Hollywood Cinema (Avondale)
|
Address:
18-20 St. Georges Avenue Avondale Auckland Phone: (09) 828 8393 /021328983 Email: Matt Timpson, [email protected] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HollywoodAvondale Website: https://www.hollywoodavondale.nz |
|
Details
Capacity: Large auditorium seating up to 400
Screen: Single, old and new projection capacity
Sound: Dolby digital
Seating: Fixed, with tip-up padded seats
Snackbar: Small snack bar
Accessibility: Street frontage steps. with stairs to upper seating
Capacity: Large auditorium seating up to 400
Screen: Single, old and new projection capacity
Sound: Dolby digital
Seating: Fixed, with tip-up padded seats
Snackbar: Small snack bar
Accessibility: Street frontage steps. with stairs to upper seating
Geoff's Review
One of Auckland's oldest cinemas (est 1915), this grand old cinema once displayed a sculpture plinth of Jan Grefstad in the foyer. He owned and operated the cinema from 1966 to 2002, and it best remembered for his screenings of The Rocky Horror PIcture Show, which ran for 21 years. Once the Avondale Town Hall, it has screened films since its opening day and makes claims to be the oldest cinema in New Zealand (although there are a number of claimants to that honour). Apparently Quintin Tarantino, on a recent visit to NZ, dubbed it 'the best cinema in New Zealand' , but, again, there are others make similar claims, both in the North Island and South Island.
Caters for a cross-section of the local populations, which is heavily Polynesian and Asian, as well as nostalgia buffs who come for special screenings of older films, or for the famous annual Movie Marathon (24 hours of continuous surprise screenings). Live music events are now a regular feature and the Hollywood has played a major role in promoting local acts in these days when overseas touring acts are rare
Be sure to check out the genuine old box office (see photo) and you will realise where the term came from. You can see the box office and foyer dressed up in the finery of the days of silent cinema, when it features as the setting for a scene in the New Zealand film White Lies (2013). Recent upgrades include a new roof and new exterior paint job.
In August 2021, I had my first experience of Ant Timpson's inspirational Movie Marathon, which involved watching 14 feature films in a continuous stream (with occasional breaks), from Saturday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. Sadly, I did not last the distance (it was barely a half-marathon) but it did enable to soak up the ambience of the Hollywood. In another innovation, it partnered with the Academy Auckland, to present In the Shade--a two-week festival of interesting films, including many which Aucklanders missed because of the cancellation of the 2022 NZIFF. We drove up on Jan 29th, to catch the Japanese film Drive My Car'
Avondale also has one of the best multicultural Sunday markets in New Zealand
One of Auckland's oldest cinemas (est 1915), this grand old cinema once displayed a sculpture plinth of Jan Grefstad in the foyer. He owned and operated the cinema from 1966 to 2002, and it best remembered for his screenings of The Rocky Horror PIcture Show, which ran for 21 years. Once the Avondale Town Hall, it has screened films since its opening day and makes claims to be the oldest cinema in New Zealand (although there are a number of claimants to that honour). Apparently Quintin Tarantino, on a recent visit to NZ, dubbed it 'the best cinema in New Zealand' , but, again, there are others make similar claims, both in the North Island and South Island.
Caters for a cross-section of the local populations, which is heavily Polynesian and Asian, as well as nostalgia buffs who come for special screenings of older films, or for the famous annual Movie Marathon (24 hours of continuous surprise screenings). Live music events are now a regular feature and the Hollywood has played a major role in promoting local acts in these days when overseas touring acts are rare
Be sure to check out the genuine old box office (see photo) and you will realise where the term came from. You can see the box office and foyer dressed up in the finery of the days of silent cinema, when it features as the setting for a scene in the New Zealand film White Lies (2013). Recent upgrades include a new roof and new exterior paint job.
In August 2021, I had my first experience of Ant Timpson's inspirational Movie Marathon, which involved watching 14 feature films in a continuous stream (with occasional breaks), from Saturday afternoon until Sunday afternoon. Sadly, I did not last the distance (it was barely a half-marathon) but it did enable to soak up the ambience of the Hollywood. In another innovation, it partnered with the Academy Auckland, to present In the Shade--a two-week festival of interesting films, including many which Aucklanders missed because of the cancellation of the 2022 NZIFF. We drove up on Jan 29th, to catch the Japanese film Drive My Car'
Avondale also has one of the best multicultural Sunday markets in New Zealand