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. It is located near Courtenay Place, close to Mount Victoria. It was first built in 1924. Since then, it has been updated many times and had different owners.
Today, the Wellington City Council owns it. Event Cinemas manages the theatre. The Embassy Theatre is a very important historical building. It is the only cinema built in the 1920s in New Zealand that is still used 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" theatre.
In 1945, its name was changed to "The Embassy." When it first opened, it could seat 1,749 people. During the 1960s, the theatre was updated. A large 70 mm screen was added, and new ceilings were put in. These changes reduced the seating to 852 people.
More big updates happened in the early 2000s. These were done before the world premiere of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. The Wellington City Council gave $4.5 million (New Zealand dollars) to help pay for these changes. A condition of this funding was that the Council would own the building.
The renovations made the building stronger against earthquakes. They also updated the inside to look more like the original design.
Cool Features of the Theatre
The Embassy Theatre has a beautiful design, like old classical buildings. Inside, you will find a marble staircase with shiny brass railings. The walls and floors are tiled, and there is dark wooden furniture. Even the restrooms match this fancy style!
The theatre has three screens. The main screen is huge and is thought to be one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. You can also find a snack bar there. Blondini's Cafe and Jazz Lounge offers many food and drink options. It also hosts live jazz music performances. On the ground floor, there is also the Black Sparrow cocktail bar and two smaller cinemas.
Famous Movie Premieres
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. Nearly 120,000 people lined the streets to see the actors and filmmakers arrive.
The theatre also hosted the first screenings in Australasia for The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers. In 2005, the theatre held a red carpet screening for Peter Jackson's King Kong. In 2012, it hosted the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Other Events at the Embassy
The Embassy Theatre is not just for movies. It also takes part in other big events. It is a venue for the New Zealand Festival of the Arts. It also hosts events for the New Zealand International Film Festival.
