Some of my Favorite NZ Theatres

St James Queen Street Auckland

These images were taken in 1945 of the St. James Theatre Queen Street Auckland. In 1968 I started my first job as an assistant projectionist at the St James Theatre. In those days it was running under the banner of Kerridge Odeon Theatres, at that time they were the largest cinema chain in the Southern Hemisphere. The building was completed in 1928 by the architect Henry White, famous for the wonderful State Theatre in Sydney. In the tradition of Spanish mission style, the theatre was a showplace at the time. With three floors and approx 2000 seats, it was the pride and joy of JC Williamson's chain who first managed it after completion. The theatre has been closed for years, but currently under renovation at the cost of 60 to 70 million. As the story goes this cinema may never open the doors again for lack of funds. We wait with baited breath that one day this grand old lady will once again rise from the ashes.

Grand Circle with original Stage Curtains 1945

Odeon Theatre Queen Street Auckland

The Odeon was the first "modern boutique" cinema to be built after the war. It was built within the earlier existing building next to the left of the St James. It was small and intimate, consisting of a small circle with an exit door door into the ground floor foyer of the St James. The stalls was the largest of the two level cinema and also had a crying room to the rear right hand entry. The crying room was used for mums with kids that were making a racket in the cinema. The room consisted of a couple of arm chairs and a speaker for listening to the sound. The projection room was forgotten to be placed in the original plans and as an after thought it was placed in the back of the stalls, whereby three rows of seating were lost. It was the projection booth from hell, small, hot and hopeless ventilation, I was a full time projectionist at the Odeon in 1972. The first screening at the Odeon was War and Peace (1956). There is a wonderful mosaic mural in the foyer and leading to the circle by Maurice Rigby Mullen, even today its a work of art. The Odeon at the time was a place to be seen having coffee in the comfortable (below the street) foyer with ambiance from soft hanging glass lights, stone walls and Japanese garden.

New Odeon facade covers earlier Victorian building behind. Windows above marque house head office of Kerridge Odeon. Preparing for opening night, marque programme chaser lights yet to installed for the Odeon.

Queen St entrance down to ticket box. Opening night War and Peace displayed on bill board. Ramp up to St James foyer.

State Theatre Devonport Auckland

The State Theatre opened in 1934 in the Art Deco style and was designed by the award winning architects SS Alleman. The land was purchased by Amalgamated Theatres from part of Edward Bartleys house that still stands today. Amalgamated Theatres were the rivals to Kerridge and the second largest theatre chain in NZ. The building stood directly opposite the Victoria both in the Art Deco style, both with massive neons blazing on the facades, it was a sight as one turned the corner entering Devonport. The State seated 650 stadium style, but during the 50s business was booming so the theatre closed down and in 1958 Fletchers constructed a Circle with seating for 230, but it was too late!.... Television arrived in NZ in 1960 and cinemas started to suffer, the State finally closed its doors in April 1970, later sold to a church and was finally demolished in 1995.

The State Theatre Victoria Road Devonport

**Opening night ad NZ Herald 23 Nov 1934**

**Circle steel from stalls, scope Proscenium completed.**

**New Proscenium for Cinemascope and new Waterfall curtain.**

**Victoria Theatre Kerridge Odeon and the State Theatre Amalgamated Theatres.**

Embassy Theatre Auckland (cnr Wellesley St & Lorne St)

Embassy Theatre Front of House Display for “These Three” 1936

Embassy Theatre main foyer, stairs to Circle, Candy Bar far centre, Stalls to right, front reserves tickets box (front right), main ticket box to left of stairs (off view) 1945

Embassy Theatre Upstairs foyer, entry to Circle to the left. 1945

Embassy Theatre Stalls & Circle. Projection room rear of Circle 1945

Embassy Theatre rear Circle with Original Proscenium & Stage before the 70MM conversion, 1945

Embassy Theatre 1968 “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” screening in 70MM Matinee Screening

Britania Theatre, Ponsonby Road, Auckland

Britannia Theatre Ponsonby Auckland Frontage with Neon Sign 1945. Milk Bar to the left of the main doos was used for the Candy Bar and opened until the Intervals.

Britannia Theatre Ponsonby Auckland Main Ticket box right, Reserves Ticket box let.Managers Office behind ticket box and main doors to auditorium.

