Page 17 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Around 1962 the Gaumont Kalee
12s were replaced with GK 19s. George
Knight retired shortly afterwards. When
the Beatles’ A Hard Days Night
opened, the number of sound amplifiers
had been doubled to get the impact
needed. This gave manager Bill Glass
some major problems.
In 1966 seating was reduced to
1,483, and the theatre settled into four
shows a day of first release single
features and re-runs.
Auckland’s International Film
Festival, presented by the Adelaide
Film Festival and the Auckland Festival
Society, in association with Kerridge-
Odeon, began on 14 September 1969
and ran until 25 September. Popular
and profitable, the festival used the
Adelaide program for its first few
years. After the Regent closed the
festival moved to the Embassy.
This ground-breaking feature of 1952 was a more daring study of race relations than Theatres in New Zealand were now
Australia’s Jedda (1955). down to 260, an all time low. By 1971
the Regent had moved into double bills
some cast members arrived for the A ‘new-look Regent’ said the
for much of the time. Many sessions
screening. On stage over 50 members publicity, but nothing changed except
were cut to two per day, depending on
of the Ardmore Teachers College Maori the screen suddenly got bigger.
the film’s pulling power. Friday and
Choir sang, danced and performed the Cinemascope was introduced on 24
Saturday retained the four-session
haka. The Seekers set a five-week December 1954 with Universal-
format. September 1973 packed them
theatre record. International’s The Black Shield Of
in to see the British comedy Percy.
In September David N. Martin and Falworth, with Tony Curtis and Janet Barry Chapman was projectionist.
Kerridge brought back the Vienna Boys Leigh together again. It was Universal’s For the Christmas season the
Choir, always a guaranteed sellout. first CinemaScope film. The program seating was restored to 1,510, which
The New Zealand Alpine Club in also screened on Christmas night. was pointless. After an uninspiring
association with Kerridge-Odeon When Warner Bros. wanted to holiday and New Year program, the
presented on stage and screen Sir reinforce their image, they did it as a theatre settled back into new mediocre
Edmund Hillary in Conqueror Of Showcase at the Regent. Four of the releases. Manager Brian Piper had little
Everest. Described as ‘…an epic of company’s films - The High And The to do.
human courage and endurance, a story Mighty, Dial M For Murder, Ring Of In May 1974 a rumour circulated
to thrill the hearts of all New Fear and Dragnet were the choices to that closure was near. However, when it
Zealanders’ it was a special for two welcome in 1955. Nearly two years did happen it took most people by
days only - October 20 and 21 at 8pm. later, teenagers rocked the theatre at the surprise. Actual closing dates for any
The proceeds from these appearances world premiere of Rock, Rock, Rock cinema were now guarded information.
went to the New Zealand Alpine Club with Chuck Berry and Tuesday Weld. Previously, a ‘Last sessions’
to finance future expeditions. Every The evening of 28 November 1956 was announcement had souvenir hunters
person attending received an one that Queen Street would not forget.
descending and removing everything
autographed photo of Sir Edmund Six hundred cinemas were open in
not screwed down, and even some
Hillary. 1956, with seating for 250,000, offering
things that were.
Some 500 children from homes and a total of 375 feature films. Statistically On Saturday 22 June 1974, after a
orphanages around Auckland were speaking, every New Zealander was two-week season of That Man Bolt,
guests of the Auckland Cinema Club on still supporting movies, 18 times a year, projectionist Phil Lee switched off the
November 20 at a festive Christmas down only marginally from the peak machines for the last time. Manager
party. President of the Club Harry in 1946.
Brian Piper locked the theatre, packed
Gribble and the Mayor handed out Live on stage in September 1960
his bags and headed to Wellington and
lollies and ice creams as the youngsters was the world Yo-Yo champion
the Regent Naenae. All furniture and
sat down to enjoy Bill And Coo. (evening sessions only), backed up by
fittings were sold off. Second-hand and
Rank’s prestigous The Little Blitz on Britain. All-color shorts from antique dealers were reaping a
Kidnappers settled in for a long run - New Zealand and Great Britain goldmine - or should it be a raping?
and what a record breaker! In 144 rounded out the show. The days of a
screenings over seven weeks some big stage attraction were well over.
72,000 people went through the doors.

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