Flickering Light: Taranaki Cinema History showcases the once thriving cinema culture in the

Taranaki region. Curated from the collections of Aotea Utanganui Museum of South

Taranaki, Puke Ariki and Archives New Zealand, Flickering Light: Taranaki Cinema History

explores the regional cinemas’ influence within communities and how they shaped the

viewing appetite of theatre-goers.

Flickering Light: Taranaki Cinema History also explores the significance of Taranaki’s theatres

and film-making prowess within the New Zealand cinema context. The decline of cinema

attendance in the late 1960’s was mainly attributed to the introduction of television.

During the early 20th Century, however cinema was a dominant force within communities

in New Zealand and none more so than in Taranaki.

Over twenty picture theatres and community halls hosted film screenings from local film

proprietors and industry moguls. Some were as simple as a projector in a community hall,

with others being bespoke picture theatres ‘cashing-in’ on this new craze in entertainment.

Taranaki’s picture theatres were spread around the coast from Mokau in the North to

Pātea & Waverley in the South.

Today only a handful of local theatres remain in operation with the dominant force in

movie exhibition coming from the Multiplex cinema chains including Readings, Sky City

Entertainment and Rialto. At the beginning of the 21st Century the pervasive influence of

the internet on moving image consumption may surpass the Multiplex networks just as

television superseded the humble picture theatres during the 20th Century.

This exhibition has been curated with assistance from:

Puke Ariki

Lucy Macfarlane - Curator Archives, Ron Lambert - Senior Researcher

Charlotte Stace - Pictorial Technician, Gerard Beckingsale - Exhibitions Manager

&

Katherine C'Ailceta - Archivist, Film Enquiries, Archives New Zealand

Nina Kurzmann - Producer, Park Road Post Production Ltd

FLICKERING LIGHT: TARANAKI CINEMA HISTORY

Exhibition Curator, Cameron S. Curd

7 F E B R U A R Y - 2 5 A P R I L 2 0 1 3

Location Theatre Exhibitor/Operator

Auroa Auroa Hall (Independent) R.D. Young

Awakino Awakino Hall (Independent) J.F. & C.S.M. Scanlon

Eltham Civic/Municipal Theatre/Regent (Independent) Eltham Borough Council

Hawera Grand (Kerridge-Odeon) Kerridge-Odeon

Regent Theatre (Kerridge-Odeon) Kerridge-Odeon

Opera House (Kerridge-Odeon) Kerridge-Odeon

Hawera Hall (Independent) Hector-Ngakawau Co-op Picture Society Ltd

Inglewood Town Hall (Independent) W.R. & J.M. Pellett

Kaponga Town Hall (Independent) R.D. Young

Mokau Town Hall (Independent) Mrs. G. Terrill

New Plymouth Mayfair (Kerridge-Odeon) Kerridge-Odeon

Opera House (Kerridge-Odeon) Kerridge-Odeon

Regent (Kerridge-Odeon) Kerridge-Odeon

State (Amalgamated) Amalgamated

Ohura Plaza (Independent) K. Kallil Estate

Okaiawa Okaiawa Hall (Independent) R.D. Young

Okato Okato Hall (Independent) R.D. Young

Opunake Everybody’s (Independent) Mrs. B.M. Whiting

Patea Civic Theatre/Town Hall Patea Pictures Ltd

Stratford Kings (Kerridge-Odeon) Kerridge-Odeon

Plaza (Kerridge-Odeon) Kerridge-Odeon

Plaza (Independent) Stockton Mine Co-op Assn Ltd

Tikorangi Tikorangi Hall (Independent) V.F. & C.S.M. Scanlon

Urenui Urenui Hall (Independent) V.F. & S.M. Scanlon

Waitara Royal (Independent) Waitara Theatre Co Ltd

Waverley Town Hall Civic Theatre, Patea & Waverley Pictures

Taranaki’s picture theatres were spread around the coast from Mokau in the North to Pātea

and Waverley in the South. Here is a majority of the theatres and halls. Information courtesy

of Celluloid Circus: the Heyday of the New Zealand Picture Theatre, by Wayne Brittenden, 2008.

TARANAKI CINEMA’S AND HALLS

The Pātea Town Hall (also known as the Civic Theatre) on Egmont Street, stood just behind the Aotea

Waka. It screened New Zealand low-budget films and Hollywood blockbusters. However, after the

introduction of television the future of the Town Hall and Patea Pictures Ltd. was in doubt.

Text: Patea: A Centennial History, M. Leslie, L. Baker, I. Church

Image: Aotea Utanganui Museum of South Taranaki Archive Heritage Collection

PĀTEA TOWN HALL/CIVIC THEATRE

In May 1915 it was decided to discontinue the municipal picture business and the hall was let for

picture showing as before, and this arrangement continued until the impact of television gradually

forced the Patea pictures out of business. Lessees from this time included Universal Film Supply Co.

