Regent Theatre

Built by Levin Council, the Municipal Building contained the De Luxe Theatre, municipal offices, a social hall and shops. It was opened on 20th January 1926 with Lillian Gish in “The White Sister”. It was designed by architect James Bennie, (his final cinema design before switching to designing business buildings and pre-fabricated housing). Seating was provided for 1,020, with 700 in the stalls and 320 in the circle. It was equipped with a large stage and a stipulation of the lease was that live shows should be presented 12 days a year. In 1937 it was taken over by United Theatres Ltd. and renamed Regent Theatre.

The building suffered minor damage from three fires in 1934, 1938 and in January 1983. It was closed as a cinema on 23rd November 1983 due to a lack of earthquake codes. It was demolished in 1985. A shopping plaza was built on the site, which contained a newly built 327-seat cinema at the rear, which opened as the Regent on 11th May 1984 (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures as the Focal Point Cinema & Café Levin).

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