theatrical

The location previously operated as the Wintergarden Theatre cinema complex from 1924 until it closed in 1973 and was demolished in 1981.[3] The original building was designed by Ballantyne and Hare of Melbourne. Hall and Prentice in Brisbane provided local design assistance. The theatre featured a Wurlitzer pipe organ which could be raised and lowered from the orchestra pit. In 1929 the rival Regent Theatre opened in Queen Street 1929.[4] With the transfer of ownership of the theatre to the Kern Corporation in the 1970s, and plans for the construction of the Queensland Performing Arts Centre at South Bank, the Her Majestys Theatre building next door to the Wintergarden was also marked for demolition and inclusion in the proposed new Wintergarden shopping center. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wintergarden,_Brisbane

The Tivoli Theatre's construction began in Albert Street, Brisbane in 1914, on the site of the former Turkish baths.[1] It was designed by architect Henry E. White in an art nouveau style and could house 1800 people on three levels. It was chilled by an air plant that could pump ice-cold are through the venue. It had ruby red carpets. It also featured a garden rooftop theatre holding 1200 with open sides for ventilation and steel shutters that could keep out the rain.[2][3] Its facade overlooking Albert Square had Oriental influences.[1] It opened on 15 May 1915[4] and featured a production of The Tivoli Follies in the auditorium and a vaudeville production in the rooftop theatre. These were staged by Hugh D. McIntosh, a showman, and promoter who was influential in the Rickard Tivoli circuit of Australia. It had a rival in vaudeville theatre the Empire Theatre also located in Albert Street which drew bigger crowds.[5] Smoking was permitted in the rooftop theatre. During Brisbane's hot summer months, the rooftop garden was meant to be more desirable. As the building had two entrances, it was possible for two production companies to co-exist on site with separate audiences as well.[1] Films were later shown in both venues after the advent of talking films. Union Theatres Ltd. renovated the Tivoli Theatre in 1927 using Sydney architects, Kaberry and Chard. This was to provide for more seating as the venue changed from a live theatre venue to that more suited to a film-going audience. Two galleries were removed to make way for a single dress circle.[1] With the onset of the Great Depression in the 1930s, it was critical that the theatre could accommodate enough people to recover costs from cinema audiences as live theatre attendance dropped. More renovations to the foyer and the auditorium took place in 1935. The Tivoli was purchased by the Brisbane City Council in 1963 and closed in 1965. The intended King George Square development led to a number of buildings being demolished, including Centennial Hall and the Hibernian Building.[6] Programs from the theatre are held in the Fryer Library of the University of Queensland. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tivoli_Theatre,_Brisbane

The heritage-listed Princess Theatre is the only remaining 19th-century theatre in Brisbane. It was built during the economic and building boom of the 1880s at a time when live entertainment was popular and ornate theatres were the norm. The theatre was designed by Brisbane architect John Beauchamp Nicholson who also designed other heritage-listed buildings including the Taylor-Heaslop Building and Norman Hotel in Woolloongabba. In 1892 it was renamed the Boggo Road Theatre. In 1893 John Hardgrave bought it from his son and called it the Princess Theatre. In 1899 it was bought by draper John Finney who turned it into a clothing factory. From 1912 to the 1920s it was a silent movie theatre, with Charlie Chaplin films drawing big crowds. From 1942 to 1945 the theatre was used as the administrative and rehearsal centre for the United States Entertainment Unit. It continued to be used by other public theatre and dance groups as well as for boxing matches and public meetings. Due to declining attendances, the theatre was closed to the public from 1949 – 1985 and was rented to a variety of small business enterprises including a secondhand dealer, paper wholesaler, and an engineering firm. From 1948-to 1979 the stage and backstage area were leased to a printing firm. In 1985 the REMM group purchased the building and carried out extensive external restoration. The Twelfth Night Theatre Group accepted a ten-year lease and carried out internal refurbishments. Unfortunately, due to financial difficulties, their last performance was in 1991. In 2001 it was leased by the Metro Central Community Church (now Lifecity Church) and bought by them in 2003. Church services and other events are held in the former theatre and the venue is hired out theatre performances, events and weddings. Original interior features such as the plaster ceilings and architraves, plush velvet curtains, polished floors are intact. Source: kangaroopointhistory.com.au/places/theatres/