Regal Cinema, Dublin

The Regal Cinema was a film theatre that operated for almost a quarter of a century in Dublin, Ireland, until its closure in 1962.

Regal Cinema

Regal Rooms Cinema
Address	Hawkins Street Dublin Ireland
Owner	Irish Cinemas Ltd.
Type	Cinema
Capacity	900
Current use	Demolished
Construction
Opened	16 April 1938
Closed	30 June 1962
Reopened	19 August 1955
Architect	Michael Scott

History

Also known as the Regal Rooms Cinema, it was located in Hawkins Street, adjacent to the Theatre Royal. Both venues were owned by the same company, Irish Cinemas Ltd. The cinema opened on Holy Saturday, 16 April 1938.[1] It was designed by architect Michael Scott.[2] The first film screened was the screwball comedy, True Confession, starring Carole Lombard and Fred MacMurray.[3]

In May 1955, the Regal closed while renovations took place. The side balconies were removed to increase the seating capacity to 900.[4][5] It reopened on 19 August with the Walt Disney movie, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.[6]

Premières

The Regal had its greatest success in February 1960 as the first Dublin cinema to show George Morrison'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.[7] In October 1961, the sequel, Saoirse?, was also given its Dublin première at the Regal.[8]

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.[9] By then, news of the cinema's imminent closure had reached the media.[10]

Closure

On 30 June 1962, the Regal Cinema closed down.[11] The last film to be screened there was a re-issue of a British comedy, Upstairs and Downstairs.[12] 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.[13] The owners attributed their decision to rising costs and a shortage of good quality films.[11] The building was subsequently demolished and replaced by a twelve-storey office block, Hawkins House, headquarters of Ireland's Department of Health.[5]

Sources

1. The Irish Times, 8 April 1938, p. 6
2. The Irish Times, "Regal Cinema opening", 7 April, 1938
3. The Irish Times, "Films of the week", 18 April, 1938
4. The Irish Times, "Cinema closes for renovations", 23 May, 1955
5. Irish Independent", "Royal and Regal will be offices", 15 February, 1962
6. The Irish Times, "Nemo dives again", 22 August, 1955
7. The Irish Times, "16,525 have seen 'Mise Eire'", 13 February, 1960
8. The Irish Times, "Ministers see new Irish film", 21 October, 1961
9. The Irish Times, "'The Playboy' as a film", 26 April, 1962
10. The Irish Times, "Theatre Royal and Regal to close", 15 February, 1962
11. The Irish Times, "Theatre Royal to close next month", 16 May, 1962
12. The Irish Times, "Requiem for the cowboy", 25 June, 1962
13. Irish Independent", "£90 for Regal Cinema screen", 13 July, 1962