Capitol Cinema (Auckland)
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Address:
610 Dominion Road Balmoral Auckland https://www.thecapitol.co.nz/ https://www.facebook.com/thecapitolnz Instagram: @Thecapitolcinema Contact Person: Rebecca Goldsmith (Manager) Phone: 09 623 2000 Mobile: 021 292 9795 |
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Details
Capacity: 130 seater
Screen: Single screen
Sound: Dolby digital
Seating: Fixed but comfortable
Snackbar: Liquor licence, coffee and snacks. Hand-rolled ice cream, and pastries and vegan options.
Accessibility: Difficult as the heritage status of the building precludes major alterations
Capacity: 130 seater
Screen: Single screen
Sound: Dolby digital
Seating: Fixed but comfortable
Snackbar: Liquor licence, coffee and snacks. Hand-rolled ice cream, and pastries and vegan options.
Accessibility: Difficult as the heritage status of the building precludes major alterations
Geoff's Review
The floors and stairs creak as you move around this historic cinema, which has existed as a film-going venue for many years (built in 1923). It also played a pioneering role in introducing Aucklanders to art house films, as Charley Gray's Pictures in the 1980s. For a time, it specialised in Bollywood films.
Update May 2019 sadly, the decision to close this historic cinema was made in April 2019, It seems it could no longer linger on, as a single-screen venue, See this New Zealand Herald story.
An earlier description : Single-screen cinemas are becoming a threatened species in New Zealand and this one was well worth a visit. The Capitol is sandwiched in a row of rather non-descript Asian food outlets and right next to a climbing wall facility, and dominates the skyline on busy Dominion Road (which brings to mind The Mutton Birds song "...half-way down Dominion Road"). The interior is dark and a little mysterious, with the upstairs lobby resembling an old Victorian rail carriage. Even though there is only one screen, the film programming is adventurous, offering a good range of 3-4 art house films on any day. Good parking close by.
It has a very loyal following of regulars and people travel from across Auckland for an experience that is genuine and not contrived
May 2019 update: reprieve for the Capitol!. See Here The Capitol continues as ‘one of Auckland’s best and most iconic arthouse cinemas’, due to the intervention of long-time industry identities Kelly Rogers and David Ross, who have taken out a long-term lease to ensure its future. They deserve our heart-felt thanks.
The floors and stairs creak as you move around this historic cinema, which has existed as a film-going venue for many years (built in 1923). It also played a pioneering role in introducing Aucklanders to art house films, as Charley Gray's Pictures in the 1980s. For a time, it specialised in Bollywood films.
Update May 2019 sadly, the decision to close this historic cinema was made in April 2019, It seems it could no longer linger on, as a single-screen venue, See this New Zealand Herald story.
An earlier description : Single-screen cinemas are becoming a threatened species in New Zealand and this one was well worth a visit. The Capitol is sandwiched in a row of rather non-descript Asian food outlets and right next to a climbing wall facility, and dominates the skyline on busy Dominion Road (which brings to mind The Mutton Birds song "...half-way down Dominion Road"). The interior is dark and a little mysterious, with the upstairs lobby resembling an old Victorian rail carriage. Even though there is only one screen, the film programming is adventurous, offering a good range of 3-4 art house films on any day. Good parking close by.
It has a very loyal following of regulars and people travel from across Auckland for an experience that is genuine and not contrived
May 2019 update: reprieve for the Capitol!. See Here The Capitol continues as ‘one of Auckland’s best and most iconic arthouse cinemas’, due to the intervention of long-time industry identities Kelly Rogers and David Ross, who have taken out a long-term lease to ensure its future. They deserve our heart-felt thanks.