Majestic Theatre’s blockbuster lineup
After easing its way into the modern age, Taihape’s Majestic Theatre is now offering films hot off the press.
Manager Simone Simpson said the school holidays were an exciting time after the theatre went digital, meaning the films it now shows are all ‘‘films that the kids want and see advertised on TV’’.
‘‘It was amazing being able to offer films like Moana and Sing.’’
The Majestic Theatre has seen many changes over the years. It was saved from demolition in 1998 and has since been renovated to keep it open.
‘‘Going digital was absolutely necessary,’’ Simpson said.
About $80,000 was needed to upgrade to a digitised projection system. It took the theatre two years to raise the money through grants and ‘‘a massive effort from the community’’.
‘‘It was a huge amount for a little town to raise, but we did it.
‘‘Everyone who bought raffle tickets, gave donations, all the help, it was the community that made it possible.’’
Simpson said people were now coming to their local theatre rather than travelling more than an hour to get to the cinema in Palmerston North.
‘‘The resolution is just great, the movies look incredible on the screen, you can see every little hair, water on the face, it is just amazingly crystal clear.’’
Simpson said she would continue to keep ticket prices as low as she could and was happy for people to make suggestions.
‘‘It is early days and we still need to see what works, what people want and when.’’
The Majestic Theatre is heading towards its centenary celebrations at the end of the year and Simpson said in the meantime, they would ‘‘keep the blockbusters coming’’.