Royal Theatre Newcastle

Designer: Charles Bohringer
Construction Years: 1923 - 1939

Physical Description
The former Theatre Royal is a two-storey building in rendered and painted brick with stepped skyline in the Art Deco style, featuring strong vertical and horizontal line detailing on its facade revealing Expressionist influences.

Internally, while the foyer area has been altered, details of the 1939 cinema remain, such as the stepped ceiling pattern. The staircase still exists with its Art Deco patterned grillework and chrome handrails. The former Cinema 2 (upstairs) still retains its seating dating from the theatre's conversion to a twin in 1979, but many of the 1939 features remain, particularly the strong horizontal line decorative patterning on the walls, the art deco lighting and the stepped timber balustrades at the side staircases as well as the stage area. The projection room and other spaces at the rear of this cinema also remain.

Elements of the 1924 theatre, such as the Green Room also remain (Thorne, Tod & Cork, 1996, p 297).

History
The original Theatre Royal that existed on the site prior to the present Art Deco style theatre, was built in 1924 in the elaborate classical style, for Edgar Betts, a Sydney theatrical entrpreneur. The Theatre Royal Amusement Company was incorporated on 11 January 1923 and intended to acquire Mr E. E. Tighe's property in Hunter Street West, demolish the existing buildings and erect a modern theatre. When the Theatre Royal opened on 16 June 1924 it was the pride of the city of Newcastle. With the opening of this theatre, Newcastle entered the era of architectural flamboyance in theatre and cinema design. The original theatre was an outstanding example of a classical style cinema with its antecedents in 'live' theatre design. The facade, with its classically derived features was remarkable for its imposing columns, braid, balconettes and decorative shields and insignia. (Thorne, Tod & Cork, 1996, p 297; Cork & Tod, 1993, p 138)

The Royal featured a full orchestra and was designed by architect, Charles Bohringer, who was later to become famous for his classical and Art Deco theatre designs. In June1927 the Royal hosted the world premier of the Australian silent classic film, 'For the Term of His Natural Life'. In 1929 'talkies' were installed for 'The Jazz Singer', starring Al Jolson. In the 1920s and 1930s it was common for a fifteen minute 'live' show (usually a juggler, trapeze act or vocalist) to precede interval. Later, community singing was also popular. Vaudeville artists such as Long Tack Sam and Hassan's Blue Arabs performed at the Royal. (Cork & Tod, 1993, p 138; Thorne, Tod & Cork, 1996, p 297)

When the even more fantastic Civic Theatre opened in 1929, it was decided to renovate the Royal to make it more competitive. The theatre closed in late 1930 to undergo extensive renovations and redecorating before reopening in January 1931. In addition to major feature films, the theatre also hosted vaudeville artists from leading theatres of the world. (Cork & Tod, 1993, p 141)

In 1938 the Royal was leased to Newcastle Theatres Pty Ltd, and in 1939, architect, Charles Bohringer was recalled to completely remodel and upgrade the theatre. Classically inspired architecture was now considered old hat, so Bohringer designed a completely new Theatre Royal in the Art Deco / Moderne style. The proscenium opening was reduced and the arch, dome and all wall decorations demolished. Instead, the new design, both internally and externally relied heavily on deep horizontal and vertical lines and geometrical motifs with tubed, indirect neon lightning to wash the pastel walls. A cry room was constructed at the rear of the stalls where mothers could take their babies and still watch the film without distracting other patrons. The theatre was equipped with a Western Electric Mirrophonic 'living sound' system. When the Theatre Royal opened on 9 March 1939 it was a showpiece and the 'pride of Newcastle'. (Cork & Tod, 1993, p 141)

In 1941 Hoyts Theatres Ltd gained a shareholding in Newcastle Theatres Pty Ltd which gave it an interest in operating the Royal. Eventually, Hoyts acquired all the shares in the company. Under Hoyts' ownership, it was promoted as one of Hoyts' flagship cinemas & equipped with CinemaScope in 1954. (Cork & Tod, 1993, p 141)

In 1962 it became one of only two cinemas outside Sydney to be equipped with the huge Todd-AO 70mm screen process recognised as the ultimate in projection and sound reproduction. This necessitated extensive alterations and renovations, particularly in the proscenium area, which had to be enlarged for the wider, taller screen. The seating capacity was reduced from 1,381 to 962 because of the screen size. (Thorne, Tod & Cork, 1996, p 197; Cork & Tod, 1993, p 141)

In 1979 the property was sold, but still leased by Newcastle Theatres Pty. Ltd. It still operated under Hoyts' name but in partnership with local TV station NBN. In keeping with the trend to smaller cinemas in complexes, it was decided to convert the Royal into a twin cinema by extending the dress circle to create upper and lower auditoria. To do this the old proscenium was destroyed and the floor realigned. Much of the Art Deco remained intact, particularly in the extensive foyers. The theatre was known as the Royal Twin. (Cork & Tod, 1993, p 141)

Cinema 2 (upstairs) incorporated most of the wall and ceiling decoration of the 1939 remodelling, but was painted in green, pink and white. Cinema 1 (downstairs) featured a low ceiling and the circular Moderne wall motifs dating from 1939. The upper and lower foyers incorporated much of the 1939 stairway grillework and chrome railings. The former Green Room, used by visiting vaudevillians, remained sealed up along with several dressing rooms and the flytower, all dating from 1924. (Cork & Tod, 1993, p 145)

Hoyts closed the Royal Twin in December 1989. Having opened a new six cinema multiplex at Charlestown, it no longer required the Royal, which was also experiencing social difficulties due to its West End location, with loutish, drunken behaviour keeping patrons away. (Cork & Tod, 1993, p 145)

It is thus one of few 1930s cinemas remaining in the Newcastle area and NSW, where several internal features remain relatively unaltered. The Royal, therefore, remains an important example of the Art Deco style cinema design in the Newcastle locality and in NSW. It is also important as the sole surviving cinema in Australia designed by Charles Bohringer.

Modifications:

1931 - original Theatre Royal underwent extensive renovations and redecoration to compete with recently opened Civic Theatre 1938-39 - Theatre completely remodelled in Art Deco style

1954 - Theatre equipped with Cinemascope

1962 - modifications to proscenium area to accommodate new 70mm screen. Seating capacity was reduced from 1,381 to 962.

1979 - Theatre converted to twin cinema by extending the dress circle to create upper and lower auditoria. The old proscenium was destroyed and the floor realigned.

 
Source: Heritage Branch, Department of Planning, NSW Government: http://www.heritage.nsw.gov.au/07_subnav_01_2.cfm?itemid=2170423