(for a few months only), L.K. Wilson, Conroy, World Pictures (L. Campbell) from beginning of 1926,

R.W. Haddow (Patea Pictures Ltd) 1928, F.H. Hoy (Patea Pictures Ltd) 1950.

From the mid-1960’s there was increasing concern at the decline in revenue from the Town Hall,

resulting from the diminishing popularity of film entertainment. On March 22 1965, Patea Pictures

Ltd. was allowed the use of the hall at the reduced rental of £20 per month for five nights per week

in an effort to keep the pictures going. On August 26 of the same year the hall was made available

rent free for screening Friday nights only on a trial basis, the letting of the hall being directly under

the Council’s control for the other nights.

On May 4 1977 a letter was received from Mr. Hoy (Patea Pictures Ltd.) advising cessation of picture

screening from May 15 1977. The Hall was demolished in 1982 after large cracks appeared in the

walls and ceiling.

EVERYBODY’S THEATRE - OPUNAKE

Source Information: Opunake Heritage Inventory, Opunake Centennial Book, Dave Shegedin,

Theatre Secretary

Everybody‟s Theatre is a large two storey picture theatre with a shop flanking each side

of the main entrance. The building is of timber construction, and has a bull nosed

verandah supported on cast iron posts.

This building was built circa 1912/1914 following the disastrous fires that destroyed

much of Tasman Street. It was originally Thorpe and Callahans which was a general store.

The building was then purchased by the O’Rorkes near the end of or after World War

I, and converted into a picture theatre circa 1920. An art deco facade was constructed

at this time, but was removed in 1999.

Around 1936 the Whitings took over the premises. Further upgrading to the shops

(and possibly the foyer) was completed during the 1950’s. The theatre was also lined in

Pinex at about this time. The theatre closed in 1980 after operating for 50 years.

However, a public meeting of 600 local residents unanimously agreed to purchase the

theatre as a community asset and pledged $20,000.00 towards this. Within three weeks

an additional $35,000.00 was offered on an interest free loan. The first film after the

theatre became community owned was shown on 15 May 1980.

The theatre was closed in 2012 for urgent earthquake strengthening and other

maintenance and will re-open after enough funds are raised to complete this work.

THE ELTHAM TOWN

HALL

The Eltham Town Hall is a

two storey building with a

timber façade and corrugated

iron sidewalls. Apart from the

New Plymouth Opera House,

it offers the largest full stage

and fly tower in Taranaki

(1998), and has a fine dress

circle.

The plans for the Eltham Town

Hall were submitted in October 1910 and building was completed by May 1911. On 2

May 1911 Eugene Ossipoff of the Moscow Grand Opera gave a full recital prior to the

official opening on 6 May 1911, officiated by the Honorable J. McKenzie, Minister of

Land. Power generators were installed on the north side by Gasworks Showroom and

the projection booth was constructed in April 1913.

The building was first named the Eltham Town Hall and has had a succession of names,

including the Eltham Municipal Theatre, Regent Theatre, and the Civic Theatre. Once

movies were no long shown there, the building once again became known as the Eltham

Town Hall.

Since it was built the hall has been the focus of entertainment and events in the area. It

has a long history of silent movies, ‘talkies’ (1929), and was the first Taranaki theatre to

introduce ‘Cinemascope’ films. It has also been the venue for many distinguished

productions including the New Zealand Ballet, J. C. Williamson’s Company, Perkel‟s

Opera Society, countless local productions by the Eltham Little Theatre and others, and

many great civic gatherings.

Over the years the Eltham Town Hall has served many purposes for the community and

district, including hospital uses, during the time of the influenza epidemic.

Source Information: The Eltham Heritage Inventory, Don Drabble, Eltham Historical Society,

Eltham Argus R. Standish (1984),

Eltham 100 Years, Rosen Argus Printing Co Ltd, Eltham.

THE OPERA HOUSE -

NEW PLYMOUTH

The exterior of the Opera

House has an interesting

formal composition of a

central two-storey bay

flanked by two tall elements

that contain the stairs and

services spaces. The façade

t r e a t m e n t i s p l a i n

undecorated wall surfaces,

although the central bay has

pared pilasters supporting a cornice. The construction material is in-situ concrete with

plaster finish.

The auditorium is an impressive space, the seating in three tiers of stalls, circle and

upper circle, and is comparable with any such building in New Zealand in the 1920’s.

Although not lavishly treated, there is restrained plaster decoration, and the

impression is of an efficient and functional building, sensibly designed for its purpose.

The first theatre on this site, the Alexandra Hall, was built by a group of local business

men in 1883.

It was renamed the Theatre Royal in 1898, but was destroyed by fire on 22 July 1916.

The site remained vacant until the present opera house was built; this was opened by

Mayor F. E. Wilson on 26 November 1925. It was leased by J. C. Williamson in 1933,

but it encountered continuing financial difficulties and in 1972 was at risk of being

demolished. The property was purchased for the Opera House Company for $80,000

in 1973 with finance from the New Plymouth Operatic Society and the City Council,

ownership being vested in the New Plymouth Opera House Trust Board.

