PICTURE THEATRE BUSINESS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21216, 23 December 1930, Page 6

PICTURE THEATRE BUSINESS.

THE J. C. WILLIAMSON CIRCUIT. IMPORTANT ADDITIONS. (Special to Daily Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 22. Following a rapid tour by the manag«T?„ direptor ( Mr Beaumont Smith), the Williamson Films (New Zealand), Ltd., has completed negotiations for the control of three more theatres in the South Island, and the lease of a fourth is under consideration. In Christchurch the company has taken; over the management of the Civic Theatre (Municipal Concert Hall) temporarily, and of the Strand Theatre for a long period. In Dunedin the Octagon Theatre has been amalgamated with the Regent Theatre under the company’s control. The fourth theatre is in another centre of the South Island. This extension, it is understood, has been made partly to improye the company’s circuit, and partly as a practical declaration of its independence in the picture theatre business in New Zealand. It already has leases of the Theatre Royal (Christchurch), the Regent Theatre (Dunedin), the Civic and Regent Theatres (Invercargill) in the South Island, and of an important chain of theatres in the North. The sale of Hoyts interests in Australia to the Fox Film Corporation (U.S.A.) has not in the least affected Williamson Films (New Zealand), Ltd., in which the Australian firm did not have a single share. The New Zealand company will continue to act independently, and has already purchased the rights of the outputs of the Paramount United Artists and British Dominions Film Companies. The Strand Theatre will be renovated and reseated, and a talkie plant will be installed. _ The new theatre, it is expected, will be ready for opening within the first few months of 1931. The Civic Theatre has been leased from the Christchurch. City Council from Boxing Day, December 20. Mr Gladstone Hill, who has controlled the theatre for some time past; will be retained as manager.