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Victoria theatre - Source: ONE News -
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The people of Devonport are celebrating a huge victory, as they
prepare to re-open an historic cinema and local landmark.
Long-time residents say the Victoria Theatre is the beating heart
of of their town and they were not prepared to witness it being
destroyed by developers.
Today, antique cars and the sound of bagpipes greeted visitors to the theatre as hundreds came to check out the "new" old Vic.
Victoria Theatre Co-Chairman Margot McRae said it just showed how much people value Victoria Theatre.
"I mean it's just so loved, and people have kept it going for so many years."
Built in 1912, just shy of its centenary, the Victoria Picture Palace and Theatre is the oldest purpose-built cinema in Australasia.
Theatregoer Elspeth Kean-Mayes told ONE News that the theatre used to be the heart of the social life of Devonport.
"People would book the place and come every Friday night or Saturday night and they used to be greeted at the door, and they'd have their hand shook, and they'd go in. It was really quite glamorous in its day."
But with the rise of flashy multi-cinema complexes, the romance faded and in 2004, it looked set to be converted into an apartment block.
But locals battled fiercely to save their beloved theatre and so the council bought it and refurbished the place.
Former Theatregoer Jean Day, who used to visit the place as child, called it a "dream come true" to see the theatre saved.
"There's been too many heritage buildings destroyed, and I think it's very important to keep it," Day said.
There is still plenty of original fittings in the theatre, including 81-year-old projectionist Morrie Morrison, who worked there as a young man.
"It's much better of course, you get a much better result on the screen, sound is quite different. Big advantage to the cinemagoer.
The new Victoria Theatre will show modern blockbusters, as well as arthouse films and plays so as to attract both the old and new.
And it will not be just the people of the North Shore attending - plans have been made to run ferry and movie ticket combos to attract people Auckland-wide.
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