Building History
The first Victoria Theatre was built on the site in 1876. This was altered in 1885 and razed in 1890. The second theatre was built in 1890/1 and closed in 1966.
The architect in charge of the 1890 rebuilding was Mr. James Henderson, who elaborately furnished the three level auditorium in neo-Grecian theme. A large stage house and a small first class hotel were also incorporated in the second theatre, the latter closed during 1921 during extensive renovations to convert the theatre into dual stage and screen use.
By early 1922, the Victoria was taken over by Sir Benjamin and John Fuller of Melbourne's Princess Theatre fame and they built the large St. James Theatre (now demolished) in Sydney, and added Newcastle's Victoria to their national live theatre chain.
In 1942 Hoyts took control of the theatre. CinemaScope was installed around 1955, with no widening of the decorated proscenium. Despite its use as a picture theatre, live theatre continued at the Victoria up until the 1960s, when the Sydney Symphony Orchestra was still performing concerts there.
The interior dress circle, circle foyer, proscenium, stage, fly tower, dressing rooms, ceilings and walls of the Victoria are all intact. Only the vestibule (lower foyer)and back stall area had been subject to alteration for retail purposes. The exterior above the awning is also intact, as it was after the 1921 alterations (with the former hotel windows 'blinded' when the auditorium was extended.
Read more about this topic: Victoria Theatre (Newcastle)
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