Focal Point Cinema & Cafe
124 Heretaunga Street East,
Hastings Central,
Hastings
4122
124 Heretaunga Street East,
Hastings Central,
Hastings
4122
1 person
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Focal Point Cinema & Cafe (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Amalgamated Theatres Ltd., Reading Cinemas
Functions: Movies (First Run)
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: State Cinema, Reading Cinemas Hastings
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
6406.871.5418
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Mar 2, 2010 — Happy 45th, "The Sound Of Music"
The State Cinema was built in the early 1930’s for the Donovan family. The cinema was built after the Napier earthquake, the front section being built in 1931 and the rear section two years later, it opened in 1933. In 1950, it is listed as being operated by Amalagamated Theatres Ltd.
It was modernised into a four screen cinema in the 1990’s and became the Reading Cinemas Hastings, showing first run movies. It was closed on 29th January 2012. It has since re-opened as the Focal Point Cinema & Cafe.
Contributed by
Lost Memory
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
I wonder if Reading is in a big hurry to convert this to retail, or tear it down for an ugly hi-rise apartment building, the way they do in New York. It’s a good thing LM found a photo of its unusual facade, these people are known for remodeling with a jackhammer.
I know it’s NZ – Reading Entertainment the same bunch that owns City Cinemas in NYC.
Yup, one and the same:
http://www.readingrdi.com
No chance of pulling it down. They 1. Don’t own the building; and 2. It has a heritage order attached to the building. Was the former Embassy Cinema, closed between 1985 and 1995. Opened as Village 4-plex 20 November 1995. Readings took over in 2005.
It was not the State cinema {1931 to December 1995}, both were open briefly 1995 competing with each other.
This has always been the State Theatre and was built for Amalgamated Theatres who always looked for vacant land behind retail so they could get cheaper rent and only pay prime rent on the shop-front access to the foyer/cinema behind. The Embassy was and is still standing 2 city blocks to the West on the other side of the rail line. There is no heritage listing on this building – all the art deco is fake. I took over the State from Hoyts in 2000 and was responsible for getting Dennis Donovan to build the 4plex. We split the original screen and lifted the roof over the shops and upstairs billiard room to create 2 new screens. It opened as a joint venture between myself, Village-Force and some local investors. We sold 50% to Movieland Group when Napier multi opened and operated the Twin cities as a JV. At a later date, Movieland acquired the remainder 50% they did not own and eventually sold the greater Movieland Group (6 locations)to Reading Cinemas who current lease this site.
Reading cinemas Hastings closed on 29/1/2012. Current use of building unknown?
Now Called Focal Point Cinema and Cafe Hastings(opening Date unknown?).