Regal Cinema, Dublin
Encyclopedia
The Regal Cinema was a film theatre that operated for almost a quarter of a century in Dublin, Ireland
, until its closure in 1962.
. Both venues were owned by the same company, Irish Cinemas Ltd. The cinema opened on Holy Saturday
, 16 April 1938. It was designed by architect Michael Scott
. The first film screened was the screwball comedy
, True Confession
, starring Carole Lombard
and Fred MacMurray
.
In May 1955, the Regal closed while renovations took place. The side balconies were removed to increase the seating capacity to 900. It reopened on 19 August with the Walt Disney
movie, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
.
's documentary
, Mise Éire. In the first week of its run, over 16,000 people viewed the film, breaking all previous box office records at the venue. In October 1961, the sequel, Saoirse?, was also given its Dublin première at the Regal.
On 26 April 1962, a film version of Synge
's The Playboy of the Western World
, starring Siobhán McKenna
, had its world première at the Regal. By then, however, news of the cinema's imminent closure had reached the media.
comedy, Upstairs and Downstairs
. However, the final event at the cinema was a sale of its fixtures and fittings held on 12 July. Among the items auctioned was the big screen, which was sold for £90. The owners attributed their decision to rising costs and a shortage of good quality films. The building was subsequently demolished and replaced by a twelve-storey office block, Hawkins House, headquarters of Ireland's Department of Health and Children.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, until its closure in 1962.
History
Also known as the Regal Rooms Cinema, it was located in Hawkins Street, adjacent to the Theatre RoyalTheatre Royal, Dublin
At one stage in the history of the theatre in Britain and Ireland, the designation Theatre Royal or Royal Theatre was an indication that the theatre was granted a Royal Patent without which theatrical performances were illegal...
. Both venues were owned by the same company, Irish Cinemas Ltd. The cinema opened on Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday
Holy Saturday , sometimes known as Easter Eve or Black Saturday, is the day after Good Friday. It is the day before Easter and the last day of Holy Week in which Christians prepare for Easter...
, 16 April 1938. It was designed by architect Michael Scott
Michael Scott (architect)
Michael Scott was an Irish architect whose buildings included the Busáras building in Dublin, the Abbey Theatre, and Tullamore Hospital....
. The first film screened was the screwball comedy
Screwball Comedy
Screwball Comedy is an album by the Japanese band Soul Flower Union. The album found the band going into a simpler, harder-rocking direction, after several heavily world-music influenced albums.-Track listing:...
, True Confession
True Confession
True Confession is a 1937 screwball comedy film starring Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, and John Barrymore. It was directed by Wesley Ruggles and based on the play Mon Crime, written by Georges Berr and Louis Verneuil.-Plot:...
, starring Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard
Carole Lombard was an American actress. She was particularly noted for her comedic roles in the screwball comedies of the 1930s...
and Fred MacMurray
Fred MacMurray
Frederick Martin "Fred" MacMurray was an American actor who appeared in more than 100 movies and a successful television series during a career that spanned nearly a half-century, from 1930 to the 1970s....
.
In May 1955, the Regal closed while renovations took place. The side balconies were removed to increase the seating capacity to 900. It reopened on 19 August with the Walt Disney
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Pictures is an American film studio owned by The Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Pictures and Television, a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Studios and the main production company for live-action feature films within the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group, based at the Walt Disney...
movie, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954 film)
20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a 1954 adventure film starring Kirk Douglas as Ned Land, James Mason as Captain Nemo, Paul Lukas as Professor Pierre Aronnax, and Peter Lorre as Conseil. It was the first science fiction film produced by Walt Disney Productions, as well as the only science-fiction...
.
Premières
The Regal had its greatest success in February 1960 as the first Dublin cinema to show George MorrisonGeorge Morrison
George Morrison is the name of:* George Morrison , silent film actor starring in The Cameo of the Yellowstone* George Morrison , American artist...
's documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, Mise Éire. In the first week of its run, over 16,000 people viewed the film, breaking all previous box office records at the venue. In October 1961, the sequel, Saoirse?, was also given its Dublin première at the Regal.
On 26 April 1962, a film version of Synge
John Millington Synge
Edmund John Millington Synge was an Irish playwright, poet, prose writer, and collector of folklore. He was a key figure in the Irish Literary Revival and was one of the cofounders of the Abbey Theatre...
's The Playboy of the Western World
The Playboy of the Western World
The Playboy of the Western World is a three-act play written by Irish playwright John Millington Synge and first performed at the Abbey Theatre, Dublin, on January 26, 1907. It is set in Michael James Flaherty's public house in County Mayo during the early 1900s...
, starring Siobhán McKenna
Siobhán McKenna
Siobhán McKenna was an Irish stage and screen actress.-Background:Born Siobhán Giollamhuire Nic Cionnaith in Belfast, Northern Ireland into a Catholic and nationalist family, she grew up in Galway City and in County Monaghan, Ireland speaking fluent Irish...
, had its world première at the Regal. By then, however, news of the cinema's imminent closure had reached the media.
Closure
On 30 June 1962, the Regal Cinema closed down. The last film to be screened there was a re-issue of a BritishUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedy, Upstairs and Downstairs
Upstairs and Downstairs
Upstairs and Downstairs is a 1959 British comedy drama film directed by Ralph Thomas and starring Michael Craig, Anne Heywood, Mylène Demongeot, Claudia Cardinale, James Robertson Justice, Joan Sims, Joan Hickson and Sid James...
. However, the final event at the cinema was a sale of its fixtures and fittings held on 12 July. Among the items auctioned was the big screen, which was sold for £90. The owners attributed their decision to rising costs and a shortage of good quality films. The building was subsequently demolished and replaced by a twelve-storey office block, Hawkins House, headquarters of Ireland's Department of Health and Children.