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At midnight on 20 October 1965 a
Miss Jane Edwards sat alone in the
theatre watching MGM’s The Day Of
The Triffids, part of a promo for the
film. She toughed out the eery feeling
of having 1,649 empty seats around her
while on screen monster plants swatted
unsuspecting humans, all to get her
prize money of five pounds. At the
finish she said she enjoyed the film
very much, collected her money and
took a taxi home provided by Kerridge
Odeon. Full coverage in the following
days newspaper gave the film and
theatre maximum publicity.
By 1970 the theatre was struggling.
It was kept operational by live shows,
the occasional hit film and rents from
The Howard Morrison Quartet on stage 1962. Photo: Showtime Spectacular Collection,
the office block. By then seating had
courtesy of David Lascelles.
been reduced to 1,398. Even so, in July
Kerridge-Odeon had new carpet laid
throughout.
Towards the end of August the
Beatle’s Let It Be was beginning its
second week, but early on the morning
of 28 August fire damaged over half of
the theatre. More than 50 fireman and
10 units fought the blaze for 40
minutes. The seat of the fire was in the
dress circle, most of which collapsed
into the auditorium. Water and smoke
damage added to the carnage.

Author’s Collection
Author’s Collection
While not suspicious, there was a costs of rebuilding would run into well cinema closed, Rodney Cook of
certain irony in the fact that the fire had over $NZ 70,000. Christchurch bought the machines for
taken hold in the theatre once touted as Sir Robert Kerridge decided to ‘let his private use.
having the most up-to- date fire it be’ and the Majestic never re-opened Kerridge-Odeon sold the site to
prevention sprinklers. In fact, half the as a theatre. The film was transferred to investment company Deneter Holdings,
sprinklers had been disconnected and the Tivoli. The Kalees were which leased it out. For a while it was
painted over. Insurance assessors told reconditioned and installed at the Moby Dick’s Nite Spot. In 1976 the
relieving manager Trevor King that Westend in Blenheim. When that company sold the building to the City

18 2008 CINEMARECORD