centre

Melbourne City Centre Cinemas & Theatres

Back Main

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…

Melbourne City Centre Cinemas & Theatres

Back Main

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 )