A National Film Theatre For NZ?

It was 1974. The Wellington Film Society membership had blown out to 2200, and other than the halls it was using, was exploring alternative venues. A small sub-committee had been formed, and had investigated the possibility of using the film society’s 16mm projector at the Lido (on Willis Street) and had found that, although the lighting was satisfactory, the projection booth was too small to accommodate the extra projector. Investigations were also made into using the Paramount (on Courtenay Place), which would be suitable at a cost of $50 to $60, plus projectionist’s fee of $15, for one 5.30pm screening per month. Seating at the Lido was 480-500 compared to 580-600 at the Paramount. It was agreed that further investigations should be carried out.

In the committee discussion, comments were made, wondering if anyone knew of people who might be in a position to provide a space for an independent cinema. On the committee at that time were husband and wife David and Mary Ann Lindsay. David was editor of the monthly magazine Sequence, and Mary Ann was membership secretary. Mary Ann’s family were friends with the Plimmer family, and Sir Clifford was executive chairman of Wright, Stephenson & Co, (later Challenge Corporation) until his retirement, after which he maintained an office in Wellington for various business interests. At this time David and Mary Ann were having problems with a new sub-division above their property causing flooding down on to their place. They had contacted Sir Clifford over this and he generously agreed to meet them and see what he could do. In a follow up letter, they included a speculative paragraph, as follows:

“On an entirely different and more cheerful subject. Are any of the companies with which you are involved, and who are building, or intend to build, large office blocks in Wellington, planning to include a small theatre of about 300 seating capacity? The reason for the question is that both of us are very active in the Wellington Film Society (Member­ship over 2000 for the first time this year - and still growing) and we are desperately looking for a mid-town venue larger than the Library Lecture Hall which seats only 100. A suitable theatre could handle all our screenings, two sessions a night for two or three nights, every second week.”

To which Sir Clifford replied: “I am afraid I can give no definite lead about facil­ities for your Film Society, although I have an idea which, if it does eventuate, may be suitable and I will be in touch with you later on if such seems to be the case. I gather that none of the regular theatres would be interested in screening films for the Society.”

The Lindsay’s follow up letter included: “Thanks for replying to the other matter about a mid-town venue for Film Society screenings. Next year we have contracted the Paramount to screen a 5.30pm session once a month but for 8pm shows we still have to rely on the tiny Library Lecture Hall. When the time is right we would like to hear more of your idea which, if it eventuates, may be suitable. Mary Ann and I would be only too pleased to discuss with you any details you may require in this direction. Also interested would be the President of the Wellington Film Society, Lindsay Shelton, who is very much a driving force in the movement. Of course, what New Zealand needs, on a smaller scale, is something along the lines of London's National Film Theatre, but now I'm getting carried away with enthusiasm!”

So the seed had been sown.

In 1974, the screening of films was strictly regulated. The current censorship laws were increasingly impacting on screenings. Two films in the Wellington Film Festival that year were subjected to cuts. The NZ Federation of Film Societies became engrossed in trying to get the Act updated. The whole subject of CensorshipReform takes up a large part of this wiki.

There was also a Cinematograph Films Licensing Authority which very strictly protected the existing exhibitors. In the annual report to the NZ Federation of Film Societies covering the 1974 year, the working committee attached this ADDENDUM TO CHAIRMAN'S REPORT. It outlined how the Licensing Authority treated a scoutmaster in Havelock North who wanted to screen films to give the local boy scouts and their friends something to do on Saturdays to keep them off the streets.

Nothing happened about the proposed Film Theatre for the next couple of years until an article in The Evening Post, 8 September 1976, reported  on a hearing at the Wellington City Council’s town planning committee, where the Challenge Corporation were seeking approval for an office block which also included a cinema.

There was an illustration and some more detail the following night: The Evening Post, 9 September 1976.

Sir Clifford  Plimmer had  by this time retired, but the film society, upon seeing the two newspaper articles, quickly contacted Mr Hodgetts at the Challenge Corporation, who encouraged them to make a submission. A meeting was hastily called of members of the Wellington Film Society executive and the NZ Federation of Film Societies working committee. The purpose was to discuss the prospects of a National Film Theatre in Wellington, and to scope out how it could be run and prepare a written proposal to be sent to the Challenge Corporation.

But also reading the newspaper articles was the Cinematograph Films Licensing Authority, which did not delay in writing to the Challenge Corporation on 22 September 1976.

The Wellington Film Society sent it's written proposal to the Challenge Corporation on 4 October 1976.

Things moved slowly. It was not until 21 March 1977, that a paper was prepared ahead of a meeting with the Minister of Internal Affairs to see if Government support could be obtained. The submission was headed: A National Film Theatre For Wellington.

The subject was raised again during General Discussion at the 34th Annual Conference of the NZ Federation of Film Societies on 23 February 1980.

However, changes were on the horizon. During 1980, the Government introduced into Parliament the Cinematograph Films Amendment Bill, the principal purpose of which was to abolish exhibitor and renter licensing. It was to come into force on 1 January 1981. This opened up the industry for anyone who wanted to, to open and operate a cinema. And at a NZFFS Working Committee meeting on 12 June 1981, David Gascoigne suggested "That the need for a National Film Theatre might now have been superseded by the activities of commercial exhibitors whose operations were spreading in the wake of de-licensing."

And so the dream ended. The space in Lambton Square was configured for office use when the building originally opened. Then 30 years later, an $11 million renovation of the floor resulted in a food court being opened in November 2012. The area that had been originally contemplated as a National Film Theatre was now configured as the dining area for patrons of the many food shops to consume their purchases in comfort.