Lido Cinema

Located in the Epsom suburb of Auckland, the Regent Cinema was planned and built by joint owners, Lawrence Henley, and his wife May and her two sisters on land which had been the scene of a major fire in 1915. Seven shops, some with accommodations above, were destroyed in the blaze leaving vacant land between Alba Road and Queen Mary Avenue. The new theatre would fill something like half the frontage available.

The Regent Cinema was opened on 29th July 1924 by local resident and politician Gideon Lawrence Taylor and screening Ivor Novello & Gladys Cooper in “The Bohemian Girl” accompanied by a full orchestra. There was seating for 900.

Notable Australian showman Thomas O'Brien, best known for the city’s Civic Theatre (it has its own page on Cinema Treasures) took over the Regent Cinema for a year or two in the late-1920’s. By the time he filed for bankruptcy in the 1930’s, Amalgamated Theatres Ltd., which took over some of his cinemas, had already (In May 1930) leased the Regent Cinema from the Henley family.

The first talkie “Atlantic” starring Franklin Dyall and Madeleine Carroll was shown on 31st May 1930. From 26th June, 1930 Amalgamated Theatres re-branded the cinema the New Regent Cinema, although not all advertising copy included this ‘new look, so it is unclear whether the cinema was re-banded externally.

The Regent Cinema was closed in 1962. It was given a full refit by Amalgamated Theatres and renamed Lido Cinema, specialising in art house and foreign films. The seating was reduced to 770.

A further makeover in 1962 reduced this seating capacity by half. Still owned by the Henley family, Amalgamated Theatres continued to operate the ‘boutique’ cinema until 1987. Hoyts then took over, followed by private operators who undertook further renovations, including the creation, over time, of two smaller screens.

Seating capacities are 140, 50 & 40. This is a lovely theatre. Patrons watch independent, classic and mainstream movies in style and comfort in large armchair-style seats while drinking their wine, beer or coffee. There are very comfortable, spacious lounges both upstairs and downstairs. Indeed the Lido Theatre has been recognised three years in a row (2002-2004) by Metro magazine as the best cinema in Auckland.

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