8. Former Regent Theatre, Regent Arcade, 101-107 Rundle Mall

Seating 2298 people, Hoyts 'Regent' opened 29 June 1928 as 'Australia's most luxurious theatre'. Featuring the silent movie 'Flesh and the Devil' with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert, its lavish interior reflected the hedonism and self indulgence of the American movie industry. In 1930 'The Jazz Singer' with Al Jolson was the first 'talkie' shown here. In March 1967 when the Regent staged a charity show to mark its closure prior to being revamped into two smaller cinemas, its mighty Wurlitzer organ sounded its last chords. Remnants of the Arabesque filigree walling decoration are retained. Matching the impressive Regent's Mall facade, a copy was built fronting Grenfell Street in the late 1980s.

Proceed east along Rundle Mall.

9. Site of the former Liberty, Curzon Theatre, 124 Rundle Mall

Located alongside the Richmond Hotel, this war-time single level 400 seat cinema, opened New Years Day 1943 as the Liberty. Described as 'the aristocrat of intimate cinema', it became Adelaide's first art house, showing foreign films which were referred to as 'sizzlers'. The large first floor display window was used to advertise its current attraction. Theatre trough lighting remains a feature in the shop. The projection room was placed between the 1st and 2nd floors.

Proceed to the end of Rundle Mall, at the traffic lights cross Pulteney Street and continue straight along Rundle Street. Continue along Rundle Street over Frome Street.

West&East EndTheatre

Walking TrailAdelaide | South Australia

Regent Theatre in Rundle Mall c.1935

10 & 11. The Palace East End Cinemas, 274 Rundle Street

Built following the refurbishment of the former East End Market in the early 1990s, The Palace at 274 and ultra modern designed, The Nova, opposite at 251 Rundle Street East, are two separate cinema complexes providing 'art house' cinema and where film festivals are now held.

The walk ends here. The East End is home to the former East End markets on the corner of Grenfell Street and East Terrace and you may look at their redevelopment as apartments. You may also wish to visit one of the numerous cafes and restaurants in the area.

Beehive Building in Rundle Mall c.1900

6. Beehive Building, 2 Rundle Mall Only 10 months after the world's first public viewing of 'motion pictures' in Paris, similar first screenings were shown at the Theatre Royal and in the Beehive Building in October 1896. It took another 12 years before Adelaide had its first permanent cinema, West's Olympia. In the 1990s, 'Beehive Corner' received a significant injection of Council funds from its Heritage Incentives Scheme to undertake conservation work and remove unsympathetic changes to the building.

Proceed east along Rundle Mall.

7. Former Grand Picture Theatre, Mayfair and Sturt Cinemas, 23-25 Rundle Mall

The handsome grey and white 5 storey facade is all that remains of this theatre which was built for sole proprietor Alfred Drake. He held a grand opening on 30 November 1916 for the City's Lord Mayor and other dignitaries before it was opened to the public the next day with 'The Fool's Revenge'. It closed in February 1976.

Proceed east along Rundle Mall.

3. Queen's, New Queen's and Victoria Theatre, Gilles Arcade

This State Heritage brick theatre was built for V & E Solomon, two Sydney Jewish brothers and former convicts. The oldest surviving theatre on mainland Australia, it opened in 1841 with 'Othello'. Closed due to a recession in 1842, it became law courts. In 1846, G Coppin opened the New Queen's Theatre alongside in a billiard hall. When the courts moved in 1850, the earlier theatre had a new facade and re-opened as the Royal Victoria Theatre. Following its closure in 1868, it was used as a low class dancing saloon, the City Mission and a horse bazaar. Since an archaelogical dig in 1990, it has been the venue for 'The Magic Flute' in the 1996 Festival of Arts, followed by other theatrical performances.

Return to Currie Street, cross Light Square at the traffic lights to Morphett Street and walk north.

