FOURTH FILM HOUSE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18397, 15 May 1934, Page 4

FOURTH FILM HOUSE

OPERA HOUSE REOPENING ‘‘FAMILY THEATRE” PROJECT STAGE SHOWS IN PROSPECT A decision to reopen the Opera House for regular film exhibitions has been reached by the Gisborne Theatres management, and within a few weeks the theatre will become the fourth picture house operating on a regular schedule in the town. Mr. It. J. Kerridge, in making this announcement to-day, intimated that it is intended to establish the Opera House as a "family theatre” for the purposes of picture entertainment, when the building is not required for stage productions, in connection with which the prospects are brighter now ? than for some time. It is proposed to wire the Opera House anew for the production of talkie films, to replace the ’present seating accommodation with modern leather-upholstered lounge chairs) and to take full advantage of the excellent acoustic properties of the theatre, always well spdken of by experts in, the production of stage shows. The programme submitted thete will''iff elude the majority of pictures Spleetbd for second runs in Gisborne, oh the bilkis of initial successes with the Gisborne public, and this policy will involve a change also in the schedule of the Majestic Theatre, which irom the date of t'he re-o'pening of the Opera House will rank as a first-run house only, on the same basis as the Regent Theatre* under the direction of Gisborne Theatres, limited. There are many films shown in Gisborne on first runs which have a wide appeal, and which many people seek further opportunities of seeing and hearing. It is established indisputably that second runs of successful films are popular, both with those who enjoyed the initial presentation, and with the many people who for one reason or another miss the first presentation. Moreover, there are many households in which the cost of picture entertainment, modest ,as it is in view of the great outlay of money in production and exhibition of first-class films, is felt too heavily to permit of regular patronage of first runs. The interests of all three classes of patrons will be served iby the policy of the Opera House management, which will bo to present popular revivals as well as initial runs of many first-class shows at prices somewnat lower than those ruling in the first-run houses. On the subject of "flesh-and-blood ” productions, Mr-. Kerridge mentioned that Sir Benjamin Fuller, who is paying a visit to London shortly, will arrange for regular appearances of good productions on the circuits subscribed to by the Gisborne Theatres management, and that the best of these shows will be staged in Gisborne at the Opera House. Patrons of the theatre will welcome this announcement, which means that a wide variety of entertainment in addition to films will be available at fairly regular intervals.