Queen's Theatre
The Queen's Theatre was an early Christchurch cinema which opened in 1912.
In March 1912, Charles MacMahon, a professional in the theatre business, and Wellington builder, W. H. Edwards, arrived in Christchurch to arrange for the construction of a new theatre. At the start of April it was reported that a site had been selected on Hereford Street opposite the United Services Hotel. By May, the by-laws committee of the city council had confirmed the application submitted by W. H. Edwards and Son.
The façade of the building faced north onto Hereford Street. It featured five pilasters and was topped by a pediment.
The theatre was the first purpose built cinema in Christchurch and was able to seat up to nine hundred patrons. The reserved boxes in the gallery featured upholstered chairs, while the remaining chairs were tip up seats. The ceiling was rendered in fibrous plaster, designed by a craftsman from Auckland. The walls also featured fourteen paintings by a ‘Mr. Bevan of Wellington’. There was lighting on the auditorium steps in order to prevent accidents, and although the interior was lit by electricity, the exterior lighting relied on gas.
Efforts were made to ensure the theatre met the standards of fire safety. The operator’s box was cased in concrete to prevent the outbreak of a fire. The roof slates were asbestos and the inside of the roof was of fibrous plaster. The bylaws meant that a fireman had to be stationed at the theatres whenever a film was showing. However because the theatre met the fire safety standards, an article in the Press asked if this was really necessary.
The Press ran a competition where they offered a prize of five guineas to the individual who contributed the most appropriate name for the new theatre. In August it was announced that the committee had selected the name ‘Pictorium’ although the proprietors of the theatre were not obliged to use the awarded name. Eventually the proprietors selected to name the new theatre the Queen’s Theatre.
In September 1912, the shareholders of the Queen’s Theatre Limited held a meeting in Wellington to elect the directors. Charles MacMahon, James Moore, H. Oram, and W. H. Edwards were elected. However, the company, Queen’s Theatre Limited, was not registered in December 1912.
On 30 October 1912, a preview screening was held for selected guests by the managers, Charles MacMahon, and William Edwards. The theatre was formally opened by the mayor, Henry Holland, on the following night.
In February 1916, Queen’s Theatre Limited was purchased by Queen’s Pictures Limited. In 1917, the interior of the theatre was renovated. As part of this renovation the front of the circle was decorated in raised plaster. The walls were decorated with panels topped by a frieze and a high ceiling. The projection was upgraded to the level of other theatres and the seating was upgraded to a modern arrangement.
By December 1929, the theatre building was acquired by McKenzie and Willis who, due to the renovation of the Royal Exchange building to accommodate the new Regent Theatre, were forced to relocate from their former premises. The building ended its role as a theatre after a final screening was held on 5 January 1930.
Following this, the renovation of the building was carried out by W. Williamson to architectural plans of B. J. Ager who redesigned the building in the Moderne style. Two new storeys were added to the building. To achieve this, the roof of the former theatre building was retained but lifted up.
The exterior was given a modern appearance and display windows were fitted to the ground floor and a lift was installed. By February 1930, it had opened as McKenzie and Willis.
In November 1967, an arcade containing sixteen shops opened on the ground floor of the building. Designed by E. J. L. Heymel of Griffiths, Moffat, and Associates and constructed by Williamson Construction Company, the arcade ran south from the Hereford Street entrance before turning east into a building on Colombo Street. There was also a link through to Whitcombe and Tombs to the west.
In 1986 the arcade was sold to Hayes Timaru Limited.
References
News of the day, Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14308, 20 March 1912, p.8.
News of the day, Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14318, 1 April 1912, p.6.
City Council, Star, Issue 10460, 14 May 1912, p.1.
Amusements, Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14414, 23 July 1912, p.1.
News of the day, Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14442, 24 August 1912, p.10.
News of the day, Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14464, 19 September 1912, p.6.
Mimes and Mummers, Star, Issue 10570, 19 September 1912, p.2.
Amusements, Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14499, 30 October 1912, p.7.
Amusements, Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14500, 31 October 1912, p.8.
Moving pictures, Star, Issue 10607, 1 November 1912, p.3.
Christchurch by day, Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8427, 2 December 1912, p.2.
Firemen at theatres, Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14539, 16 December 1912, p.10.
Amusements, Press, Volume LII, Issue 15517, 18 February 1916, p.1.
Personals, Sun, Volume IV, Issue 1055, 29 June 1917, p.4.
Personals, Sun, Volume V, Issue 1492, 23 November 1918, p.4.
Tenders, Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19513, 9 January 1929, p.1.
Old Queen’s Theatre, Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19519, 16 January 1929, p.7.
General News, Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19510, 5 January 1929, p.12.
General News, Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19511, 7 January 1929, p.8.
A renovated building, Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21534, 25 July 1935, p.7.
Image, Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21534, 25 July 1935, p.7.
Shopping arcade, Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31536, 25 November 1967, p.20.
ASB on Hereford Street
ASB in the former Queen's Theatre building at 120 Hereford Street.
ASB on Hereford Street
ASB at 120 Hereford Street. East of the building, in the accessway, is a banner advertising the building's former origins as the Queen's Theatre.
Building damage on the corner of Hereford and High Streets.
Masonry building damage on the corner of Hereford and High Streets.