Why Daylesford is going to the dogs 2 November 8, 2007
Posted by daylesford in Uncategorized.Tags: cinema, Daylesford, Rex Theatre
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Eight months ago !!!!!! this self same rear angle shot of the Rex showed virtually no difference. (See The Wrecks.) Have the geniuses who ruined one of the great regional cinemas run out of cash?
”They are taking their time,” was one comment from someone in the know. Apparently a bit of electrical work was done last week.
This is the second Daylesford icon vacillating at the mercy of people who can’t see beyond the bottom line. What sort of completion clauses does council insert in the construction permits? Demolition sure was swift.
You can apparently rip the guts out of anything you want, then let your handiwork rot.
Stalag Rex today (and for the past 8 months)
Daylesford Rex- Information
Architects: Bohringer, Tayloe & Johnston of 80 Swantson St, Melbourne.
Constructed By: F.L Walton and Company of Brighton.
Built for: A.M.Christie Esq.
Opened: Boxing Night, Thursday, December 26th, 1929 with the silent motion picture ‘The Student Prince”
accompanied by a specially arranged orchestra.
Seating Capacity: 1929= 859 (306 in Dress Circle and 553 in the Stalls)
1941= 850
1949 – Dress-Circle refitted with Upgraded seating in December.
Sound Installation: March 1930 with Western Electric equipment installed.
Projection Eqipment: Centrex projection heads with Westrex Sound.
Cinemascope: 1955 without alteration to the procenium for the wide-screen ratio screen.
Projection Ugrade: Later in 1955 equipment was changed to Gaumont-Kalee 21 Projectors.
Theatre Closed: 1963.
Use since closure: Supermarket; Retail store. (Only structural alteration since closure was the removal of the main staircase from the centre of the entrance lobby to the dress-circle foyer.)
There is some information on Australias last spanish style theatre.
I hope you developers are happy now that you have just destroyed it, get out of our town we don’t want you.
Guess who just brightened up my day?
Thanks a lot!
Although this might sound strange it gives me great plesure to say that when Daylesford had 100mm of rail the other week the rex could have been used as a commumity swimming pool!!! Water that had banked up had also flooded the shop next door. Up yours developers. hope this sets you back again….