Roxy Theatre
HISTORY
The Roxy Theatre opened 7 April 1930 and was built for Riverina Theatre entrepreneur George Conson. The architects for the theatre were the noted firm of Kaberry and Chard.
The popularity of the Roxy as a theatre name, imported from America’s most famous movie theatre, reflects the importance, and worldwide influence of movies and the glamorous American lifestyle depicted in Hollywood films, embraced by Australian society during the 1920s and 1930s inter-war period. The original Roxy Theatre, built in New York in 1927, was the world’s largest showcase cinema from this era of theatrical movie palaces. It was established by and named after the master cinema showman himself, Samuel ‘Roxy’ Rothafel as a name thus became synonymous with showmanship and dramatic cinema palaces from the boom time era of movies, wherever American cinema, Pop culture, and the theatrical American movie lifestyle became influential, admired, and replicated.
The theatre was built by Mr W. H. Jones with a seating capacity of 1091 on two levels. The Roxy was built in a modified Spanish Mission Style, with large red neon signs that were visible from a great distance at night, owing to the theatre’s location on top of a hill. As a result, the Roxy was nick-named ‘Big Red’. These lights were installed in 1933 when a full-sized concert stage was constructed to mark its official opening. Australia’s celebrated soprano singer, Miss Gladys Moncrieff OBE, was engaged to sing in October 1933, as part of these opening celebrations.
Brakelite cinema screen was installed, in 1948 manufactured by GR Brakell. Riverina Theatres Ltd announced for the summer months the Roxy Theatre was opened on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the Roxy Gardens Theatre opened every night weather permitting. Live performances being staged at the Roxy Theatre, inclusive of Barton’s Follies.
In 1977 the theatre’s future was threatened with redevelopment. A meeting was called on 2 June 1977 by the Leeton and District Community Advancement Fund where the theatre’s future was discussed including unanimously agreeing that the theatre should be retained as a Civic type building and also should be saved as a picture theatre. On 23 June 1977 the matter of the theatre was discussed further at its Annual General meeting with extensive investigations made and convinced of the building’s soundness and viability. The theatre was purchased by the community after a massive fund-raising drive. $27,000 was raised by the Save The Roxy Committee and it was purchased for $75,000 with ownership vested in Leeton Shire Council.
The theatre was progressively upgraded to provide a larger stage area and new dressing rooms, with a present seating capacity of 880 people (414 downstairs and 474 in the upstairs lounge area). It is run by a small part-time staff and a voluntary management committee. In addition to showing regular films, the Roxy is now the venue for eisteddfods, discos, high school speech nights and the musical society’s annual production.
The Roxy Theatre has been restored to its original 1930s style and importantly the restoration of the neon lights known as ‘Big Red’ became operational in 1992 after almost two decades.
TIMELINE
7th April 1930: Roxy Community Theatre held it’s first screening with “The Black Watch.”
April 1930: Western Electric Sound System was installed for quality sound and clarity of voices in films
1933: Auditorium completed with the building of the orchestra pit, proscenium, stage
and dressing rooms. New stage and proscenium arch were revealed to the public at an official opening in October 1933.
July 1933: The large Red Neon lights were erected.
March 1936: Transfer of ownership of the Roxy from George Conson to Riverina Theatres Ltd.
1940: The Roxy commenced screenings of news reels covering the war in Europe. Licensed with a seating capacity of 1044 (stalls 586, circle 434, and boxes 24) 1940
August The Leeton ‘Win the War’ rally held at the Roxy Theatre and raised 46,000 pounds.
Programme included performances by the Leeton District Band and the Leeton Orpheus Society, and with singing of patriotic songs such as ‘There Will Always be an England’.
1941: Licensing authority noted the actual seating installed in 1930 totalled 1080 (stalls 586, circle 470, and boxes 24).
1948: Brakelite cinema screen installed, manufactured by GR Brakell. Riverina Theatres Ltd announced for the summer months the Roxy Theatre was opened on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the Roxy Gardens Theatre opened every night weather permitting. Live performances being staged at the Roxy Theatre, inclusive of Barton’s Follies
1954: ‘A Queen is Crowned’ the film of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II screened at the Roxy
1968: Stage being used for live shows as well as projecting cinema films 4 to 6 nights weekly. Screen converted to a moveable type by fitting wheels to the tubular steel frame to allow for live shows.
