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ARTHUR CHARLES DAVIS

Film Industry’s Shadowy Figure

By David Lascelles

The last edition of CinemaRecord contained an A frequent traveller overseas seeking out new June 1936 saw Davis re-organise the company
article by Phil Corby on the Palace Theatre, films and meeting suppliers earned him the as New Zealand Theatres Ltd. The City of
Hobart, in which it was stated that the first reputation as a shrewd operator. Wellington Finance Ltd., Davis, and the wife
manager of the theatre was a Mr. A. C. Davis. of John Miles were the largest shareholders.
New Zealand member, David Lascelles, Kemball Theatres was a family owned business One who held a minority interest was
provides more information on Mr. Davis and started, quite by accident in Masterton, by R. J. Kerridge. Davis and Miles became
his career in New Zealand. another Australian named William Robert directors of the company. As the firm under his
Kemball, who had his offices on the 1st floor control continued to expand, Arthur Davis and
e was a shadowy figure, a man of whom of his flagship theatre the De Luxe. Davis and Robert Kerridge developed a firm friendship.
Hfew photos exist, who helped shape our Kemball met, becoming firm friends with Davis By 1941 Kerridge, who had slowly been
film exhibition and distribution in the early becoming a main supplier of films to Kemball acquiring stock, bought out the Davis shares
years of a fledgling industry. Arthur Charles Theatres. and, on 9 October 1941, took controlling
Davis was born in Brisbane, Australia in 1882, interest in the company. (Kerridge would
his father being a Jewish watchmaker and As the years progressed, he could see that, in complete total ownership in 1945). Arthur
jeweller. After an apprenticeship in watch the prevailing climate, Kemball could not Davis would remain a director of New Zealand
making, he joined an indent company, or survive and was under capitalised. He Theatres Ltd until his death.
agency, of an American importing firm. In the suggested registering the company and taking
years before World War One, Davis pursued a it public. The Kemball family agreed. Davis Teaming up with Will Mason, they formed
varied and successful career as a company brought together the City of Wellington Tivoli Investments Ltd. in 1942, taking control
promoter and director in both Australia and Finance Company Ltd. with W. R. Kemball, and ownership from G. F. (Fred) Parker of the
New Zealand, as well as serving as an and Kemball Theatres Ltd. was registered on 1 Tivoli Theatre in Molesworth Street,
Alderman and Justice of the Peace in Hobart. July 1930 with a capital of £200,000. Their Wellington. In June 1945, they sold the
His first contact with motion pictures was in offices were moved to 30 Courtenay Place, building to the Ministry of Works, leasing back
Hobart, where he built the first picture theatre Wellington. As a shareholder, he offered sound the theatre. During the 1950s, it was the only
to screen continuous films. Movies at the time financial advice to Kemball from behind the theatre licensed by the council to screen films
were still regarded as a speculative business, scenes, enabling the company to survive the on a Sunday on the condition that, after all
but Davis saw the prospect of making a lot of crippling depression which put others into expenses were paid, the remaining money
money. receivership. would be given to charity. Every few months
the council sent an accountant in to check the
In September 1935, books, but he was no match for Davis, whose
Davis approached creative accounting skills had been fine-tuned
Kemball with the many years ago. Davis and Mason ran the
intention of theatre until the late 1950s when Davis retired.
obtaining an option
on the business Always something of a dark horse, Arthur
(which at the time Davis was a figure who did not like a high
had 46 theatres). At profile, being a "behind the scenes man" who
Image enlargement from the last edition: The last three letters of the word first he was got things done. A cautious, determined and
“continuous” can just be made out under the verandah. reluctant, then Davis astute businessman, his one peculiarity was
In 1921, he arrived in New Zealand to set up asked him to name his own price. Kemball repeatedly eating apples which he slowly
United Artists in Wellington. His wife was the demanded £120,000 for his whole share interest peeled with a small pocket knife he always
administrator, typist and phone operator. Two and another £25,000 for the option on the carried in his vest pocket.
years later he resigned and, in 1923, formed his condition he remained managing director for a
own company, Alliance Films N Z Ltd., in 1925 definite time. After many years in retirement, Arthur Charles
moving offices into the second floor of the Davis died following a long illness at Lower
DeLuxe Theatre building. Four years later, in When the offer was made, the total assets of Hutt on 14 April 1978. He was aged 96. ★
1929, he formed Cinema Art Films Kemball Theatres were valued at £157,400
(Aust. & NZ) Ltd. for the purpose of acquiring while the average net earnings over a three year
British and Continental films. That same year, period had been £30,043. Davis and Wellington Copyright:
he sold Alliance Films to Cinema Art Films solicitor John H. Miles raised the money by
and, in 1932, formed Australian and New public subscription. Early in 1936, he had the Film Research
Zealand Pictures Ltd. money and exercised his option. All Rights Reserved

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