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Regent, Dunedin December 1945
On a cold day in March 1946, after two weeks As Williamson's name disappeared from the
of negotiation, Kerridge sold 50% of all his movie going public, and their ‘Williamson
holdings to Rank's Odeon Holdings (London) Weekly’ and ‘Regent Review’ magazines
“Williamson’s Weekly”, was given away free to patrons.
Above is the Auckland Regent Issue 10, January 1930. Ltd, for £1 million. became only a memory or treasured souvenir.
Kerridge started to stamp his own brand and
J. Arthur Rank. Edwards and Kerridge met Back home, when the news broke, board style of operation upon the Company. Over
again, and the Williamson Board received members were apprehensive but were the years beginning in the 1960s, many of the
assurances that, upon his return from England, reassured by the Kerridge letter. Shortly after theatres were closed and the property sold.
serious negotiations would begin. Edwards Kerridge returned to New Zealand, Those wonderful Regents in Wellington,
conveyed this to John McKenzie, who wanted negotiations started in earnest for the Auckland, Wanganui and Invercargill were
a sale, and to the Taits who had some complete purchase of the entire share of the bulldozed. The art deco Embassy Auckland,
reservations, but would be happy if the price J.C. Williamson Picture Corporation. like those small suburban houses, have long
was right. since been consigned to memory. However,
In the meantime, Williamson's did some Williamson's legacy lives on with two of its
Kerridge had little choice, as most of the 20 housekeeping and registered a number of new magnificently restored ‘Regents’ - the Regent
theatres with which Williamson was holding companies. Among them was on Broadway (Palmerston North) and the
associated also had a Kerridge Company as a Manawatu Theatres Ltd, which was registered Regent Dunedin. Both examples of a time
partner, and he wanted to sell this interest to on 12 April 1946 with a capital of £100 in £1 when an Australian owned picture company
Rank. The Taits told the board that Kerridge shares. crossed the sea, bringing a style and elegance
could not deal with Rank without factoring in in entertainment to New Zealanders at a price
the Picture Corporation and this proved July 1946 saw John Tait visit New Zealand for everyone could afford. Their chain of Regents
correct. a final meeting with the board on the certainly lived up to the slogan "The Theatre
Company's future. On 30 July, he wrote to his Beautiful". ¬
Below: “The Regent Review” which replaced brother, Nevin, that they were selling their
“Williamson’s Weekly” in the mid 1930s. This interests. However, a few weeks later, the
cover is from the Regent Invercargill in 1937.
Taits were dismayed when R.J. Kerridge, Acknowledgements:
flush with money from the Rank deal, bought
the entire Company from John McKenzie for Film Weekly Directory 1945-1946.
£200,000 when its valuation was put at New Zealand Radio Record magazine
£500,000. Although the agreement was done 2 October 1936.
in August, the actual sale was completed on Cinema in Christchurch, by Hugh Taylor.
14 September 1946. (2005 unpublished).
The Motion Picture Industry in New Zealand 1896-
1930, by P.A. Harrison: Thesis 1974 Auckland
At this time, the Board of the J.C. Williamson University.
Picture Corporation consisted of John Mason, Kerridge-Odeon Archives (held at the Auckland
Managing Director; Harold Edwards, Museum).
Chairman of Directors; Kenneth Campbell Film Research (Wellington).
and A. Cousins, both Directors; H. Stringer,
representing J&N Tait Ltd of Australia; and Books:
D.N. Redgrave, Company Secretary.
A Family Of Brothers - The Taits and J.C.
The final date for transfer of shares and assets Williamson, a Theatre History. By Viola Tait.
was 23 October 1946. Now all advertising and Published by Heinemann Australia 1971.
publicity carried the words “Direction: The Theatre Royal Christchurch 1908-2008. An
Kerridge-Odeon”. Illustrated History. Published by Clerestory Press
2008.
Within two years, the head office moved to
Auckland and John Mason departed to pursue Images:
other film interests. Harold Edwards became
All images from David Lascelles’ collection unless
Managing Director under the Kerridge banner noted otherwise.
until his death in early 1949.

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