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The Victorian Theatres Trust is NEW ZEALAND Both theatres were designed by
working to gain heritage protection for Napier: The city has its Readings architect James Bennie, who was also a
the building. multiplex, but it is the small touches at co-owner of the Queens.
Kino Dendy Celebrates the Century, such as staff in uniform,
that show it has a feel for the past. CORRECTIONS
Kino Dendy Cinemas, Collins
Metro Adelaide was in Hindley
Place celebrated 20 years with a party Rotorua: The Basement has two Street, not Rundle Street as stated in
for film biz guests on 28 June and a screens and uses DVD projection for the last Newsreel.
weekend of discounted tickets. art-house films. Cinema One seats 22
and cinema Two 11, in very Regent Dunedin was the third
Mark Sarfaty, in partnership with
comfortable lounge-type chairs. Is this Regent opened by F.W. Thring/J.C.
Frank Cox (cofounder of the film
The Smallest Show On Earth? Williamsons, not the second (main
distribution companies New Vision and story, last issue). First came South
Hopscotch) transformed the theatre in Havelock North: Cinema Gold is Yarra, then Auckland.
2002 from two screens to a luxurious a three-screen show with a large café.
four-screen complex. Built in 2003 it is linked with a
company in Palmerston North Reporting by: Colin Flint (S.A.), John
Stage Demolished Fitzsimmons (in S.A.), Roderick Smith
Dannevirke: The Regent claims to
(Vic.) Ray Peck (Tas.) and Tony Froude
be the oldest cinema in the region still
(N.Z.)
operating. Built in Spanish Mission
style in 1919, it appears to retain its CATHS’ OBITUARIES
one screen.
John Leckey OAM 1929-2007
Te Puke: The Capitol, built in the
One of the Latrobe Valley’s most
1920s, is now four-screen, including
respected businessmen, John died on 22
one lounge cinema.
May. Earlier that month he made the
Pahiatua: The community has
trip to Government House to personally
reopened their cinema, which is also
receive his Order of Australia Medal.
used for live shows.
There’s nothing regal now about the John’s last project was restoring the
Te Awamutu: To commemorate 75
former Rex Daylesford, with the back former Village Twin Morwell to make
years of operation in March 2007, The
of the building open to the elements. it a multi-purpose community facility.
Regent was chosen for the NZ premiere
Plans for the redevelopment, which do The transformation of Cinema One was
of Miss Potter, with Rene Zellweger. It
not include a cinema, seem to be on complete. If the plan continues, it will
is the Waikato’s only surviving
hold. be a fitting tribute to his life and work.
provincial cinema; now five screens.
The Committee has been notified of
Nautical Night At The Sun Wellington: The Paramount the deaths of two members:
A documentary on the sailing ship cinema turned 90 on 4 August, but any
James Craig, restored in Sydney over celebration was overshadowed by the Ms. Audrey Field and
the last 20 years, premiered in Sydney fact that it was for sale by tender. The Mr. Keith O’Neill
in May. due date has passed, but no Mr. Roy Turner, who’s story of his
time at the first Rivoli and later at the
The Melbourne premiere was held announcement has been made. The
Broadway Camberwell brought life to
at the Sun Yarraville on 7 June. The Queens/Time building is also for sale.
CR51, died in June. He was 97.
invited audience, mainly people Closed as a cinema in 1951, the façade
associated with heritage work and has a Council heritage listing.
charter vessels, were welcomed on the
footpath by cinema owner Mike Smith,
in full impresario garb.
A week of public screenings
followed.
TASMANIA
Theatre Royal Hobart
The grand old lady celebrated her
170th anniversary in March. Sir
Lawrence Olivier said in 1948, “We
appreciate playing in it, not only
because it is a beautiful little theatre; it
is more than that…it has atmosphere
and the secret of atmosphere is
antiquity. Don’t let it go”.

The demure exterior of the Theatre Royal Hobart.

CINEMARECORD 2007 5