Embassy Theatre, Wellington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Embassy Theatre |
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The Embassy in 2005
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| Former names | De Luxe Cinema |
| General information | |
| Type | Cinema |
| Location | 9-11 Kent Terrace, Wellington, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 41°17′39″S 174°47′03″E / 41.294277°S 174.784066°E |
| Current tenants | Event Cinemas |
| Completed | 31 October 1924 |
| Owner | Wellington City Council |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 4 |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Llewelyn Williams |
| Main contractor | A W. Williamson of Christchurch |
| Designated: | 7-Dec-2001 |
| Reference #: | 7500 |
The Embassy Theatre is a famous cinema in Wellington, New Zealand. You can find it at the end of Courtenay Place, near Mount Victoria. This special building was first built in 1924.
Over the years, the Embassy Theatre has been updated and changed owners many times. Today, the Wellington City Council owns it. It is managed by Event Cinemas. The Embassy is important because Heritage New Zealand recognizes it as a historic place. It is also the only cinema built in the 1920s that is still used in New Zealand today.
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History of the Embassy Theatre
The Embassy Theatre was designed by an architect named Llewelyn Williams. It first opened its doors on October 31, 1924. Back then, it was called the "De Luxe" cinema. In 1945, its name was changed to "The Embassy."
When it first opened, the theatre could seat 1,749 people. But during the 1960s, it was updated. A new, larger screen was added, and some parts of the ceiling were changed. These updates reduced the seating to 852 people.
More big changes happened in the early 2000s. This was done before the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The Wellington City Council helped pay for these updates with a grant of $4.5 million. Because of this funding, the Council became the owner of the building. The renovations made the building stronger against earthquakes. They also made the inside look more like its original 1920s design.
Cool Features of the Building
The Embassy Theatre has a classic design. Inside, you'll see a beautiful marble staircase with shiny brass railings. The walls and floors are tiled, and there are dark wooden details everywhere. Even the restrooms have a similar style with matching tiles and dark wood.
The theatre has three screens. The main screen is huge! Many people think it's one of the biggest screens in the Southern Hemisphere. Besides watching movies, you can also grab snacks at the snack bar. There's also Blondini's Cafe and Jazz Lounge. It offers different food and drinks and even hosts live jazz music. On the ground floor, you'll find the Black Sparrow cocktail bar and two smaller cinemas.
Movies That Premiered Here
The Embassy Theatre became famous around the world for hosting big movie premieres. On December 1, 2003, it held the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. About 120,000 people lined the red carpet outside. They watched actors and filmmakers arrive for the special screening.
The theatre also hosted the first screenings in Australasia for The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. In 2005, Peter Jackson's movie King Kong also had a red carpet screening here. Later, in 2012, the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey took place at the Embassy.
Other Events at the Embassy
The Embassy Theatre is not just for movies. It also plays a part in other important events. It hosts parts of the New Zealand International Arts Festival. It is also a key venue for the New Zealand International Film Festival.