In 1976 the building was extensively upgraded to a design by architect Terry Boon,

engineers Bruce Henderson and Associates, and contractor Jones and Sanford, assisted

by several other local builders, as a New Plymouth City centennial project. Money for

this work was raised by public subscription and a grant from the QE II Arts Council.

Source Information: www.tsbshowplace.co.nz/about.html, the Taranaki Heritage Inventory and

New Plymouth District Council.

Image: Mayfair Theatre Façade in August

1993, from Kete New Plymouth website.

This information comes from

a study by Nancy de Bueger in

1994 who studied the change

in the cinema industry through

the years in New Plymouth.

Copy in Taranaki Research

Centre (TRCT791.43 DEB)

The Mayfair Theatre was the fourth cinema theatre to open in New Plymouth and its

closure in 1993 makes it the longest screening cinema in New Plymouth. During its long

history it has undergone many changes including a name change, building changes and style

of film changes to name a few.

It all began with the first screening on Friday December 15th, 1916. The opening night

debut was deemed a great success. An article which appeared in the Daily News the next

day read as follows, “Patrons went away from Everybody‟s feeling that New Plymouth had a thea-

tre that was the acme of perfection. Judging from the many commendatory remarks heard, the

new theatre promises to become the rendezvous of a very wide circle of citizens and visitors.”

On July the 29th 1938, its name changed from Everybody‟s Cinema to the Mayfair Theatre.

However this was only a change in name and not ownership.

The Mayfair Theatre had its last screening in September/October 1993 which was the last of

New Plymouth’s old cinemas to do so. However, the final lessee, Kerry Robbins, before

the Mayfair closed, was able to gain the viewing rights to Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster,

Jurassic Park. It screened continuously throughout its last day to capacity crowds. Viewers

had to book seats well in advance to be sure of having a seat. Many people went also as a

last pilgrimage to the Mayfair before its old-fashioned layout was overtaken by the Top

Town Cinema 4 complex, scheduled to open soon after.

The Mayfair building underwent a resurgence in January 2010 with the Arthouse Cinema

opening upstairs and showcasing avant-garde films from New Zealand and around the

world. Recently the building has been operating as a nightclub and bar, now called Mayfair

in homage to its roots.

MAYFAIR THEATRE

Image Below: A proposal for a Cinema 3 Multiplex in the Mayfair Theatre, 1992.

Image: The Peoples Pictures Ltd. building on Queen Street New Plymouth with

automobile parked outside. On May the 24th 1930 the name was changed to

The Regent Theatre. Puke Ariki Pictorial Collections (PHO2006.274).

Above Top: A selection of Civic Theatre Picture Calendars

from 1961. These were sent to the householder to show

up-coming attractions.

Centre: Admit One Ticket from the Civic Theatre/ Patea

Pictures Ltd.

Right: A souvenir programme from the grand opening of the

Regent Theatre in March 22nd 1955. The Regent Theatre was

built on High Street on the site of The Grand, a picture theatre

that had opened as „The World‟ in 1916.

FROM THE LIVINGSTON BAKER ARCHIVES

CONTACT INFORMATION: For further information about this exhibition

please contact the District Archivist, Cameron S. Curd

0800 111 323 or cameron.curd@stdc.govt.nz

Information Source: Aotea Utanganui Museum of South Taranaki Archives

Puke Ariki Heritage Archives

FILMED IN TARANAKI

Taranaki has provided a backdrop for many New Zealand film productions over the 20th Century.

From A Daughter of New Plymouth in 1929, the blockbuster The Last Samurai in 2009 and Vincent Ward’s

moody tale, Vigil in 1984, Taranaki has provided a landscape for innovative and introspective film-making.

Here are some prominent productions filmed in Taranaki during this time.

Left: A Daughter of New Plymouth directed by

Rudall Hayward 1929. The story line was pretty

basic: a heroine is kidnapped by a villain and,

with the help of a comic policeman, saved by a

hero. A Daughter of New Plymouth featured local

talent as the stars. Photograph courtesy of

Caleb Wyatt.

Right: The Killing of Kane directed by Chris

Thomson in 1971. Filmed near Hawera, it tells the

story of loyalty and corruption amidst the New

Zealand Wars of the 1860’s. Courtesy of Aotea

Utanganui Museum of South Taranaki Heritage

Archives (PH2012.0005).

Left: Vigil directed by

Vincent Ward in 1984.

Filmed around the Uriti

Valley, North Taranaki.

Vigil has forever

cemented its

reputation in New

Zealand cinematic

history by being the

first film to be in official

competition at the

prestigious Cannes

Film Festival in 1984.

Courtesy of Puke Ariki

Archive Collection

(ARC2008-340).

Below: River Queen directed by Vincent Ward

in 2005. Filmed in Whanganui and parts of

Pātea the film takes place in New Zealand in 1868 during Titokowaru's War between the

Māori and New Zealand colonial forces.

Courtesy of Aotea Utanganui Museum of South

Taranaki Heritage Archives.