Page 16 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

After the war, projectionist George
Knight resumed his old job, again
working with Jimmy Coyle. Going My
Way with Bing Crosby did a solid nine
weeks of business. On 6 December
1945 the theatre closed for a much-
needed spruce up after the final
screening of Here Come The Waves
with Betty Hutton.
Advertised as re-opening on
December 14 with Sudan, Williamson’s
then cited work delays, which pushed
the re-opening to 20 December and a
different film, Maria Montez in A
Thousand And One Nights. The two-
weeks of work included seats replaced,
stage and dressing room alterations,
and upgrades to the foyer. The Regent's projection room, late 1930s. Left to right: Unidentified spool boy, Allan
McGregor and Jimmy Coyle. The projectors are Ernemann on universal bases;
In March 1946 exhibitor R. J.
lamphouses are Peerless. The dial near Jimmy's head ensures a smooth sound
Kerridge sold 50 percent of his
transition from one projector to the other.
company to J. Arthur Rank of Great
Britain and by August 1946 the
At 2am it was all over. Some hours The film aroused considerable interest
muscled -up Kerridge-Odeon
later the cleaners wondered what they among cosmopolitan Aucklanders. It
Corporation was talking to other
had walked into. Projectionist Don smashed all records for the first week
exhibitors. In an agreement with J. &
Walker was Jimmy's replacement. with a gross 157 percent of the
N. Tait in Australia and the J. R.
England’s star of stage, screen and average! Manager John White, who had
McKenzie Trust, now the principle
radio, comedian Stanley Holloway replaced Fred Pollitt, was very pleased.
shareholders of the J.C. Williamson
appeared in person for one week 13-21 The N.Z. premiere of Paramount’s
Picture Corporation N.Z. Ltd.,
May 1949. With him was Billy Mayer, Stalag 17 starring William Holden was
Kerridge-Odeon would assume control.
the world-renowned BBC pianist- held on Sunday 15 November 1953. All
The Regent Queen Street officially
composer-recorder. proceeds went to the Motion Picture
came under the Kerridge-Odeon banner
on Monday 23 September 1946, during Towards the end of June as Scott Of Benevolent Fund.
the last week of Masquerade In The Antartic began its fourth record In 1954 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Mexico. Things looked rosy; that year week, Fred Pollitt replaced Charles celebrated their 30th Jubilee, with a
there were 35 million paid admissions Smith as manager. In July Gaumont five-day festival from 19-24 February.
at New Zealand theatres, an average of Kalee installed a new two-way speaker Five films were screened as previews,
20 admissions per head of population. system, which improved sound each for one day: Julius Caesar, Easy
distribution. To Love, Mogambo, Executive Suite,
In mid-1947 the Ernemann
projectors were replaced by Gaumont - Kerridge-Odeon set its imprint on And All The Brothers Were Valiant.
Kalee 12s. And in an amazing feat for the Regent in August when it created a Two months later, on 17 April, the
the period, some two days after the new entrance display, re-did the lounge theatre hosted the Australasian premiere
department store inferno at J. furnishings and reduced seating to of Houdini starring real-life husband
Ballantynes in Christchurch that left 41 1,510. The exterior was painted in the and wife Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh.
dead and many injured, the National new company colors of chocolate Then R.J. Kerridge announced that the
Film Unit had footage in theatres brown and gold, which drew positive world premiere of the J. Arthur Rank
around the country, including at the comments from passers-by. Nora production The Seekers, book by New
Regent. The NFU just happened to Prentiss with Ann Sheridan and Kent Zealander John Guthrie, would be held
have a team in Christchurch filming Smith was called a Regent Prestige on Friday 25 June 1954.
another event. Attraction. Filmed in EastmanColor and filmed
When long-time projectionist Steve Noonan replaced Don Walker on location in New Zealand, the epic
Jimmy Coyle transferred to the Regent as projectionist in June 1950, when starred Jack Hawkins, Glynis Johns,
Christchurch, some 38 operators from Don transferred to the Majestic Laya Raki and Inia Te Wiata. Ms. Raki,
Kerridge-Odeon, Amalgamated and the Christchurch. For the first time in actually a German playing a Maori
independents gathered at the Regent to many years a New Zealand feature princess, had an on-set romance with
farewell him. A special film show had made it to the screen. On 1 August Australia's Ron Randell, and they
been produced by Doug Harley, and 1952 Pacific Films’ Broken Barrier was subsequently married. For the premiere
kicked off by Alf Mouldey at 11 pm. It given a grand opening. Producer Roger the Regent was decorated with Maori
was a night unlike any other: crown Mirams appeared on stage and the carvings, some of which had been used
tops were lifted and the amber liquid Ardmore Training College Maori Club, in the film. Floodlights, bands and an
flowed, the music provided by the some 30 strong, sang Maori melodies. NFU newsreel team were in attendance
‘Clink of Glasses Quartet’. Director John O’Shea was not present. as Maori chiefs, leading citizens and

16 2009 CINEMARECORD