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EMPIRE CINEMA - ISLAND BAY, NEW ZEALAND

by Gerry Kennedy

sland Bay is a suburb of Wellington, at the Honey, a Broadway musical, adapted to film, it internally into three boutique cinemas and a
Isouthern end of New Zealand’s North starring Nancy Carroll and Stanley Smith. cafe, opening on 1 September 2005 with
Island. Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, starring
The billiard hall closed in 1928 with the Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka.
The land on the corner of The Parade and extension used as an auditorium and for extra
Mersey Street was purchased in 1902 by a seating. Structural damage from the March The cinema was sold to Island Bay local Pat
Mr. Stanley Chisholm, but was not developed 1943 earthquake closed the cinema until Vinaccia in 2013, who completely revamped
until 1924 when he commissioned the reopening in October 1943 as the New the cinemas and the eatery. The grand re-
construction of the theatre, shops and billiard Empire. The New Empire closed its doors on opening was on 14 May 2015. The first movie
hall. The theatre was a two story building with 1 June 1964, due to falling cinema attendances screened was Woman in Gold, starring Helen
shops housing an ice cream vendor on one nationwide. The last film shown was Foxhole Mirren and Ryan Reynolds.
side and a hairdresser on the other. When in Cairo, starring James Robertson Justice and
completed, the buildings were sold to The Niall McGinnis. The newly renovated cinemas have become a
Empire Theatre Company, whose manager treasured gem of the community. Each cinema
was a well known Wellington personality, From late 1964 until 1970, the Bata Shoe seats between 49 and 65 patrons, showing
Mr. Tartakover. Company used the auditorium as a store and mainstream blockbusters, family movies and
made a loading dock on the Mersey Street art house titles. The building has an A-grade
The first film screening at the Empire on side. The hairdresser’s salon remained in seismic event rating, and attention to detail in
21 March 1925 was the silent production of business until 1975. Over the next few years, the service areas makes for a friendly and cosy
The Last of the Duanes starring Tom Mix and ownership changed many times, with different atmosphere. The Empire Cinema & Eatery
Marion Nixon, directed by Lynn Reynolds. proposals for the building. In 1980, the has become the place to meet, connect and
Sound effects were provided by a piano. building was taken over by Wellington unwind. ✶
Decorators and Furnishings as “a one stop
There were no shorts, cartoons or newsreels shop”. After another change of hands in 1990, Credits:
available, so additional live stage it became known as Island Bay Hardware
entertainment was provided. On opening until it closed in 2004. Text and image reproduced from Empire Cinema &
night, Arline Power and Leo Coffey gave a Eatery website with permission.
display of ballroom and fancy dancing. The Later in 2004, the Werry and Hays families
first “talkie” shown on 14 June 1930 was took over the building, completely renovating

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