One Picture—Two Theatres

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 9, Issue 65, 24 April 1946, Page 5

One Picture—Two Theatres

A novel feature was unintentionally introduced by the management of the Grand Theatre during the session on Saturday evening. During the second picture, a fault occurred in the sound system, all the sound and talking without warning suddenly cutting out'. To correct the breakdown meant testing individually each and every piece of apparatus, and as this was impossible at the time, the management decided to transfer the show and the audience to the Regent. Accordingly, Mr R. Chapman made an announcement to the effect that as the Regent picture was on the point of concluding, patrons who wished could adjourn to that theatre. Almost without exception, the whole of the Grand house, very evidently struck by the-novelty of the thing, moved over to the front of the Regent. After a short interval, “The Gentle Sex”, showing at the Regent, finished, the house emptied, the Grand audience took its place, and the latter half of ‘Til Remember April” graced the Regent screen. Meanwhile, the management inwardly offered thanks to fortune, that they had had two theatres at their disposal. On Sunday, the Western Electric representative tested the Grand machines located, and rectified the fault.