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maker, Peter Wells, produced a film entitled
The Mighty Civic. On 22 March 1989, it was
screened to a packed house at the Civic,
eventually turning the Auckland City
Council’s opposition to its restoration into
grudging affection.

On 14 August 1990, the Friends of the Civic
Charitable Trust was born out of the film and
its hugely successful premiere, and it is this
group which has been so active and vocal in
the support of the theatre’s renovation,
culminating in its grand re-opening on
13 August 2000.
In 1992, Amalgamated Theatres joined with
Hoyts Theatres in a venture to develop the
entire city block as a large scale complex.
Hoyts then signed a contract to continue
running the Civic for 10 years, including the
care and on-going maintenance of the
building. However, by 1993 the Civic had
become less profitable for Hoyts, with little
maintenance being carried out. In 1994, the
Auckland City Council commenced legal
action against Hoyts over deferred
maintenance issues as per the requirements of
the lease.
When Hoyts’ lease of the Civic expired in
1993, the Auckland City Council decided to
allocate $3 million to restore the Civic as a
Lyric theatre. Apart from general
maintenance, installation of sprinklers, lifts,
remains one of Auckland's most distinctive for performances. The curtain was loaned to new wiring, reinforcing of walls, decorations,
and well-loved buildings.) the Auckland Council and the Embroiderers and restoration of the sky ceiling, the addition
Guild of New Zealand used it as the template of a 102 line fly tower and the vast stage
Day to day control of the Civic then passed to to recreate it. The original velvets etc. were brought the theatre to modern standards so as
Amalgamated Theatres, (owned by the imported from Belgium. The repaired original to better cater for stage productions in the new
Moodabe Brothers), who had previously was returned to Southward Car Museum millennium.
supplied the Civic with film. Amalgamated which had built a small theatre for the
eventually acquired the Civic outright in (immoveable) organ, but the curtain is not On 18 January 1998, the Civic ceased
1945, possibly because nobody wanted the used. The Civic only uses the recreated screenings, with LA Confidential being the
huge theatre in these bad times. The jewel in “flamingo” curtain for films - not for stage final film. Next door to the Civic, Village
the crown was the family's acquisition of the shows. The cloud/star display is a contractual Force Cinemas commenced construction of a
Civic: “Everyone wanted it, but we got it.” presentation for all performances. new 12-screen multiplex. After its
completion, the old Village cinemas across
The highlight of the Civic's career was during In 1975, another cinema was built in the space the road, the Regent, the West End and the
the war years when the American Marines formerly occupied by the Winter Garden. That Odeon were all closed.
were in New Zealand for “rest and recreation” cinema was appropriately named the
and were entertained by premieres of films Wintergarden. On Sunday 13 August 2000, celebrations were
such as Casablanca, visiting bands such as held to mark the formal completion of
Artie Shaw, jitterbug, nylon stockings, First release films were still screening in renovations, part of the occasion being a
dancing in the Winter Garden until 2 or 3 am, central Auckland, so there was a need for the screening of Jim Manly's film showing the
wonderful dance revues, Freda Stark, large seating cinemas. However, when construction of the Civic. As a young man,
(notorious for a lesbian menage a trois murder Auckland’s first multi-screen cinema complex Manly had visited the site daily to film the
scandal), and her gilt nude dance to Manuel de opened in the 1980s, together with first release excavation works, construction and
Fallas' "Ritual Fire Dance". of films to the suburbs, real estate developers completion of the theatre.
were poised to move in and redevelop the
After the war, cinemas fought back with the valuable site. At the same time, there was The Civic still hosts the International Film
introduction of CinemaScope, when the Civic growing concern about the increasing Festival, as well as being used for orchestral
premiered The Robe in December 1953. shabbiness of the theatre, and at the number of concerts, ballet, opera, and plays. ✶
other landmark buildings being demolished
With hotels remaining open until 10pm, around the city. Credits:
licensed restaurants, sport on Sundays and
supermarkets remaining open all weekend, On 30 May 1988, the then Minister of Research and notes provided by Eric Kearney and
demand for dancing and stage shows in the Conservation, Helen Clark, approved a Allan Webb.
Winter Garden diminished. Occasional Historic Places Trust protection notice to
concerts, such as Santana, the Rolling Stones ensure that the Civic would never be Nerida Campbell. “O’Brien, Thomas Alexander”,
etc., could not stem the gradual deterioration demolished. The issue of that notice allowed from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography.
of the theatre. The Wurlitzer organ and the plenty of time to negotiate with its then tenant, Friends of the Civic Charitable Trust Newsletters.
magnificent “flamingo” curtain were sold to Hoyts Theatres, about its future, including its
Southward Car Museum in Paraparaumu in on-going maintenance, until the lease of the
1968. The organ is still used at the Museum building would run out in 1993. A local film

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