Page 35 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

drawn across the screen at interval. The
lighting included dimmers, but no
colour wheel, so popular in cinemas in
the 1930s.
Being close to the Hutt Park
American Military Camp the theatre
was popular with US Marines, who
would often turn up in incorrect
uniforms. Sometimes the US Military
Police would stride in, bundle soldiers
into trucks and take them back to camp.
On one occasion Les returned to the
box after interval to find six marines
hiding there. Another night, a marine
who did not like a particular film,
ripped all six hand basins from the wall
of the Gents toilet. He was hit on the
head and dumped into a jeep.
Les remembers turning up for a
screening and being asked (in a tone
that meant it was an order) if he would
go with the MPs and fix the projectors
at the Hutt Park Raceway, which he
did.
After the 1942 Wellington
earthquakes, the city engineer inspected
the theatre and recommended some
strengthening and safety measures.
These included a continuous reinforced
concrete band to go around the
Top: In place of stage boxes the impression is of windows to a forest and
building, keyed into the walls, and
fireplaces beneath ATL/HCL/LS
removal of the heavy decorative front
parapet. Above: View from stage ATL/HCL/LS 15952 1/1
Kerridge Odeon were now in
control. The company responded 10.30pm all power went off, and we The auditorium became a
promptly, engaging Ronald Muston and had to walk home in the dark, have warehouse/depot for a carrier, which
Associates (Architects) to prepare plans coffee from a thermos, and prepare for cut a truck entry point in the west wall.
and specifications for the work bed by candlelight. Nobody ever The original entrance was converted
required. Due to wartime shortages of adequately explained why all power to a shop - Shady Lady - selling lamps.
materials, a permit was not issued for went off at the time of lowest load. In 1996 the building was repainted in
the work until 11 May 1945. In view of When the King George closed, the blue and white to emphasise its Art
the prompt action in the case of Prince Edward became the Hutt’s Deco features; a smarter look than in its
damaged Wellington cinemas, this local, and mine too. Manager of Hutt cinema days. This care, and the
delay seems odd. Cinemas, Cyril Townsend transferred building’s dominance in the streetscape,
A local resident remembers the his office to the Prince Edward along suggested a permanence that was
Prince Edward as the social centre of with the projection and sound misleading. A heavy truck, not from the
his life in the 1950s. Programs changed equipment, the seats and the orange and carrier company, side-swiped the
every two days. Matinees cost nine brown Kerridge Odeon carpets. All of a verandah. This apparently weakened
pence, leaving three pence for sweets. sudden the Prince Edward became a the whole structure and the building
Managers came and went rather first-run theatre and the crowds was demolished. ★
rapidly. While one did stay nine years, returned. In Les’ opinion the Kalee 18
Les believes that 25 managers passed projectors brought over were not nearly Edited and extracted from Big Screens
through in his term of 30 years. as robust as Simplex or Ernemann. In The Valley, by Tony Froude.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s After the Odeon opened, the Prince
the Government imposed regulations Edward continued on for several more References
that cut off all electric power at years. It closed 25 August 1980 after 50 1 The Evening Post 27 August 1930
2 Les Townsend; pers. comm.
10.30pm. Cinemas were forced to limit years of service, with the movie The 3 The Evening Post 25 August 1930
intervals and often edit films, so they Electric Horseman. A staff of six 4 The Courier News 1 July 1980
could clear the theatre by ‘curfew’ time. stayed until the end, including Goldie,
I was then living in Christchurch and the last of the theatre’s cats.
used to patronise the Century. At

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