ANOTHER TAUPO LANDMARK LOST TO PROGRESS

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 37, 13 May 1965, Page 2

ANOTHER TAUPO LANDMARK LOST

TO PROGRESS

Another one of Taupo's landmarks has been rapidly disappearing over past weeks. It is the Majestic Theatre which has stood on the corner of Ruapehu and Tu wharetoa streets since 1937. The 93ft. by 40ft. building is now in the last stages of demolition Regular film

showmg in Taupo goes baek to about 1930 when Mr E. S. Skeen, senr., owned a theatre in Tongariro Street. Later this theatre was shifted to the -'site of the Majestic where it was subsequently rebuilt. , Mr Skeen's son, Mr J. E. Skeen became part manager of the new theatre which had i t s grand opening night on Friday,

November 12, 1937. Thp Mr Skeen, who became manager in 1954, remember-j eci the opening night and j the huge crowd that pack-l ed the theatre from many j miles round Taupo. A short ceremony was held to mark the occasion and the open- j ing was conducted by ! Father Van Beck. i The building was designed to seat 450, but for the

opening night more than 600 people crammed into the aisles to see the film. For the "premiere" opening show, Mr Skeen presented Cecil B. de Mille's "The Crusades" starring Loretta j Young and Henry Wilcoxj on. The theatre remained the same until 1955 when alterations were made and the building extended 24ft. More changes were made in 1963 and the theatre had no sooner been decorated inside and out when, one afternoon, in Devember 1963, flames were seen coming out of the building. The fire rendered the theatre useless and, after some consideration on the part of Mr Skeen to have it re-built, it was decided to carry out demolition work.