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S HO WPLA CE OF C HRISTCHURCH
Sometimes a certain style and ambience help to save a theatre for an alternative use.
David Lascelles tells the story of one that has been given a new identity.

The opening of the Dress circle patrons
Majestic in 1930 marked bathed in a ‘sunburst effect’
the end of a building from an oval dome lit by
program by the Fuller 4,000 globes. Ringed by a
brothers to place a chain of heavy cornice and corbel it
theatres bearing this name was more impressionistic
across New Zealand. Owned than classical. Today, most
by John Fuller and Sons of the ceiling is hidden
Ltd. it was leased to above baffles suspended
Christchurch Cinemas Ltd., from the ceiling; an attempt
a company formed in 1925 to improve the acoustics.
by Harry Waters and Dan The dual functions of
Spence to act for Fuller- The Majestic, Manchester Street, corner of Litchfield Street, cinema or stage show were
Hayward Theatres, whose was one of a handful of cinemas across Australasia that seriously achieved by installing a
head office dominated its combined entertainment, commercial and retail premises. screen that could be raised
board of directors. (Hugh Taylor) and lowered. The theatre
Designed by Allan was equipped with the latest
Manson, a partner in the firm S. & A. fire and safety equipment, including a
Luttrell, the wide corner site has been enclosing the stage boxes and height to sprinkler system throughout. The
described as ‘stripped classical’, faced the ceiling suggest a Romanesque and projection room was fire proof and
in cream cement. In keeping with the therefore ecclesiastical influence. There equipped with Ernemann II projectors
American idea of combining a cinema is a simple explanation for the height; with RCA Phonophone sound.
with a commercial building, the the building was to have two balconies, Seating was the best available;
frontage included a three-storey office but only one was built. leather surfaces with a special section
block and shops. It was the first steel- Much of the original décor has been of Moquette armchairs in the centre of
frame building in the city. stripped out, but enough remains to the front stalls. All seats had high backs
Considering that this was a prestige tantalize. Originally the proscenium and long arms. Seating capacity was
cinema, the design is restrained, which arch, 40ftx20ft (12mx6m) supported a initially advertised by the Fullers as
puts it at odds with the mood of the brown pelmet with monogram. Above 2,500, but after the plan for the top
times. And unlike most of its cousins it, swirling consoles repeated the gallery was abandoned, the actual
across Australasia, it was built as a pattern on an ornate arched beam over seating was 1,650.
cinema with all facilities for full-scale the circle, decorated in silver and gold Total cost, as reported by Fullers
live shows. filigree. was 45,000 NZ pounds ($NZ 90,000).
A bland entrance leads into a plain This beam, the edge of the dress This figure is similar to the cost of the
vestibule with walls of polished granite circle - firmly raked to seat 1,000, - and Regent Christchurch, which opened a
and terrazzo floor. This pushes in some the front of the orchestra pit (also long year later, and is reliably known to have
60ft (18m) to a wider, carpeted foyer. gone) were congruent curves. The rail cost nearly 42,000 NZ pounds. Clearly
Here, a graceful marble staircase, left- of the pit was columned and draped, as both were top-rank theatres.
hand side, curves and turns to the dress were the stage boxes with their With ‘Show Place of Christchurch’
circle foyer. The ticket booths are not recessed arches. The boxes matched ablaze in lights across the front, the
immediately obvious, but are set in the balconette windows set in the back wall Majestic was opened by the Mayor Mr.
wall opposite the staircase and face the of the circle. So often in cinemas the J. K. Archer on 1 March 1930. He
doors to the stalls. projector ports are the only breaks in described it as “Majestic in name,
The auditorium has no direct the line of the wall, but here the high majestic in size and a majestic
counterpart in Australia. The style of windows and their fluted columns bring achievement for our great city of
proscenium, the high, curved recesses cohesion between stage and surrounds. Christchurch”.

14 2008 CINEMARECORD