![Cinema Treasures](/images/app/logo.png?1723737594)
Regent Theatre
23 Weld Street,
Hokitika
7900
23 Weld Street,
Hokitika
7900
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so a big cheer all around for the theatre restoration comittee and all the volunteers who made this happen. its a bit of a fairy tale – from slated for demolition to the most up to date cinema in the country! we’ve managed to find samples of all the original color scheme, resene has provided colormatched paint. when we cleaned up the proscenium arch, we found the original detailing along the top. the digital projection means we can use nearly the entire arch as our screen, so the picture is huge, and framed perfectly by the restored colours. the place is beautiful.
next up is work on a new heating system, LED coloured lighting coordinated behind the art deco grilles and changes to the live sound provisions. and lots of other little things. come visit!
The Cinema is now up and running again in Full Digital projection, with the best sound system in New Zealand. you can check out the timetables at
View link
3d is expected in time for avatar this december.
The Regent Theatre can be seen on the centre left of this photograph (the large white roof):
View link
A better view of the Regent Theatre on the right of this photograph:
http://flickr.com/photos/8502604@N03/2072606799/
Good Luck.The Regent deserves to be restored and preserved.It is an important part of your social history. This is one of the few remaining purpose-built NZ cinemas from the “heyday” of NZ cinema and I suggest and hope that option 2 is the way to go. No other options should even be considered.
The “character”, “ambience” and “feel” of the Regent (indeed the very name “Regent”) could never be replaced with a new building (even with the old facade), and it is these aspects of the building and the fact that it was built at a time when “cinema was King” in New Zealand that gives it a “soul” and makes it of historical value and well worth preserving. The local council should be supporting your restoration efforts as it is a valuable community asset. If it is demolished, the town will live to regret it..