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New Life Church. The current owners
see it as the perfect home. Their weekly
church services, said to pack the
theatre, emphasise the link between
creativity and spirituality. A series of
quotes by famous artists run as a ribbon
of writing around the walls of the foyer.
At the time of a CATHS visit in
2005, the church’s plan was to remove
the baffles and restore the ceiling. The
building is thus a work in progress.
Today Majestic House is still
serving the Christchurch community,
only now as a place of worship. If
church architecture was the initial
inspiration, it now matches the reality.
But for many it was the venue
where Jolson sang, Garbo spoke and
many great artists trod the boards. ★

Acknowledgments: The Majestic by night, mid-to-late 1950s. Franquin was a popular hypnotist on both
I wish to thank the following for their shores of the Tasman. Photo: Trevor King Collection, supplied by the author.
help: Avril Benton, City New Life
Church, Christchurch
Rob Hamill, Dunedin Creativity is constant. Every child is an artist.
Doug Harley, Auckland
Trevor King QSM, Christchurch The problem is how to remain an artist
once he grows up -
References:
Cinema in Christchurch
Robert Jackson, Caxton Press 1986 Pablo Picasso.
Christchurch Cinemas
Hugh Taylor. Privately published 2005
Christchurch Press: 1 March 1930,
3 March 1930, 29 August 1970 Creativity takes courage -
Christchurch Star: 21October 1965
Film Research Wellington: Theatre files Matisse
Kerridge-Odeon Newsletter, January
1949
Souvenir program: Opening of the Examples of the quotes which line the foyer. An emphasis on the creative impulse is a
Majestic Theatre fitting last act for the Majestic.

The Cinema And Theatre Historical Society Inc. is proud to have
The Sun Theatre Yarraville as our major sponsor. Many thanks to member
Mr Michael Smith, the owner of the Sun Theatre, for providing the venue for
CATHS meetings and events.

For program and venue hire inquiries, contact Theatre Manager Ms Angela Murphy
on Tel: 9362 0999 ◆ Fax: 9362 0338 Website: www.suntheatre.com.au
◆
Email: angela@suntheatre.com.au

8 Ballarat Street, Yarraville 3013

CINEMARECORD 2008 19