8mm Forum: Oldest theatre in Australasia

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Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on October 23, 2010, 06:51 PM:

On the main news last night there was an interesting item about this old cinema in Devonport Auckland NZ re-opening. In this day and age its really nice to see this kind of support.

Check out the TVNZ video its under "Oldest theatre in Australasia set to reopen" its a news video that runs for 2.00 minutes. I cant give you a direct link however just Google it [Smile]

Graham.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on October 23, 2010, 10:34 PM:

Nice Graham. It may well be that we don't have a purpose built cinema surviving that is older than 1912.

We do have the oldest drive-in in Australasia however just down the road from me...........

Channel 9 Today Show

Posted by Greg Marshall (Member # 1268) on October 24, 2010, 12:10 PM:

It was really great seeing you on the tube, David!!!

Posted by Jorge Rondao (Member # 1434) on October 24, 2010, 08:09 PM:

Lovely.

Posted by Pasquale DAlessio (Member # 2052) on October 24, 2010, 08:32 PM:

Graham

What a great story. I think the projectionist is as old as the cinema! They tore down our old cinema last year. Nobody supported it. I saw my first 007 film there for 20 cents. Here's a link to the video.

http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/oldest-theatre-in-australasia-set-reopen-2-00 -video-3850823/video

Dave

I enjoyed your report. We have a drive-in about 25 minutes from where I live. 20.00 a car load. Love the dancing popcorn and hotdog adverts. How many times did you drive off with the speaker still hanging on your window?

PatD

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on October 25, 2010, 02:37 AM:

Thanks for your comments guys.

As much as I like drive-in speakers, FM has been the best thing for drive-in sound. We still have a few posts with speakers, but they are in the garden area in front of the projection building. They are no longer driven away with, damaged, stolen or wear out.

Its a great old drive-in trick, first they brought their own seats, now they have to bring their own sound system!

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on October 25, 2010, 07:23 AM:

Nice story David!

I didn't know you ran a drive-in. I agree with you....35mm is the best. [Smile]

Bill

Posted by Bill Phelps (Member # 1431) on October 25, 2010, 07:39 AM:

Another nice story Graham!

It is nice to see people come together to save a landmark like that. It must be pretty special for that projectionist to have been there so long and to see people still enjoying it and supporting it.

Bill [Smile]

Posted by Graham Ritchie (Member # 559) on October 25, 2010, 09:01 PM:

David, that was very interesting. I have never been to a drive in but if we ever go to Aussie for a holiday it will be on the "must do" list. [Smile]

Bill, The projectionist being 82 years old and enjoying the job is really something.... we used to have a visitor at the cinema where I work he started projecting way back in 1945 and although retired was always given the VIP treatment from the staff when he turned up. I once asked him...did he enjoy the 50 years of being a projectionist and his reply was that he did "every bit of it" always full of interesting stories, sadly he died a few years back. At the funeral service I remember everyone recieved an "Admit One" admission ticket that was printed on the service notes... always had a good sense of humour [Smile]

Pasquale, Thanks for putting that link up.

Graham. [Smile]

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