History of the Regal Theatre

The Regal Theatre was build as a "hardtop" cinema fo Messrs. Coade and A.T. Hewitt on the site of a former entertainment known as the Coliseum Gardens.


Coliseum Picture Gardens (1925)

At the same time as an outdoor summer picture garden constructed on the opposite (eastern) side of Rokeby Road at the intersection of Sedden Street.  The design of the Regal Theatre has been attributed to the well-known and popular architect William G. Bennett based on a sketch design which originated in the office of William T. Leighton.


Perspective drawing Regal Theatre from the office of William G. Bennett

The cinema opened on the evening of the 27th April, 1938 with a topical film "Love Under Fire" set during the Spanish Civil War, which was raging at the time. The supporting film was "Shall We Dance" with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

The Regal was named for King George VI who, at the time of opening, had recently ascended the throne. King George was later acknowledged by the installation of the Crown and lettering spelling out the cinema's name in neon over the front entrance.


The Neon-lit crown was a later addition at the Regal Theatre

The exterior design of the Regal Theatre is unique in Western Australia.  The circular tower, which is the building's most prominent feature, gives cognisance to the corner site and establishs a pleasing relationship with the building on the opposite side.  Hence the Regal is the only cinema still standing in Western Australia which opens onto an intersection.  Because of the concern with symmetry, the façade facing Rokeby Road has a large area of false walling, including false windows, simply to balance the volume of the bio box on the opposidte side.  The central axis of the façade and foyer is situated on a diagonal, whereas the auditorium runs parallel to Rokeby Road, with an unequal face to each street.  The two-tiered half-cylindrical tower features aspects of horizontal and vertical detailing, which is accented with ribbed bands supporting the verticality of the stepped "banner" holding the flashing neon sign.  This lettering has changed in the intervening years.

In 1946 the Regal was sold to Clarence ("Paddy") Baker, whose family have been associations with the site since the Coliseum days.  No history of the building would be complete without a mention of the veteran picture showman who had been associated with the industry since childhood.  Paddy ran the Regal until he died in 1986, leaving his beloved theatre to the people of Western Australia.


Clarence (Paddy) Baker, overseeing the demolition of the Regal Picture Gardens

A testimony to Paddy's frugality is the presentation of most of the original features which reflect the way of life in the late 1930s including the Love Seat (without the benefit of arms), the Crying Room where mothers left their babies (now office of the Manager), the Art Deco chrome and jarrah fittings including the unique ticket box, and the motif from the "Milady's and Gentlemen" (although it is doubtful whether tophats were ever worn to the Regal, even on Opening Night).


Door to the Crying Room where mothers could attend to baby and still watch the film


Gentlemens' toilet

In 1977, John Thornton and Stan Bird leased the Regal Cinema and converted it to live theatre.  In 1985 they instigated the Baker Theatre Trust which now own the Theatre on behalf of the Public of Western Australia.

The inaugural Trustees are: Richard V. Diggins, Ian J Hocking, Ian Lyon, Paul Tammerijn, John C Thornton, John J W Thornton.

This story board was commissioned in 1993 in the year of the Second World Congress on Art Deco.  Information supplied by Vyonne Geneve, President of the Art Deco Society taken from a Master's Thesis title "Versions of Modernism in Cinema Design in W.A." (1930-1940)

The Regal has been listed with the
NATIONAL TRUST and with the AUSTRALIAN HERITAGE COMMISSION