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Opening film was the British silent Like the St James theatre in
feature Kitty starring John Stuart, Auckland, the Majestic was the place
Estelle Brody and a New Zealander for showcasing all Metro-Goldwyn-
from Kaiapoi who had found fame in Mayer films in the capital. The Girl
Hollywood’s Winter Hall. The From Missouri with Jean Harlow ran
supporting programme included a into extreme censorship problems and
newsreel, the Majestic News and a nearly got sent back there. However, it
short comedy. A stage presentation On completed a successful run on 22
a Spanish Fan was also seen. November 1934 to be followed by
Manager was Alec Snowden, Hideout, something manager Ian
Musical Director George Ellwood, Donald had been doing for the past few
Projectionists Alex Thompson, G.C. weeks.
Gregory and Jack Irving.
Installed when the theatre was built
were two 35mm Cu-Tone New
Zealand-made projectors from Cuff &
Thompson in Auckland. Atlantic, the British film about the
Titanic opened on 26 April to solid
business. Billed as ‘all-talking, singing
and part-Technicolor’ (two-strip), The
Great Gabbo with Erich von Stroheim
and Betty Compton opened on June 10
to good houses and reviews.
In 1931 the Fuller-Hayward Theatre
Corporation was put into receivership.
A drop in patronage, installation of
sound and an expanded building
programme resulted in the company
being over-extended; its cash flow
problems saw it unable to service its
debt. However, the company had been
run with due diligence and the Bank of
New Zealand believed it could trade its
During the last week in June 1929 way out. With a BNZ director on the
Cu-Tone sound was added and used to board it was business as usual. Henry
great effect with the Majestic’s sound Hayward, although asked to stay on as Photographs:
film, The Awakening, starring Vilma managing director, felt honour bound to Left: Estelle Brody.
Banky, which opened on 28 June 1929. resign - and did. Below: Majestic Auditorium
On Sunday June 30 the combined
theatre orchestras, assisted by the Port
Nicholson Silver Band, held a benefit
concert for the Wellington Musicians
Union Sick and Benefit Fund. Playing
late August and into September was
The Three Passions; its star was
Aucklander, Shayle Gardner, who
played in dozens of American and
English films.
Early September 1929 the Majestic
installed a complete new sound system
from RCA. The RCA Photophone was
a ‘sound-on-film’ only system. It came
into operation at the theatre on
September 10 with the Mary Pickford
film, Coquette.
Entertaining in the Majestic lounge
during February 1930 was Miss Muriel
Wilson who exhibited America's latest
syncopated tap dancing before
commencement of the afternoon and
evening sessions of Sunnyside Up.

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