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Right place at the right time: St. Peter’s
Hall, Paekakariki, near a U.S. Marine’s
camp.

A growing population needed a
larger cinema and when a town in the
South Island changed its plans, Charlie
saw an opportunity. A fully prefabricated
cinema from Australia lay unwanted on
the wharf. Charlie’s offer was accepted.
The town got a 600-seat venue,
which he called the Mercury. It had a
raked floor and a Miracle Mirror screen
32xl2 feet (11x4m). The projectors
were Imperial, soon replaced by Waltur
Claw 5, with Zeiss Anamorphic lenses.
The throw to the screen was 90 feet.
The sound was a local system known as
Roycroft.
The Mercury staff was largely the
Banks family plus a few friends: Queen
(who died soon after the opening), Bill
and his wife Doris, and Isobel Banks
who had been a district nurse. As Bill’s
daughters grew up they helped out with
cleaning. Janis, the elder, also did some
ushering.
In 1977, after television cut
audience numbers the Mercury was
reduced to 300 seats then sold to Carol
and Merv. Kisby. They later bought the
Penthouse Cinema in Brooklyn, a
suburb of Wellington.
With the Mercury sold, Bill and the
family went to Queensland where he
moved into real estate, worked in
journalism and was elected a councillor
of the Albert Shire.
Doris his wife, worked at the
Sundale Cinema in Southport.
Daughter Janis was a part-time cashier Top: Charlie Banks with granddaughters
at the Paradise Cinema in Surfers Helen (left) and Janis at a Mercury
Paradise, then at the Mermaid further Three generations of the family matinee in 1959.
south. She was working there when it grew along with the cinema. They were Middle: A proud Bill Banks shows off the
became a five-screen multiplex. part of the pioneer industry, saw it Miracle Mirror screen at the Mercury.
All of the Banks family are now out mature, saw it decline then make a Above: The Mercury building in 2002.
of the industry. Daughters Janis and comeback in the 80s. All in all, a All photos from the author’s collection.
Helen gained University degrees and treasure-trove of stories for family get-
have done well in their chosen careers. togethers. ★

CINEMARECORD 2007 25