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NATIONAL: AUCKLAND: A campaign to save BALMORAL: From up-market art-
the St.James Theatre Building is house cinema in the 1980s to
EQUAL RIGHTS: Despite a
underway. Spearheading the movement Bollywood blockbusters in the early
requested 30-month exemption to the
are Mayors John Banks, Bob Harver 2000s, the Capitol Cinema has now
act from exhibitors, Australian cinemas
along with Bob Kerridge, Wayne been restored. Early in 2009 the
could be forced to provide captions and
Brittenden, Doug Harley and others. proprietors of Epsom’s Lido Cinema
audio descriptions for the hearing and
added the Capitol to their slate. The
vision impaired following a decision by
Capitol Picture Palace on Dominion
the Australian Human Rights
Road opened in August 1923 seating
Commission. The AHRC has indicated
900. It closed after being gutted by fire
it will refuse an application from the
in 1978 but re-opened as Charley
major Australian cinema chains for an
Grays Picture Theatre in 1986.
exemption to the Disability
LEVIN: The Levin Cinema 3
Discrimination Act.
Complex which opened in 1996, closed
NEW ZEALAND: on March 11, 2010. The complex will
be upgraded and re-open in six months
DUNEDIN: The historic Regent as a cinema and live theatre venue.
Theatre (CR issue 55) is in danger of
closing. It is facing the mammoth task
of raising $1.73 million by June to
secure $4.7 million in council funding
towards its $6.7 million backstage
development project. The theatre, PARAPARAUMU: Reading
described as a “death trap” by touring Cinemas three-screen location is about
companies, will be closed for health to lose seating in two of their cinemas.
and safety issues if funding is not Coastlands Mall have told them that
found. space is wanted for shops. The Reading
location is marginal at best and has
MIRAMAR: Work has finally
been losing business constantly to the BUY-OUT: Hoyts have purchased
started on the old Capitol Cinema - six
Boutique Cinema at Waikanae due to the country’s fourth largest theatre
months behind schedule. Builders will
poor and misguided programming. circuit for an undisclosed amount. The
be demolishing most of the building but
Unofficially, Reading has had the buy-out of Berkeley Cinema Group
keeping the façade which dates back to
Paraparaumu venue on the market and from Everard Entertainment will need
1928. While Sir Peter Jackson and
has offered it to a number of exhibitors Commerce Commission approval.
Richard Taylor are no longer involved,
who have declined. Possible that with Hoyts control 49 screens in New
Jamie Selkirk has a new team of
the major renovation of Coastlands Zealand and the acquisition of
investors and the theatre is now
Reading may use it as an excuse to shut Berkeley’s 21 screens will give Hoyts a
expected to open in December.
up shop and quietly walk away. total of 70 against SkyCity/AHL’s 72,
Reading’s 58 and Rialto’s 16.
Interesting that the Hoyts purchase took
place as it announced that Hoyts itself
was up for sale.
WELLINGTON: A freak storm in
mid- March saw part of the roof lift off
the Time Cinema. Quick work by staff
and firemen removed all the projection
equipment before water poured into the
projection box and through into the
theatre. No film was lost but much
water damaged carpet and fixtures
meant that the cinema will be closed
until mid-April.

Newsreel Contributors: Brian Hunt;
Ian Hanson; Ross King; Colin Flint;
William Gray; David Lascelles;
Kevin Adams; Brett Enright;
Gerry Kennedy and others.
All News contributions & letters are
welcome but may be edited due to content,
clarity or space requirements.

CINEMARECORD 2010 9