4. Mercury Cinema, 13 Morphett StreetBefore Queen Elizabeth II opened this complex in 1992 comprising the cinema, Jam Factory and other cultural venues on the site of the former 1906 Fowler's Lion Factory, this was the home of the 'Fringe' during earlier Adelaide Festivals of Arts. Opened to the public on Monday nights for cinemateque, it is also used by film makers or private hirers.

Return to Hindley Street, walking east along the northern side of the street.

5. Former My Fair Lady Theatre, 128 Hindley Street

This complex occupies the former site of My Fair Lady Theatre which was built specifically for the SA release of Warner Brothers 'My Fair Lady' in 1966. It then became a Greater Union Cinema but has recently become a church.

Proceed further east along Hindley Street.

Footnote: Four former theatres where the sites have been rebuilt are:

Metro, Hindley Cinemas 1939-1974, at Hindley Street

Pavilion (Pav) 1912-1933, Rex 1933-1959 at 121 Rundle Street

Savoy News Theatre 1941-1966 at 43 Rundle Street

Theatre Royal 1868-1962 in Hindley Street opposite Tattersalls Hotel

Wallis Academy Cinema City 1980-2008 at Hindmarsh Square

York Picture Hall 1921-1960 at 62 Rundle Street

www.adelaidecitycouncil.com/heritage

For more information about other walks contact:

Adelaide City Council Customer Centre Telephone: 8203 7203

To contact Adelaide City Council Heritage staff Telephone: 8203 7445

Photographs courtesy of Adelaide City Council Archives Photographic Collection.

Initiative of Jeffrey Wheare. Additional research by Patricia Sumerling. Photograph of the Metro Theatre courtesy of Colin Flint.

This walking trail reveals the fascinating history of cinemas and theatres in Adelaide. Begin the walk outside the 1930s CML Building on the southern corner of Hindley Street and King William Street. This point is easily accessible by numerous buses.

Remember when going to the 'flicks', 'talkies', 'pictures' or a 'show' in Adelaide was an occasion to dress up for? While London's West End is synonymous with a big night out, Adelaide's entertainment heartland was around the retail area of Hindley and Rundle Streets. Other venues were scattered around the City. The arrival of TV in 1959 saw many theatres close, particularly when colour TV became available. Despite this, a quiet revival that also catered for varying tastes in cinema genres, saw a trend in complexes of smaller sized cinemas, often squeezed into the site of an earlier single venue.

Allow 1.5 to 2 hours to do the walk.

8 10Now demolished Metro Theatre on Hindley Street. Last day, 1974

1. Site of the Wondergraph Theatre, 27-29 Hindley Street

Seating 1800 people and costing £60,000, the Wondergraph designed by Garlick & Jackman with its ornate 'temple of dreams' frontage, opened 5 September 1913. Known as 'the Civic' between 1932-1957, when it was rebuilt and included air conditioning, wide screen and stereophonic sound, it became known as the State until its closure in May 1977. From 2002 this site has continued to be used as 'a unique combination of bar, nightclub and theatre'.

Continue down the southern side of Hindley Street in a westerly direction.

2. Former West's, 91 Hindley Street The City's first permanent picture theatre opened 5 December 1908 in the 1890s Cyclorama building which was briefly the Olympia ice skating rink. It was revamped as a cinema by chain owner, TJ West, who kept the former name for a year. Vaudeville artists appeared live on stage including local born 'Mo' (Roy Rene) who starred in the film classic 'Strike Me Lucky'. Following the cinema's rebuilding it was re-opened Christmas 1939 as West's Theatre showing 'Pygmalion'. Later, live radio for 5DN was broadcast from here. Surviving from the original theatre, but sealed off, is the orchestra pit, dressing rooms and green room with murals decorating some walls. Now home for the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO), lunch time concerts are held here. Along Rosina Street to Currie Street, stop to look at the tall fly tower of the former West's adorned by artwork commissioned for the Adelaide Festival in 2000 featuring 15,000 model cars donated by members of the public.

Walk south down Rosina Street and proceed west up Currie Street, then cross at the traffic lights at Light Square. Then walk east down Currie Street and turn right into Gilles Arcade.

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