Days of future past
Today Cambridge enjoys the services of a fine art house movie theatre. One hundred and twenty years ago film exhibition was a more occasional phenomenon. On February 20, 1897, cinematography came to town. For one night only, at the Oddfellows Hall, locals could experience an invention that was less than 14 months old, the ‘‘electric marvel of the century’’. An advertisement in the Waikato Argus promised ‘‘extraordinary living photographs . . . producing every motion of real life with marvellous fidelity’’.
In September of the same year another cinematography show, one which additionally showcased another Thomas Edison creation, the phonograph, toured the Waikato. Huntly’s Ralph Hall was ‘‘well filled’’ for the occasion and ‘‘the audience appeared highly pleased with the entertainment given and testified to it by frequent bursts of hearty applause’’. The phonograph was said to be ‘‘a very good one’’ and ‘‘could be distinctly heard in all parts of the hall’’.
Three days later the same show came to Hamilton’s Volunteer Hall, billed as ‘‘The Electric Marvels: Cinematograph and Concert Phonograph’’. Prices ranged from 1 to 3 shillings. An advertisement promised ‘‘New Songs. New Selections. New Pictures. Every item encored. Pictures 12 by 10 [presumably feet]’’.
The show was ‘‘very well attended’’. A contemporary review in the Waikato Argus stated that ‘‘patrons were treated to a generous display of interesting and amusing pictures produced with marvellous distinctiveness and practically without vibration’’. Hamiltonians responded with ‘‘great enthusiasm’’. The Argus on the final night declared the production a ‘‘first class show, with everything new and up to date and well worth a visit’’.
By March of 1898 the fast evolving medium of film had reached the stage whereby the novelty of the cinematograph was not sufficient in and of itself. When a travelling show stopped in Huntly it advertised not only the invention but the content of the films to be played. On the programme was footage of the previous year’s Melbourne Cup and Victorian Derby, Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee parade, and a dramatisation called ‘‘Faust in the Devil’s Dungeon’’.