Page 18 - CinemaRecord Edition 3-2003 #41

Although the J. C. Williamson Picture Corporation had a Regent in the capital Wellington, the Regent Auckland was their flagship.
This image from the mid-1940s shows why. The proscenium arch almost takes wing, and the deeply recessed window near the
crossover adds depth to the field of vision. Image: Trevor Skelton; Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington. Courtesy of Allan Webb.

George Knight acquired his old re- Sources: * Historian Len Stenersen purchased
wind bench of native kauri. He made it Film Weekly Directory, 1945-1946 the organ in 1987. It had suffered
into a coffee table where it took pride Kerridge-Odeon Newsletter, August extensive damage during the 1969
of place in his lounge. Demolition 1949 Wahine storm while at the Hutt Valley
Sight & Sound - N.Z. Projectionists
started on a wonderful building in early High School. After 11,000 hours of
Magazine, August 1949.
August, a victim of changing times, restoration by a dedicated team, Len
Film Research - Wellington (Theatre
high overheads and low returns. Single- transferred ownership to the Wurlitzer
Files)
screen theatres were uneconomic, Organ Trust who proudly nurture this
Correspondence with the late Messrs.
products of a bygone age offering a Jan Grefstad and George Knight in historic instrument at the Hollywood
rich, romantic and compelling world of 1996. Theatre, Avondale, Auckland.
illusion in an atmosphere and Conversations with Doug Harley in
surroundings the likes of which we will June and July 2007
probably never see again. One age N.Z. Herald: 27 December 1926 and 14
extolled ‘The Theatre Magnificent and December 1929
a vision of perfection. Auckland’s own Auckland Star: 5 March 1927, 1 August
1952, 28 November 1956 and 24 June
palace of dreams’, and another
destroyed it. 1974.

Images not specifically credited are
from the author’s collection.

18 2009 CINEMARECORD