Punters celebrated with a '50s themed party at the cinema, which saw a full house for the screening of the 1957 British comedy, The Smallest Show on Earth. 

"The Regal is a happy place,"  said George Merryman, who operates the cinema with partner Jo Smith. 

"There is a special energy that comes when you are acknowledging a milestone."

The Regal is one of just two cinemas remaining in the Newcastle local government area, after last year's closure of the Tower Cinemas. And it is the city's last single-screen picture-house.

The celebration was particularly pertinent, with the cinema having survived yet another recent brush with the prospect of closure. 

The Regal was built in the 1930s by volunteer labour, but its doors closed in 2006. Through the efforts of volunteers it was renovated and re-opened in 2014. 

"The volunteer spirit, their role is huge," Mr Merryman said. "It was built by volunteer labour, so I think it is just infused with that kind of energy."

In 2018, the Regal faced the prospect of closing down after Newcastle City Council proposed to cut the number of car parks available to cinema patrons, under a plan to upgrade the area near the Birmingham Gardens roundabout.  

“Lack of parking is one of the key factors that killed the Tower Cinemas in town,” Mr Merryman said.

"And council has assured us nothing would be done that could jeopardise the viability of the cinema."

Mr Merryman said a visit to the Regal was like "stepping back in time".

"I'm at the box office, Jo is seeing people to their seats," he said. 

Unusually, snacks and drinks are included in the ticket price. The idea of providing snacks was to get patrons out of their seats and mingling as they stand around the snack table before screenings.

"It gives strangers permission to speak to each other," Mr Merryman said. "It has that community spirit.

"People come in and they get that sense, they are not on their own at the Regal.

"People stay back after sessions and help clean up, or they turn up to another session with 150 baked cookies.

"It comes from having experienced it and wanting to contribute to that experience. Our volunteer roster is literally over 100."

The cinema has experienced increased patronage since the closure of the King Street cinema in 2018. In response, the Regal Cinema will be expanding its operations.

"The cinema will be hosting special nights and themed film festivals throughout the year in order to provide a home for great films that wouldn’t otherwise be seen by local audiences," Mr Merryman said. 

“It’s our small attempt to help fill at least part of the void left by the Tower Cinemas."

Regal co-operator Jo Smith is the Labor candidate for the seat of Lake Macquarie at the March 23 state election.

If successful, there will be "no change" at the Regal.

“Parliament doesn’t sit at weekends,” Ms Smith said.