Cinerama Theatre
Queen Street,
Auckland
1010
Queen Street,
Auckland
1010
4 people
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Amalgamated Theatres Ltd.
Previous Names: Strand Theatre, Mayfair Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Originally opened as the 1,200-seat Strand Theatre in 1916, the entrance was off the street down a narrow passage. It was taken over by Amalgamated Theatres Ltd. in 1948 and was re-named Mayfair Theatre.
The cinema was renovated in 1959, and with 300 less seats, it was equipped for 3-strip Cinerama screenings from 5th November 1959 to 28th November 1964 on the giant 65ft x 25ft 146 degree screen. Afterwards single-strip Cinerama projection was used.
It was renovated again to a flatter screen early-1970’s and was destroyed by fire in 1974. It was rebuilt in 1977 and was finally closed in 1984.
Contributed by
Mark Nicol
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Recent comments (view all 13 comments)
You are correct Bob, it should be 146 degree screen:
http://cinerama.topcities.com/Auckland.htm
I dont believe a Multiplex was built on the site and sorry I don’t have the street number.
Here is a photo of The Strand Theatre before becoming Mayfair then Cinerama:
View link
This site has a picture of the theater’s interior and Cinerama screen: View link
CWalczak:– That is not the interior of the Cinerama, Auckland; but that of the Cinerama Christchurch. Different City, Different Island; separated by some 12,000 kilometers.
Thanks for correcting my error, BK. It is interesting that two New Zealand theaters named Mayfair became Cinerama houses.
There is a picture of the Auckland Cinerama on this page along with some pictures taken during an apparent fire: http://cinerama.topcities.com/Auckland.htm. There is another picture here: http://tinyurl.com/4ext5fl and one of the foyer during the run of “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” here: http://tinyurl.com/4cpeeg3
I have updated the Google View to show the site (Mid Queen St – according to our investigations). After demolision a 6 screen cinema was built in the 80’s on the site, “Mid City Cinema’s”.
The stripped shell still exists and there are a number of discussions that have taken place over the recent years for it’s future (new theatre/cinema options through to retails spaces). The latter appears to be the decision.
just a note Mid City Cinema. It is on the site of the Cinerama Theatre, Queen St. Mid City opened in May 1984 had 4 screens and seated approx 1900.
Building now sits empty.
Does anyone know where to see any interior pics of the old Cinerama Auckland?. They seem inpossible to find on line. If only I had taken my kodak instamatic..
Here’s a March, 1919 program from the Strand Theatre in Auckland.
Does anyone remember that it was next to the Coburg hotel?