The Regal Cinema was a film theatre that operated for almost a quarter of a century in

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, until its closure in 1962.

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 Holy Saturday ( la, Sabbatum Sanctum), also known as Great and Holy Saturday (also Holy and Great Saturday), the Great Sabbath, Hallelujah Saturday (in Portugal and Brazil), Saturday of the Glory, Sabado de Gloria, and Black Saturday or Easter ...

, 16 April 1938. It was designed by architect Michael Scott. The first film screened was the

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, ''

True Confession ''True Confession'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film directed by Wesley Ruggles and starring Carole Lombard, Fred MacMurray, and John Barrymore. It was based on the 1934 play ''Mon Crime'', written by Georges Berr and Louis Verneuil. In ...

'', starring

Carole Lombard Carole Lombard (born Jane Alice Peters; October 6, 1908 – January 16, 1942) was an American actress, particularly noted for her energetic, often off-beat roles in screwball comedies. In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Lombard 2 ...

and

Fred MacMurray Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991) was an American actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films and a successful television series, in a career that spanned nearly a half-century. His career as a major film le ...

. In May 1955, the Regal closed while renovations took place. The side balconies were removed to increase the seating capacity to 900.''Irish Independent'', "Royal and Regal will be offices", 15 February 1962 It reopened on 19 August with the

Walt Disney Walter Elias Disney (; December 5, 1901December 15, 1966) was an American animator, film producer and entrepreneur. A pioneer of the American animation industry, he introduced several developments in the production of cartoons. As a film p ...

movie, ''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea''.

Premieres

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. 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 ''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 26 January 1907. It is set in Michael James Flaherty's public house in County Mayo (o ...

'', starring

Siobhán McKenna Siobhán McKenna (; 24 May 1922 – 16 November 1986) was an Irish stage and screen actress. Background She was born Siobhán Giollamhuire Nic Cionnaith in Belfast in the newly-created Northern Ireland into a Catholic and nationalist family. ...

, had its world premiere at the Regal. By then, news of the cinema's imminent closure had reached the media.

Closure

On 30 June 1962, the Regal Cinema closed down.''The Irish Times'', "Theatre Royal to close next month", 16 May 1962 The last film to be screened there was a re-issue of a

British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

comedy, '' Upstairs and Downstairs''. 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.''Irish Independent'', "£90 for Regal Cinema screen", 13 July 1962 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 A health department or health ministry is a part of government which focuses on issues related to the general health of the citizenry. Subnational entities, such as states, counties and cities, often also operate a health department of their ow ...

Sources

{{Cinemas of Dublin 1938 establishments in Ireland 1962 disestablishments Former cinemas in Dublin (city)