Ritz Theatre

Situated on Bell Street, beside Cribb & Foote, the Ritz Theatre opened on 26 April 1940 with a gala celebration. The Minister for Mines, D.A. Gledson attended and Navy Sea Cadets formed a guard of honour to greet guests. Two movies were shown: Shipyard Sally starring Gracie Fields, and South of the Border starring Gene Autry. There was also a newsreel. 

The Ritz was built by Queensland Theatres Pty Ltd. The architects were Guy Crick and Bruce Furse of Sydney. The theatre was in the Art Deco style using green and cream colours. It was the first theatre in Ipswich to be air conditioned. The Ritz featured a large candy bar in the foyer and luxury cushioned chairs using Dunlopillo foam latex. There was also colored Fluron fluorescent lighting that changed and dimmed. Another remarkable feature was a soundproof crying room for parents to retire to with crying children and not miss the film. 

People of Ipswich were asked to name the new theatre. Thousands entered the competition with Mrs W. Thomson of Dinmore providing the winning entry. 

The Ritz Cafe was located beside the theatre in a separate older building that was two storeys. It too was in the Art Deco style too and had a billiard saloon upstairs. 

The Ritz Theatre was sold to Cribb & Foote to be used for the first multi-storey carpark in Ipswich. It closed in April 1966.