Identity area
Reference code
Title
Date(s)
- 1929-2010. (Creation)
Level of description
File
Extent and medium
1 folders ; 30 cm.
Context area
Name of creator
Administrative history
The Regent Building, located at 167 Queen Street and extending through to Elizabeth Street, Brisbane, was part of a grand theatre complex constructed between 1928 and 1929, designed by Charles N. Hollinshed and Richard Gailey Jr. Originally, it was to be known as the Capitol Building. Originally housing the lavish 2,500-seat Regent Theatre (to be known as the Capitol Theatre), ornate foyer, retail spaces, and offices, the complex epitomised the golden era of picture palaces. The Theatre opened in November 1929, showcasing a richly decorated interior that blended Baroque, Gothic, and Classical styles, and featured a Wurlitzer organ, imported chandeliers, and opulent furnishings. The Queen Street section included commercial tenancies and a prestigious entrance hall, while the auditorium spanned the Elizabeth Street frontage.
After declining cinema attendance in the mid-twentieth century, the Regent was redeveloped in 1980 into Hoyts Entertainment Centre with four smaller cinemas, retaining only the original foyer and entrance hall. Despite heritage efforts and public protest, most of the original theatre was demolished in 1979. The building was partly heritage-listed in the 1990s, and further redevelopment in 2010 saw the remaining cinemas removed to make way for a commercial tower, while conserving the Queen Street facade and foyer as part of a mixed-use complex. Until its final closure in 2010, the Regent played a key cultural role in Brisbane and hosted the Brisbane International Film Festival.
Repository
Archival history
From the Fryer Library Theatre Programs.
Immediate source of acquisition or transfer
Content and structure area
Scope and content
This series contains material such as theatre programs, concert notes, invitations and ephemeral items relating to Australian theatres.
Hoyts Regent Theatre [Brisbane]
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling
Accruals
System of arrangement
Conditions of access and use area
Conditions governing access
Unrestricted access.
Conditions governing reproduction
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Language and script notes
Physical characteristics and technical requirements
Finding aids
Allied materials area
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related units of description
Notes area
Alternative identifier(s)
Alma MMS ID
Access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Regent Theatre (Brisbane, Qld.) (Subject)
Genre access points
Description control area
Description identifier
Institution identifier
Rules and/or conventions used
Status
Migrated
Level of detail
Dates of creation revision deletion
Migrated from LMS: April 2019, P.A.