State Theatre

The Lyric Theatre was one of Auckland’s early cinemas. It was a picture palace which had Auckland’s first ‘blinking’ electric sign on the building. It had a ladies orchestra to accompany the silent films. Seating was provided in stalls and circle levels. In 1931 it was taken over by the Kerridge Theatres chain and was renamed State Theatre. It was closed in 1960.

It became a Chinese Community Centre known as the Oriental Ballroom. In 1972 it reopened as the State Theatre screening action films on Sunday evenings, possibly using the seating in the circle, as the stalls had been leveled for dancing. It was closed in 1964. By the late-1970’s it was used for concerts as a live music venue. It has since been demolished.

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