Article written by Isabella Hill-Beaman.
We all love the cinemas, being able to buy popcorn and watch a brand new movie on a big screen. Whether it be horror, comedy, romance, a children’s movie or a Sci-Fi. But we never seem to know a lot about the history behind cinemas and where they started, especially in Brisbane. At one point there used to be a cinema in nearly every town and now we have at least one in every other town. Not only that but cinemas have changed a lot since they were first made. We now have event cinemas, Hoyts and even Yatala drive in which gives you the experience and fun of watching a movie in your car.
The Theater Royal was one of the very first cinemas built in Brisbane in 1881. J.L Hall first opened the theater with the showing of ‘Our Girls’. He played Captain Gingah with what was said as incomparable humour and accompanying him were the Marsh sisters who named as “damn bad” actors.” The opening of the theater had many acts they even included an ode that was done by Lily Thynne.
The new theater had brought the attention of the courier which spoke of the elegant and graceful interior of the Royal and the orchestra that played there for every performance. Although the orchestra was very talented back in the day, the instrumentalists were paid only $5 a night if they were one of the best.
It wasn’t until 1949 that the Theater Royal had started to change from musicals with orchestras to shows with showgirls. George Wallace Junior started hosting weekly variety shows from 1949-1952 with weekly title changes such as Grin and Bare it, Nudes and blushes, even without leaves and peep show.
In 1887 the Gaiety theater was opened, it was built by Percy st. John , although the Theater Royal was up and running and doing well, the Gaiety Theater was showing more comic opera than show girls. Bringing in names such as Emelie Melville, Gracie Plaisted and Charles Harding. The Gaiety theater was known for having a peculiar enunciation which belong to the American minstrel cult but their singing was a treat to hear and listen to. Although when John Liddy took over management of the theater he never allowed any grossness in the theater no matter how boisterous the plays might have been.
The Gaiety theater was one of the first cinemas to play silent films and also black and white movies from country/western to showing boxing matches for everyone to see.
Not long after in 1888 the Princess theater was built, now heritage listed the theater is still considered a premiere venue. Still keeping its charm and elegance as it did 125 years ago. The theater still to this day holds performances, musicians and bands to perform at. Although it’s not a film theater and has never held a film there it’s still a premier spot for any theater buff wanting to check out and know more about the history behind it.
The Princess Theater was designed by architect John Nicholson, it is also known as south Brisbane Public Hall and Boggo Road Theater. The theater has also been used by small businesses including a paper wholesaler, an engineering firm, a rag merchant, a second dealer and also a used appliance retailer. The theater was also used as a printing firm for thirty years from 1948- 1979 and is still one of only a few old theaters still used as a theater in this day and age.
There hadn’t been many theaters built after the Princess Theater back in 1888 until the Boomerang Theater in 1924 in Annerly. Even though still standing the theater is no longer operational and is now known as the Tribal. The Boomerang was the first theater in Brisbane to have shown just films and have no plays or any musical acts perform. The theater has a bit of a background for drama on and off screen. Back in 1924 an American solider had fallen in love with one of the usherettes that worked at the theater but when the relationship had ended he shot her twice at the theater and then himself although luckily the usherette survived after the ordeal.
Inside the theater stood a 50 foot screen for all the movie watchers to watch all the films on. During World War 2 the film industry had boomed as cheap entertainment for families to go to for a day or night out but sadly it only lasted until the 1950’s when television came out, then less people went out and stayed at home for their movie entertainment.
The Regent Theater built in 1928, also heritage listed, the theater was one of the first Hoyts picture palaces. The Regent was one of the first and only American styled picture palaces built in Queensland, reflecting the opulence and grandeur of the great Hollywood movie era. The total construction of the regent was over $300,000 so they could bring the golden Hollywood era to life in such a far place. The theater was constructed with a basement and also four entire levels of tenancies, two street level shops and an ornately decorated entrance hall and also a grand foyer which led out into the original 2500 seat regent theater. The regent theater was definitely one of the most extravagant theaters built for its time here in Queensland.
Although not long after in 1929 the plaza theater was created in Paddington and is now used as antique shop. The plaza theater is a rare 20th century atmospheric theater in Brisbane, after being constructed the creators required both the building and land whilst commencing a long association with the theater.
With its painted blue ceilings resembling the night sky, side niches and painted barely twist columns suggesting a Spanish-esque courtyard the plaza theater is the only suburban theater identified to date and is often described as atmospheric. The term denotes a picture with an interior décor, simulating an exotic outdoor setting. Atmospheric theaters were popularised in Australia in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s after the architect had traveled to America in study of theater picture design.
The plaza was originally only meant to show silent films but became a “talkies” theater shortly after opening. The theater only sat 1250 people but had come a regular meeting place for residents nearby seven days a week.
The Imperial Theater one of the last historic theaters that was built was created in 1966. Featuring art deco influenced architecture the building stood at two stories high and had a full length awning over the foot path. Out the front stood two movie posters so residents knew what would be playing at the cinema every week or month.
These theaters are what started and brought the golden age of cinema to not only Brisbane but also Queensland making the theater and film industry what it is today and nobody would be able to of known how amazing directors such as Alfred Hitchcock and Walt Disney were but also no one would have been able to watch classics such as ‘The Wizard of Oz’, ‘Mary Poppins’, ‘The Birds’ and even in this decade we wouldn’t of been able to see J.K Rowling's ‘Harry Potter’ come to life. We have the architects and creators of these theaters to thank for making the industry here what it is and for bringing such a big industry here.
Comentarios