Northern beaches cinema mogul Roy Mustaca’s $6m upgrade for Circular Quay cinema
Cinema mogul Roy Mustaca is to open another cinema — this time in the heart of Sydney where he plans to turn it into the number one choice for movie premieres.
Manly
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Cinema kingpin Roy Mustaca has expanded his empire to include one of Sydney’s prime movie theatres at Circular Quay.
The Collaroy singer songwriter bought the property 10 years ago and has been leasing it to Dendy Cinemas.
He decided not to renew the company’s lease this year, instead bringing the operation under his own United Cinemas banner, adding to the eight other theatres he is already running.
Mr Mustaca — known for his famous quiff — said the Circular Quay property needed major work and he was planning to double the number of screens to six, add better seating and improve the overall cinema experience by updating the technology.
He said he had set aside $6m to make it Sydney’s showcase cinema.
“It deserves the very best because of its location,” Mr Mustaca, 77, said.
“We are going to do a lot of work, we plan to change everything.”
He said he expected that it would eventually be considered by movie distributors as the first choice in Sydney for premieres.
The renovations will begin when the Australian Chamber of Orchestra, which also leases part of the property, finds a new home.
Three new screens will be built in that space, before an upgrade of the current three screens begins.
Mr Mustaca, who also owns Avalon, Warriewood and Collaroy cinemas on the northern beaches, said the Circular Quay cinema would be beautiful and have the latest technology.
He said he was considering doing away with projectors and installing digital screens at a cost of $1m per screen, as well as laser lighting.
“We are aiming to make this the most prestigious cinema in Sydney,” Mr Mustaca said.
Mr Mustaca’s life story itself is one that would probably make a good movie.
Born in Italy, he started singing aged eight at fiestas in the villages near Calabria to crowds of thousands.
Moving to Sydney with his parents, at age 13, he sang in clubs around the city up to five nights a week.
His career has taken him around the world, to Las Vegas, and most recently back to Italy where he made a CD for charity selling all 20,000 copies.
The singer songwriter told the Manly Daily this week that although the Circular Quay theatre would be a main focus, he would still be seen at the Warriewood site most nights.
“Warriewood will always be home for me,” Mr Mustaca said.