THEATRE AND ARCADE

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 255, 26 September 1929, Page 2

THEATRE AND ARCADE

SITE IN BROADWAY. WILLIAMSON FIRM’S ENTERPRISE Two directors of the theatrical firm of J. C. Williamson, Ltd., arrived m New Zealand by the Aorangi recently. Mr E. J. Tait was on his way to London, the Continent and the united States, while his "brother, Mr John Tait, came with the purpose of visiting the firm’s theatres m the Dominion. The option of purchase held over the Pest Office Hotel site by the well-known theatrical organisation has been referred to by tho “Standard” previously, and yesterday we were able to definitely announce the completion of the deal. It was to formally finally complete the transaction that Mr Tait, together with Mr Beaumont Smith, managing director of Williamson Films New Zealand, • Limited, and Mr J. H. Mason, secretary of the latter company. arrived in Palmerston North last evening from Wanganui. The purchase of the hotel site, and an adjoining block—giving the company an approximate frontage of 9o feet to both Broadway and Kingsway—was formally completed last evening, and it was announced by Messrs Tait, Smith and Mason that J. C. Williamson Ltd., would proceed almost immediately with the preliminary details in connection with the building of a modern theatre—it ie to be called the Regent—a number of shops and offices fronting Broadway, and also shops with access from Kingsway. One of the features would be the erection of an arcade joining the two streets, and faced by shops, this portion of the

scheme covering the right-of-way between the Post Office Hotel and the Commerce Buildings. It was intimated to a “Standard” representative that the proposed new theatre would accommodate 1500 persons, and that the stage would be so constructed as to be suitable for the occasions of dramatic and operatic productions. The theatre would lie run on the same lines as other Williamson picture theatres in New Zealand. The building would be pretentious in appearance. but the growing importance of Palmerston North had been fully considered. ■ The estimated cost, including land, plant and furnishings, would be somewhere about £85,000.

It was further announced that arrangements had been made with Mr C. N. Hollinshed, a Melbourne architect who had planned some of the largest theatres in the Commonwealth, td come to the Dominion for the purpose of designing the structure. Residents of Palmerston North have found the present right-of-way from Broadway into Kingsway a most convenient thoroughfare, and the announcement that the Williamson firm intends constructing an arcade will be welcome. The arcade will undoubtedly prove a saving in time to residents entering the Square from that direction. The Post Office Hotel license is now being negotiated for by a Feilding resident with the object of erecting an hotel within the statutory area.