An Up-to-Date Cinema Theatre for Grey Lynn

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 617, 20 March 1929, Page 14

An Up-to-Date Cinema Theatre for Grey Lynn

A Further Extension of the Fuller-Hayward Enterprises

Modern Cinema for Grey Lynn IN KEEPING WITH GROWTEI OF SUBURB Fuller-Hay ward Circuit Extended

IMAGINE it! A modern city theatre built right in the heart of a populous suburb, the last word in theatre design and comfort, and with every one of the 1,200 seats commanding- an uninterrupted view of the stage. The Grey Lynn Cinema, which opens this evening-, has certainly set a new standard for suburban theatres for New Zealand.

j T>EALISING that the demand o£ the | picture-going public to-day is for I more comfortable theatres right at I their doors, the Fuller-Hayward Theatres have for some time been pursuing the policy of establishing new theatres at central points in the suburban districts. Their last success was the Tudor Cinema, Remuera. The Grey Lynn Cinema has been constructed at Surrey Crescent, a central point in the western suburbs, and at the junction of the Great North Road, Williamson Avenue, and the branches of the Grey Lynn and Zoo tramlines. The thousands of people residing in the district radiating from this point will now be provided with a first-class theatre, and one that in point of comfortable seating, general decoration and convenience of appurtenances is as modern as any in tile most-famed theatre district. The Grey Lynn Cinema is unique among Auckland theatres, differing in many essentials from all other houses of entertainment. Entering from the street one is immediately impressed with the spaciousness of the hallway. Plate-glass doors surmounted by artistically designed leadlights, give an air of dignity, which is enhanced by the straight walls of the auditorium, which is a single floor without gallery. The floor covering of the entrance hall is composed of resilient rubber of a neat pattern. Also, one is immediately introduced to the attractive colour scheme of the whole theatre. This unique scheme, which is developed throughout the whole of the interior, was designed by Mr. N. Cole for the edification of the Auckland amusement-loving public. Yet the whole decorative scheme is subservient to the general lighting of the theatre. The lighting of the Grey Lynn Cinema must be seen at night to be fully appreciated. WONDERFUL LIGHTING The lighting, soft and effective, is mysteriously hidden in a network of delicate plaster work above the heads of the audience, and also around the proscenium. The colours commence at the outside with light yellow, then to orange, amber, pink, purply red, mauve and blue. This order is maintained everywhere. When the lights are switched on, the colours appear like a gorgeous sunrise, gradually embracing the whole theatre, almost perceptibly. Amber and pink, a roseate hue interwoven, gradually ascends until every cornice and decoration is emphas-

ised, and the theatre is bathed in a rich glow beneath an azure sky. Such effects have rarely been attempted before. The important work of solid plastering in the construction of the theatre

was capably handled by Mr. Charles Pollard and his staff. The new drop curtain, which is in keeping with the rich furnishings of the auditorium was designed by Andrews and Clark, Ltd., who also supplied the heavy curtains. The leather upholstered seats are the hollow-back type with five springs in each seat cushion. They were manufactured in Fuller-Hay-ward’s own seat factory. There is ample room between the rows of seats, two wide aisles, and plenty of vacant space round the main entrance.

Every seat in the theatre has an i absolutely uninterrupted view of the I stage and screen. This is achieved j partly by the absence of posts, partly by the fairly steep, incline of the floor from the back down to the front, but largely by the “staggering” of the rows of seats. There are 16 seats in each row, but each alternate row is set slightly to one side. The effect of this is that everyone looks at the screen between the shoulders of the two people in front. The very front row of seats is at least 30ft away from the screen. The auditorium is really very large, as compared with many other Auckland theatres, but the theatre has been designed with a view to such “intimacy” that it appears smaller to the casual observer. That this theatre could present other entertainment than motion pictures is obvious from the size and design of the stage. It has been spec-

ially built wide enough to permit of prologues and stage presentations of any kind. Neither have the artists who would provide such entertainment been forgotten. Two large dressing rooms have been provided, one on each side of the stage. As becomes a patriotic firm, the Fuller-Hayward management have used Dominion materials exclusively in the construction of the theatre. Even the two biograpli projectors were manufactured in Auckland. They are the “Cuton” projectors, made by

j Cuff and Thomson. Ltd., of Manukau Road. The policy of the Grey Lynn theatre management is to provide a doublefeature programme, balanced so as to give news gazettes and comedy items, making in all two and a-half hours’ excellent entertainment at popular : prices. | The entire programme will be changed three times each week, on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings. No special orches'tra will be engaged, but an excellently-varied programme of incidental music from the world’s best orchestras will be supplied by a panatrope. The panatrope will have a double-table, so that the music from one record will be dissolved into the music from the other, thus maintaining constant accompaniment. Although the first presentations will be of selected “silent” pictures com-

bined with appropriate music, yet, before long, the Grey Lynn Cinema will have its own installation for the “talkies” and “sound synchronisation.” The directors have been fortunate in securing the services of Mr. J. Sagar as manager. Mr. Sagar has had many years’ experience in New Zealand picture theatres. Mr. Alfred Taylor is chief projectionist, with Mr. J. Sagar, junior, as his assistant. Altogether the Grey Lynn Cinema is a theatre in which Aucklanders share with the Fuller-Hayward Company a sense of pride in achievement.