Gala charity opening

Press, 19 November 1981, Page 16

Gala charity opening

Kerridge Odeon’s new, S2M Regent Twin Cinema Complex was officially opened last evening at a gala charity which raised sufficient money to enable 140 youngsters to attend this summer’s Christchurch Children’s Health Camps. Money for the camps was raised through efforts by Christchurch Rotary Clubs in selling tickets for the blacktie occasion, at which the. Mayor of Christchurch, Mr Hamish Hay, officially opened the theatre. The evening’s highlight was the world premiere of the New Zealand-made film, “Race for the Yankee Zephyr,” starring George Peppard, Donald Pleasance and Lesley Anne Warren.

The well-known British actor, director and producer, David Hemmings, who directed “Zephyr,” also attended the evening’s celebrations: . Heather Walker, formerly manager of the Westend cinema, is general manager of the complex, and Marc McKenna, of Wellington, has taken on the duties of house manager. Ralph Sherwood, of Dunedin, has taken Heather’s Place at the Westend. The downstairs cinema, Regent 1, seats 446 people, while the Regent 2, upstairs, is designed to accommodate 888. Technically, the projection equipment is the latest available, incorporating the new platter system, and both

theatres will enjoy full Dolby stereo system sound. A unique feature of the Regent in today’s world is the accessibility to both theatres, for disabled people, and with the installation of a lift, wheelchairs can be taken easily into both auditoriums. Tonight, the second opening film, “For Your Eyes Only,” starring Roger Moore, will also be a New Zealand premiere. Three of the other stars, Lynn Holly Johnson, Cassandra Harris and Topol,' are expected to attend. Both “Race for the Yankee Zephyr” and “For Your Eyes Only” are expected to be major Christmas attractions in Christchurch. The Regent Christchurch originally comprised two

Crown land sections which were sold in June, 1851, to a Mr Thomas Rowley paying 30 shillings for each of them. On October 3, 1856, he, in turn sold them for 150 Pounds to Joseph Palmer, manager, of the Union Bank of Australia, in Hereford Street. In November, 1890, Palmer sold them to his bank and, in turn, they sold them to the Royal Exchange Company in 1907. It remained as the Royal Exchange until its transformation in 1929 to the wellknown Regent Theatre. It opened on August 16, 1930, and seated 1600 people. The 1905 exterior remained with arched windows Elaborate false-work outlining Spanish, buildings surrounded it; and the ceiling was well-known throughout the country as the night sky. Immediately after the fire in 1979, Kerridge Odeon set about to reconstruct the complete interior of the building and the designs of the two projected auditoriums. were left in the hands of the Christchurch architects, Warren and Mahoney. The contractors for the site also were a Christchurch company, Charles Luney and Company, and the work has taken less than two years, which has left the outside of the building redecorated but structurally unchanged and, internally, has given Christchurch and, in fact, New Zealand, the two newest and most luxurious theatres possible. The new decor, with its plush red carpeting and mirrored walls, gives an atmosphere of space and yet at the same time comfort. Seating has been designed to allow the maximum room between rows and good viewing from every angle.