GRAND THEATRE CHANGE?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 259, 2 November 1932, Page 11

GRAND THEATRE CHANGE?

TO BE NAMED THE “PLAZA” EXTENSIVE ALTERATIONS When the Grand Theatre reopens under new management it will be new, not only in appearance but in name — it will be the “Plaza” Theatre. Already workmen are busy altering the building, on the exterior and in the interior. It will be the thirty-first of a chain operated by Amalgamated Theatres, Ltd., with head office at Auckland.

When the work is finished the front will be entirely changed. Instead of having a straight-line verandah, the outside edge is to run in a curve with coloured lights lining it out. Admission tickets will be bought from glass boxes, and the walls of the entrance are to be tastefully decorated. It is one of the policy points of Amalgamated Theatres to arrange lobby displays, making for a bright and attractive entrance.

In remodelling the theatre the company employs local labour, whereever possible. Local materials are bought in every possible case. When talking with an executive of the company yesterday a reporter was told that it is the policy of the company to help the city in any way it can. If civic projects can be aided with the co-operation of the theatre, that help is to be forthcoming. When a call is made on the community in the name of charity the company will be willing to endeavour to help the movement all it can.

New stage settings will be arranged, and the theatre is to be artistically lighted throughout. The latest in fans for the summer, usUig the exhaust system, are to be installed and by next winter the heating arrangements are to be overhauled throughout. Following the policy of having a new theatre for the opening date, the new company is making arrangements to have the whole interior disinfected.

Interior drapings are to be used to improve the sound at the theatre, besides adding to the appearance of the interior. The proposals are to be the subject of careful checking by technical experts, and the whole of the sound equipment is to be overhauled during the time the theatre is temporarily closed.

Ctae of the finest entertainment pictures yet to reach the talking screen, “Sunshine Susie,” will be the first to be shown at the Plaza Theatre. How highly the production has been appreciated in other cities may be gathered from the fact that in Melbourne it has run for 15 consecutive weeks. It is anticipated that the run will finally reach six months. In Sydney it is now in its fourth week. It has been playthe last week were greater than those when it first opened. In Australia the popularity of tfie picture has caused trouble in that its long runs have held up the release of other pictures. In some cases a second theatre had to be opened to show the productions which were being held up.

In Auckland “Sunshine Susie” opened at the Plaza Theatre. It is now in its fuorth week. It has been playing to capacity houses at four sessions daily. On Labour Day over 6000 people saw the picture.

Children’s matinees are to be held at the Plaza Theatre. In Thames, Mr R. Meikle, who will be managing the Plaza Theatre, was given a public farewell when he left for Wanganui, and had been looked upon as the picture father of the kiddies of the town. At all children’s matinees the programmes are specially selected, and the reporter was told yesterday that the Governor-General had publicly commented upon the clean entertainment that Amalgamated Theatres were offering their children’s audiences.