Page 25 - CR
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Another highlight was CATHS
          member Alan Webb’s Regent Theatre
          in Te Awamutu. This rural cinema has
          evolved over the years from a single
          screen to five. Each screen features
          different themes and all have screen
          curtains.
            The showpiece of the tour was the
          magnificent Civic Theatre in Auckland.
          This eastern themed, atmospheric once
          seated about 3500 patrons. Arguably the
          biggest and best of the Australasian
          atmospherics; the theatre featured
          extensive foyer spaces, and a grand
          ballroom beneath (the Wintergarden). It
          is the last surviving atmospheric in New
          Zealand. The other examples were at
          Christchurch and Dunedin.
            Perhaps the most unusual cinemas
          were to be found in the rural, coastal
          town of Matakana (north east of
          Auckland). The Matakana Cinemas      During the 1930’s and ‘40’s many   The tour participants were delighted
          were part of a village themed complex,  exhibition circuits were amalgamated  with the variety of scenery found on the
          also including a tavern and shops. The  leading to the dominance of the  North Island. This included a great boat
          Cinemas were most stylish in both  Kerridge and Amalgamated circuits.  trip at the Bay of Islands. Some of the
          design and the fabrics used on walls  At most locations there was at least one  attractions visited included the
          and draperies.                    theatre of each chain. Often long leases  Southward Car Museum; now the home
            The middle cinema featured 31,000  were taken over Town Halls to achieve  of the Wurlitzer organ from Auckland’s
          paper flowers, affixed to its ceiling.  a presence in a community. These  Civic Theatre. Another unusual visit
          The best seats in the house were in the  famous exhibition chains no longer  was to a country car wrecking yard
          front row. This feature was not   exist because of corporate takeovers.  which was had been used as a film set.
          uncommon in New Zealand cinemas.  The arrival of television (from 1960)  A lunch time yacht cruise on Auckland
                                            also led to the rapid decline of   harbour completed the main part of the
                                            traditional cinemas.               tour.  We returned to Melbourne from
                                               In the 1930’s, the art moderne style  Auckland.
                                            became very popular in new theatre    Our thanks go to the many New
                                            design and refurbishment. Many newer  Zealanders who generously arranged
                                            theatres featured single rake or stadium  parts of our itinerary and called up
                                            style auditoriums and were usually less  favours from other exhibitors or owners
                                            than 880 seats in capacity. The vertical  of former theatres. Hopefully more
                                            action “waterfall curtains” were also very  detailed articles on New Zealand
                                            popular. These expensive curtains were  cinemas and theatres will follow.
            We found the New Zealand theatre  found in theatres of all sizes, including
          experience very similar to Australia’s.  rural and urban locations.
          From the beginning the two countries  Many of the country cinemas
          shared entrepreneurs, architects and  visited were now under the control of
          builders. Even the international  community groups who are doing a
          acquisitions were similar. Twentieth  magnificent job in keeping them going.
          Century Fox acquired the Amalgamated  We found several smallish cinemas in
          chain, and J Arthur Rank, the Kerridge  rural towns, seating around 600-700.
          group.                               Our various hosts proved to be very
            Apparently New Zealanders were  passionate about their cinemas and
          bigger film goers than Australians. This  theatres and displayed a great
          led to purpose built theatres being also  knowledge about the New Zealand
          found in many small communities, the  scene.
          likes of which did not occur in
                                            Top & Left: Auditoriums at Matakama.
          Australia.
                                            Right: Caths President Gerry Kennedy
            New Zealand has a current population  thanks the management of the Palmerston
          of about 4.3 million people and it is  North Regent for their hospitality.
          mystifying how so many theatres existed
          in both rural and urban locations.       Report by Gerry Kennedy.




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