Britannia Theatre Ponsonby, view from stage, stalls forground and circle with crossover aisle. Projection booth rear circle. Main entry doors from foyer right of crossover aisle. — Britannia Theatre Ponsonby, view from stage, stalls forground and circle with crossover aisle.
Projection booth rear circle. Main entry doors from foyer right of crossover aisle.

Britannia Theatre Ponsonby view of Stage taken from rear circle.

Cameo Theatre Grey Lynn Auckland

Im extreamy fond of the Cameo Theatre in Grey Lynn Auckland. It was the very first projection room I ever went intoi at the age of 13. I continued to to visit the theatre every single saturday 1.30pm kids matinee and its were I learnt how to screen films. I stayed on until I was 16, then leaving school to train as an assistant projectionist at the St James theatre Auckland.

Cameo Theatre Grey Lynn Auckland main foyer. Mensroom door to the left, after ticket box then Powederoom. Candy Bar opposite ticket box.

Cameo Theatre Grey Lynn Stadium style, Circle, crossover aisle and Stalls. Managers office single door to the right of stage. Main curtain was always hand pull from the projection room. Top masking would raise for 1.85 Widscreen from backstage, then… — Cameo Theatre Grey Lynn Stadium style, Circle, crossover aisle and Stalls. Managers office single door to the right of stage. Main curtain was always hand pull from the projection room. Top masking would raise for 1.85 Widscreen from backstage, then lowered for Cinemascope. Side masking hand pulled from the projection room.

Cameo Theatre Grey Lynn Stalls and Circle. Entry was a Side Loader style from the foyer doors on the left. Projection room was entered from the left and at rear centre.

Cameo Theatre Grey Lynn Auckland. Colour image maybe taken in the 70s. Ceiling Grillwork was lit with hundreds of coloured bulbs but not working in this image.

Vogue Theatre, Karangahape Road, Auckland

The Vogue theatre was a wonderful example of Simple Art Deco. These images are from 1945 and the Vogue gave Kerridge Theatres another city location off the main strip of Queen Street. The theatre was popular for double features and Shirley Temple films of the day. The building still stands today luckily and is now used as a nightclub, its still pretty original inside.

The Vogue Theatre has a very narrow entrance off Krd however the theatre itself was very large inside. Neon lighting on the marquee and sign and a double feature displayed on the billboards.

And down the very long foyer to the ticket box. Many theatres of the day had narrow long foyers like the Voque and the main auditorium was at the rear of the building, this saved expensive real estate for shops on the main street. Only some of the m… — And down the very long foyer to the ticket box. Many theatres of the day had narrow long foyers like the Voque and the main auditorium was at the rear of the building, this saved expensive real estate for shops on the main street. Only some of the more lavish large theatres had wide main road frontages.

The upstairs foyer of the Voque was very elegant for the day with arm chairs, vases of fresh flowers and ash tray boxes on the floor for the smokers. Main stairs goes up to the circle.

Here we see the Vogue in all its glory displaying classic Art Deco lines all the way down to the stage. Image taken from the rear of the Circle taken with stalls below. Stage curtain lit with overheads and footlights. Note the very unusual Circle fi… — Here we see the Vogue in all its glory displaying classic Art Deco lines all the way down to the stage. Image taken from the rear of the Circle taken with stalls below. Stage curtain lit with overheads and footlights. Note the very unusual Circle fire Exit which runs all the way down the left hand side to the rear of the building.

Majestic Theatre, Queen Street, Auckland

The Majestic Theatre Auckland was a massive building on Queen Street Auckland. The outside street frontage boasted a wonderful wide façade and certainly was an impressive site on Queen Street. Sadley the building was demolished to make way for Kerridge Odeon’s 246 which housed their head office on the 5th floor and the lower floors retail shopping.

The wonderful Art Deco frontage of the Majestic Theatre screening Broadway Rhythem, image taken 1945.

Downstairs foyer of the Majestic Theatre Auckland with two ticket boxes.

Upstairs foyer of the Majectic Theatre Auckland with its wide open spaces.

The Majestic Theatre Auckland image taken from the rear circle. A very lavish Art Deco stage and prosenium with wonderful recessed lighting.

