Cinerama Theatre

Queen Street,
Auckland 1010

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Amalgamated Theatres Ltd.

Previous Names: Strand Theatre, Mayfair Theatre

Nearby Theaters

Strand Theatre program from 1919.

Originally opened as the 1,200-seat Strand Theatre in 1916, the entrance was off the street down a narrow passage. It was taken over by Amalgamated Theatres Ltd. in 1948 and was re-named Mayfair Theatre.

The cinema was renovated in 1959, and with 300 less seats, it was equipped for 3-strip Cinerama screenings from 5th November 1959 to 28th November 1964 on the giant 65ft x 25ft 146 degree screen. Afterwards single-strip Cinerama projection was used.

It was renovated again to a flatter screen early-1970’s and was closed and demolished in 1984.

Contributed by Mark Nicol

Recent comments (view all 13 comments)

Mark747
Mark747 on May 13, 2010 at 11:35 am

You are correct Bob, it should be 146 degree screen:
http://cinerama.topcities.com/Auckland.htm

I dont believe a Multiplex was built on the site and sorry I don’t have the street number.

Here is a photo of The Strand Theatre before becoming Mayfair then Cinerama:
View link

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on May 17, 2010 at 7:06 am

This site has a picture of the theater’s interior and Cinerama screen: View link

Bradley Knewstubb
Bradley Knewstubb on February 11, 2011 at 4:31 am

CWalczak:– That is not the interior of the Cinerama, Auckland; but that of the Cinerama Christchurch. Different City, Different Island; separated by some 12,000 kilometers.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on February 11, 2011 at 4:42 am

Thanks for correcting my error, BK. It is interesting that two New Zealand theaters named Mayfair became Cinerama houses.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on February 11, 2011 at 4:57 am

There is a picture of the Auckland Cinerama on this page along with some pictures taken during an apparent fire: http://cinerama.topcities.com/Auckland.htm. There is another picture here: http://tinyurl.com/4ext5fl and one of the foyer during the run of “It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” here: http://tinyurl.com/4cpeeg3

pjamieson
pjamieson on July 3, 2011 at 7:47 am

I have updated the Google View to show the site (Mid Queen St – according to our investigations). After demolision a 6 screen cinema was built in the 80’s on the site, “Mid City Cinema’s”.

The stripped shell still exists and there are a number of discussions that have taken place over the recent years for it’s future (new theatre/cinema options through to retails spaces). The latter appears to be the decision.

mists
mists on January 15, 2012 at 3:52 am

just a note Mid City Cinema. It is on the site of the Cinerama Theatre, Queen St. Mid City opened in May 1984 had 4 screens and seated approx 1900.

Building now sits empty.

jartin
jartin on June 18, 2012 at 9:45 am

Does anyone know where to see any interior pics of the old Cinerama Auckland?. They seem inpossible to find on line. If only I had taken my kodak instamatic..

peteg
peteg on January 3, 2016 at 10:34 pm

Does anyone remember that it was next to the Coburg hotel?

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