The central entrance flanked each side by a shop, the left one originally the theatres milk bar, is of black glazed tile work with chromium trimmed mirror panels and steps of buff coloured terrazzo. Six plate glass doors give way to a neat and practical vestibule with its island ticket box complete with a ‘bell punch’ ticket vending machine and small candy bar that was added in the 1960’s to replace the original milk bar, which was altered to a shop after a fire.

The auditorium, built with an original seating capacity of 616 red leatherette seats [now 414] on two levels, Stalls and Dress Circle, is streamlined moderne with rectangular themes and features some interesting chrome and opalescent glass art deco light fixtures and the theatres interesting stepped proscenium which frames the original gold crushed velour house curtain. [Currently at a theatre workshop in Melbourne awaiting restoration, budget permitting.]

The Rex has changed ownership several times over the last sixty-five years and is remarkable in the fact that it still stands to this day exactly as built with only a superficial alteration to the proscenium to accommodate a cinemascope screen in the 1950’s and a change to the Auditorium colour scheme in the 1970s. Although, the projection equipment and sound system have been up-graded several times during the period as the industry demanded.

The Rex is now historically important as the last remaining intact or unaltered theatre of its type left in Victoria.

Its impressive although somewhat ‘faded grandeur’ including the original front door mats with Rex Theatre imprinted in them, a traditional back-lit clock and style the of picture presentation [circuits of coloured lighting] is a classic example of a period in ‘the picture show business’ that has almost vanished.

Revenue to operate the Rex is generated solely through the box-office, so each movie ticket you buy helps keep it there and the price of admission is well worth the ‘sense of occasion’ the Rex still offers, that once used to be associated with ‘a night out at the pictures!’

The Rex's appearance on the cover of Cinema Record
The Rex lobby
The Rex's flagpole
A Rex streetscape
The Rex facade
Original Roxy tickets(Rex became Roxy --see history)
The Rex's old screen
The Rex ticket box
Hanging the new screen at The Rex
Those majestic curtains
The Rex clock(traditional backlit)
Optical circuits
The Rex greets CATHS
The Charlton film festival