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To celebrate Metro-Goldwyn- The festive season came to the
Mayer’s 30th Anniversary the theatre theatre in the form of White Christmas,
was chosen to run a five-day festival of the first film in VistaVision; it stayed
five unreleased films, each film well into the New Year.
screening for one day only - a paid CinemaScope finally came to the
preview with free word-of-mouth theatre in 1955 with the screening of
publicity. The films were Executive The Black Shield Of Falworth starring
Suite, All The Brothers Were Valiant, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.
Julius Caesar, Easy To Love and
Kerridge went all-out for the
Mogambo. However, 1953 was not a
premiere of The Dam Busters: a special
good year for Kerridge-Odeon.
curtain was hung with the 617
In early 1953 MGM advised Squadron’s crest upon it and would
Kerridge that they intended to film all remain in place for the entire run of the
their top films in CinemaScope and that film. On opening night the Royal New
Kerridge-Odeon should start to convert Zealand Air Force Band played,
its theatres. R.J. Kerridge believed that searchlights lit up the sky and a full
CinemaScope, like 3D, was a passing guard of honour by air servicemen and
phase and refused, saying that since all women formed as guests arrived.
studios were also producing ‘flat’ Above: Front cover of the special souvenir The August 1956 gala opening of
versions of their ’Scope films he would program for the film “The Seekers”.
Columbia’s CinemaScope film
play the ‘flat’ prints. MGM felt insulted
Cockleshell Heroes was a more
and refused, taking their product to
Manager Norman Hayward had all subdued affair, being held in the
Amalgamated Theatres which had
staff lined up for inspection: usherettes’ presence of the three branches of the
begun conversion to CinemaScope of
uniforms clean and pressed, stocking armed services, again with a full
all their theatres, thanks to finance
seams straight, makeup and perfume honour guard.
provided by co-owner 20th Century-
not over-done; doormen uniforms clean Sometime in the late 1950s the
Fox. By the end of 1953 no more first-
and pressed, hands clean and nails black leopards with the glowing red
release MGM product played the
trimmed, with white gloves spotless. eyes disappeared and no doubt were a
Kerridge-Odeon circuits. K.O. would
When approved, staff retired to their sign of the times to come. While
not begin installing CinemaScope until
stations. For Wellington it was a red maintenance was cut back, painting
1955.
carpet event the city was not going to was maintained.
1954 saw a makeover and spruce-up
forget. Proceeds from the Rank
with seating reduced to 2121 (a few The Big Country was a big film that
Organisation’s film were going to the
years later it would again drop to opened 3 April 1959 with four sessions
Harry Squires Memorial Fund.
2083). A floating screen was installed. a day. Sunday saw the screening of the
Master of Ceremonies for the Elizabeth Taylor - Peter Finch film
The Seekers, a story about early
evening was Lyall Boyes and ‘Doreen’ Elephant Walk. Since the late 1950s
New Zealand and partly filmed here,
from Radio 2ZB. The gala event saw theatres were permitted to open on
had its World Premiere in Auckland,
performances by the Lower Hutt Civic Sunday, one from each chain that is; a
Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
Marching Band and the Ngati Poneke decade later this had all changed.
on 24 June 1954, simultaneously with
Maori Choir. Huge searchlights played
London. On the ground floor left-hand side
across the Majestic and the National
entrance to the theatre from Willis
Film Unit filmed the entire event.
Street was Camera House, another K.O.
Guests included the Governor General
company selling everything
Sir Willoughby Norrie and Lady
photographic. It also rented out 16mm
Norrie, Members of Parliament, the
Bell & Howell and Kelvin projectors.
Mayor and City Councillors, industry
Camera House shops were throughout
members and other invited guests.
the country and usually situated in
Representing R.J. Kerridge was
Kerridge theatres that had shop space
Norman Hayward. Also as honoured
on the ground floor at street level.
guests were the N.Z. cast and Guide
Rank Film Distributors moved their
Rangi.
Wellington office on 1st September
1960 to the first floor of the Majestic
Building, however the film vault and
printing department went up to
Auckland.
Left: Front entrance from Willis Street with
Ticket Box straight ahead and doors to the
Cabaret on the right.
Photograph: David Lascelles collection.
28 2010 CINEMARECORD