Civic Theatre (Auckland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Civic Theatre |
|
|---|---|
The theatre from the front
|
|
| General information | |
| Type |
|
| Architectural style | Moorish Revival |
| Address | 267 Queen Street |
| Town or city | Auckland |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 36°51′04″S 174°45′50″E / 36.851072°S 174.763920°E |
| Inaugurated | 20 December 1929 |
| Renovated | 1998–1999 |
| Owner | Auckland Unlimited, Auckland Council (indirectly through Auckland Unlimited) |
| Landlord | Auckland Live |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Charles Bohringer and William T. Leighton |
| Main contractor | Fletcher Construction |
| Other information | |
| Seating capacity | 2,378 |
| Designated: | 27 June 1985 |
| Reference #: | 100 |
The Civic Theatre is a big, old, and very special building in Auckland, New Zealand. It's a place where you can watch plays, listen to live music, and see movies. It can seat 2,378 people!
The Civic first opened its doors on December 20, 1929. It was closed for a big fix-up in the late 1990s. After two years of careful work, it reopened on its 70th birthday, December 20, 1999.
This theatre is famous for its "atmospheric theatre" style. This means the inside looks like you are sitting outdoors at night. Lights and decorations make it seem like there's an open sky with twinkling stars above you. It's a truly magical experience! The Civic is looked after by Auckland Live.
Contents
Why the Civic Theatre is Special
The Civic Theatre is important around the world. It is the biggest "atmospheric cinema" still around in Australia and New Zealand. It was also the first cinema of its kind built in New Zealand.
The theatre has a unique design. Its entrance area, called the foyer, looks like it's from India. It has statues of seated Buddhas, twisted columns, and round, domed ceilings. The main part of the theatre, where you watch the show, looks like a Moorish garden. It has small towers, spires, and tiled roofs. You can even see two life-sized statues of black panthers!
When it first opened, the Civic could hold 2,750 people. Even with fewer seats today, it is still the largest theatre in New Zealand.
The Story of the Civic Theatre
The idea for the Civic Theatre came from a man named Thomas O'Brien. He built many movie theatres in Auckland in the 1920s. He brought the idea of "atmospheric cinemas" to New Zealand. He opened the Empire De Luxe Theatre in Dunedin in 1928, which also had a Moorish style.
O'Brien convinced some rich Auckland business people to build a huge atmospheric cinema on Queen Street. He got a big loan of £180,000 from the Bank of New Zealand. That's like NZ$18.9 million today! The company Fletcher Construction built the cinema in just eight months.
The cost of building the theatre grew to over £200,000. This was so much money that even the New Zealand Parliament noticed!
With supreme confidence in the future of Auckland, and with gratitude to those who have toiled with me in this great endeavour, I present to my fellow citizens the consummation of an ideal – the creating of a place of entertainment symbolising the progressive spirit of our beautiful city.
—Thomas O'Brien
The Civic opened with a huge celebration in December 1929. But soon after, tough economic times began, which meant fewer people came to the theatre. Also, O'Brien insisted on showing British films, but people preferred American movies. Because of these problems, O'Brien eventually lost his business.
Over the years, the theatre was changed a few times. But in the late 1990s, it was carefully brought back to look much like it did when it first opened.
The Wintergarden Ballroom
The Civic complex also has an underground ballroom called the Wintergarden. This place became a major spot for fun during World War II. Many American soldiers were in Auckland then. Famous people like Bob Hope performed there. Important leaders like Eleanor Roosevelt and General Bernard Montgomery also gave speeches.
Saving the Theatre
By the 1960s, the Civic Theatre faced problems. It was too big for the smaller crowds who came to watch movies. In the 1990s, a new theatre called the Aotea Centre opened nearby, which made things even harder for the Civic.
In 1993, the building's lease went back to the Auckland City Council. Some people thought about tearing the theatre down. But a group called the "Friends of the Civic" fought to save it. Because of their efforts, the council spent $41.8 million to fix up the theatre.
The Civic reopened in 1999 for both movies and live shows. The Wintergarden ballroom reopened in 2000.
The Civic in the Movies
The Civic Theatre even became famous in a movie! Its inside was used in Peter Jackson's 2005 movie King Kong. In the film, the Civic pretended to be a New York theatre called The Alhambra.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro Civic (Auckland) para niños