The Majestic Theatre Auckland image taken from the stage looking back into the stalls and circle. Note the downstars projection room.

Finally the crowds on Queen Street asdley watched on as the old lady was demolished, to make way for the new shopping centre 246.

And after the workmen removed the seats within weeks it was all over. The end of another great theatre and a loss to Auckland.

Victoria Theatre, Devonport, Auckland

Not much has to be said here on the old Vic in Devonport as we all know it. Being one of NZs oldest theatres that still runs today and popular with all the locals. Today its diveded up into four screen but still there are some original features one can see. Originally the site had a slightly smaller building with a Victorian design, later it closed and was modernised to the Deco style. Here we see it in 1945 after the Deco renovation and when it was run by Kerridge Theatres.

Victoria Theatre Devonport main foyer with ticket box to the left and stairs up to the Circle. Stalls entrance to the right.

Victoria Theatre Devonport upstairs foyer, candy bar to the left, stairs up to the Circle and managers office to the right. The foyer was rather lovely with windowsd over the street and views out to the harbour.

Victoria Theatre Devonport 1945 view from the rear Circle with stalls below.

Victoria Theatre, Devonport after it was twinned and run by Charley Gray.

Regent Theatre, Queen Street, Auckland

The Regent Theatre Queen Street Auckland was a magnificent building which opened in 1926, before the Civic and St James. It was my first projection room I worked in after receiving my senior projectionist licence. It was a grand building with a sweeping white Carrara marble staircase leading up to the Circle and the famous Regent Tearooms which my mum took me to many times as a kid. The unusual upstairs foyer which ran along the upper back wall of the stalls allowed one to look down over the stalls audience and seating area. The magnificent proscenium arch was illuminated with hundreds of coloured lights which the projectionists could change during the Overture and Entr’acte, it certainly was a site to see. Again this wonderful old theatre was ripped down overnight in the name of progress.

Wonderful image of the Regent Theatre Auckland 1945 with the grand dome and the famous Regent Tearooms upstairs above the marquee.

The Regent Theatre Auckland grand white Carrara Marble stairs leading to the circle and the tearooms. Two ticket boxes in the forground, up five steps leading to the downstairs candy bar and double doors to the stalls.

Upper mid foyer with four steps up on the left to the circle and right to the tearooms. Next to the stairs is one of two famous marble white polar bears.

Regent Theatre main Circle foyer with canday bar at the rear of the picture. The balcony handrail to the right of the shot, one could lean over and view the seating in the stalls.

Regent Theatre circle with stalls below. The grand proscenium arch was lit with hundreds of coloured lights. The arch with draps far right is one of two entrances up to the circle, and the door behind is the managers office. Under the stage was an o… — Regent Theatre circle with stalls below. The grand proscenium arch was lit with hundreds of coloured lights. The arch with draps far right is one of two entrances up to the circle, and the door behind is the managers office. Under the stage was an old pool that was once used for the Ice Follies.

Regent Theatre image taken from the stage showing the stalls and circle with projection room centre top. The projection room had two entrances one from the door back of circle and a separate rear door from Lorne Street at the rear of the building. T… — Regent Theatre image taken from the stage showing the stalls and circle with projection room centre top. The projection room had two entrances one from the door back of circle and a separate rear door from Lorne Street at the rear of the building. The small widow next to the projection room door was used for a follow spot when the Regent ran some shows.

The Regent Theatre circle two years before the building was demolished in 1974. Still some of the coloured lighting is visable on the proscenium and erns with the “RT” embossed on them.

An early ticket stubb to the Royal lounge of the Regent.

The rear of the Regent circle with projection room 1972

The Regent Theatre Queen Street Auckalnd two years before the old lady was demolished.

And overnight the wreakers came in and within weeks the old girl was gone!

The famous marble stairs almost gone overnight. 22nd June 1974

And on the 28th August 1974 I took my final picture from Lorne Street of the disaster we had left, what a mess, another grand Auckland Theatre gone forever!

Regent Theatre Masterton, North Island, New Zealand

For a small town in New Zealand, Masterton certainly had a very impressive theatre in 1945. The Regent Masterton was owned by Kerridge Theatres, today it’s been divided up into a multi-screen complex.