Return to cinema's “good old days"

Press, 22 July 1976, Page 17

Return to cinema's “good old days"

By

LINDA HALLIDAY

Classic movie buffs will be delighted to learn what is in store for the Hollywood picture theatre at Sumner. August marks the beginning of a new era for Christchurch cinema patrons.

The 38-year-old building in Marriner Street will soon house not one, but two, cinemas. At present seating 400, the Hollywood is under-going alterations which will culminate : n a medium-sized cinema seating approximately 300, and a smaller, more intimate, cinema for 130.

The Hollywood’s little theatre will cater for a particular secton of moviegoers, in that it will show almost exclusively films from the 1930 s and 40s. These will include “The Freaks,” a film made in the 30s and which has been universally banned ever since. It has now been released and will be shown here with an Rl6 classification. Mr H. L. Masters, owner of the Hollywood, and also the Avenue in Riccarton, is convinced of the need for an intimate theatre. “At one time television really took its toll of film audiences, but people are gradually coming back to the movies,” he says. “And many of them are ardent fans of the classic movie.”

The Hollywood’s new look is being supervised by the architect, Neil Armstrong. Much of the donkey work will be carried out by Mr Masters’s staff, ’with help from builders. The existing theatre will be divided, with the front stalls forming the smaller theatre.

The box office and refreshments counter will remain unaltered; the major changes will be to entrances and exits. The existing door and ramp to the right of the foyer will give access to the new larger theatre, while to the left of the refreshments counter a new passageway will be built, leading to the smaller theatre. Nostalgia will be rife here. The walls of the new passage-wav will be lined with portraits of the old

stars — Valentino, Garbo, Fairbanks, and, surely, Chaplin. The concept of intimate theatre has really come into its own. It has been recognised that public tastes have changed and, of course, there are now more alternative sources of entertainment. Large theatres are not as easy to fill as they once were and are costly to heat and maintain.

No longer are they built in a grand manner with imposing architecture, make-believe starlit skies, and much general embellishment: they are more likely to be softly lit with a warmly-toned decor and a decidedly cosy air. Aucklanders recently saw the demise of the elegant old Regent Theatre in Queen Street, with its marble staircase and balustrades and lions rampant. The site is now occupied by Cinemas One and Two, both of moderate size, with subdued lighting, very comfortable seating, and simple tasteful decor. Both enjoy capacity audiences. The move back to filmgoing is also reflected in anoth’-r of Mr Masters’s schemes. With the City Council’s blessing, he hopes tc open a drive-in theatre at Queen Elizabeth II Park. Planned for 600 cars, the scheme has not yet got off the ground because of Government restrictions on overseas spending. He also owns land iu Seaview Road, Brighton, which has been earmarked for a picture theatre.

Foimerly owner of the Papanui, St Albans, and Brignton picture theatres, Mr Masters is quietly optimistic about the future of the cinema. He bought the Hollywood about 12 years ago and has seen audience numbers vary a great deal. “Although we seldom have a full house — few suburban theatres do, by the time the city theatres have squeezed every drop they can from the films — we still have reasonably good attendances, especially with good repeats and early releases. Gone with the Wind still draws good audiences, for exa tuple.”