1970: Commencement of the biennial Rice Bowl Festival.
1970: Portion of the fixed seating in the front stalls removed and seats placed on skids to convert to portable seating to provide an area of 60’ by 40’ for balls and dances. Alterations made to the stage inclusive of handrails provided to the stage steps and balustrade fitting to stage apron. Manager of Riverina Theatres Pty Ltd was Alan Barnes.
1971: Timber framed skillion roof of the boiler room replaced by a concrete slab, and a new 500 gals. capacity fuel storage tank installed. Management changed its policy in respect of dancing, and the seats previously removed were replaced and the seating capacity reduced.
1977: Threatened with closure, and redevelopment of the site. Used for exhibition of films four nights per week mostly. Licensed seating capacity 1048 (567 in the stalls, 481 in the circle).
1978: March Roxy Community Theatre Management Committee formed. Brian H Maquire elected first chairperson. Brian Aird was appointed manager, assisted by his wife Patricia taking on the role of office secretary.
1978: April Purchased by the Council of the Shire of Leeton for $75,000 with funds partly ($27,000) raised by the Save The Roxy Committee.
1978: July The Council of the Shire of Leeton registered as the owner.
1978: New stage curtains installed. PFZ Monarch brand.
1979: Seating is now 990
1980: Plans of alterations documented by architect Brian Victor Budd approved. New stage floor New male toilets built New Brakell Projects cinema screen installed, and removal of the original proscenium arch and orchestra pit to accommodate it. Upgrading electrical services Screenings 2-3 times per week
1981: Alterations completed.
1981: March John Lee elected chairperson of the Roxy Community Theatre Management Committee.
1983: Proposal for widening of dress circle crossover approved. First Blue Light disco staged.
1984: New Axminister carpets laid.
1986: The Wurlitzer organ was sourced from Albury and installed.
1988: Alterations and additions undertaken, inclusive of additional women’s toilet facilities on the ground and first floors, and a steel awning over ground floor exit court. Documented by Leeton Shire Council. Mrs Jessie Harrison donated the Yamaha grand piano. Inaugural recital given by Roger Woodward.
1989: Installation of heating units in the dressing rooms. Licensed seating capacity 888 (482 in the stalls, 406 in the circle).
1989: March Margaret Sands elected chairperson of the Roxy Community Theatre Management Committee.
1991 Leeton Shire Council provided financial aid for the next three years.
1992: Neon Roxy signage restored and back in operation. New seats were installed. Final Blue Light disco staged.
1990s: Larger stage and new dressing rooms built. Licensed seating capacity reduced to 880 (414 in the stalls, 474 in the gallery). General renovations to reinstate the appearance of the 1930s. Seating replaced.
2001: The Leeton Roxy Community Theatre awarded winner of The Cultural Heritage Conservation Award Population 4001-10000 by the Tidy Towns … Council The Leeton Roxy Community Theatre awarded winner of Heritage Advisors Award of the Walter Burley Griffin Award. Roxy Theatre hosted Screen Sound executives from the National Film & Sound Archive. Roxy Theatre hosted Big Screen 2001, a celebration of Australian cinema.
2002: September Michael Kidd elected chairperson of the Roxy Community Theatre Management Committee.
2005: June Brian and Patricia Aird retired. Management Committee disbanded Leeton Shire Council assumed full control of managing the theatre.
Post 2005: Auditorium flooring refurbished, seating made relocatable, and new sound system installed.
2006: February Roxy Community Theatre entered in the NSW State Heritage Register.
2010: Up in Lights, a history of the Roxy Theatre by Margaret Sands is published by Leeton Shire.
2018: In December 2018 the NSW Government announced an additional $3.9 million grant towards a $4.4 million refurbishment of the Roxy Theatre.
2020-2021: Williams Boag Architects of Melbourne prepare Drawings for the Roxy Community Theatre re-development and tenders are called for builders to undertake the construction works.
Information provided by Noel Thomson FRAIA