Tribute to the man behind the Regent for decades
had a cinema, at the time
Allan was the proprietor of it. I had the courage to climb the stairs and ask Allan if he had any old film posters. He went to a cupboard and came back and gave me a pile that led to my lifetime’s worth of interest in collecting film posters.
Allan was actually a school teacher in Auckland and he leased the Te Aroha Theatre. He would come down on a Friday afternoon and screen movies over the weekend. Then he’d go back to Auckland and teach during the week. After his lease ended in Te Aroha he came across to Te Awamutu to the Regent Theatre.
To look back and think, one has a passion that goes on throughout their entire life; it’s like being married to the same woman or husband.
I just want to emphasise that we are all here because of Allan’s passion.
Alan Livingston
When The Regent opened on March 12, 1932 all 800 seats were full to watch the talking picture Daddy
Long Legs. spoke
I with
94-year-old
Te Awamutu local,
Peter Self and he can remember it being built —
90 years on, it’s still going strong.
While it’s not the oldest theatre, it is New Zealand’s oldest continuously operating movie theatre. This theatre has taken on the highs of movies until the 60s and the real challenge of TV and now on-demand viewing.
The theatre’s only closure in its history was enforced by Covid-19 lockdowns.
For half of its 90-year life — 47 years, it has been owned by Allan Webb, QSM. During his reign, the theatre has moved with the times.
Allan has transformed it from a one-screen facility to a five-screen complex that the community now enjoys. It is filled with the best sound equipment and projection, comfortable seating, air conditioning and heating.
The economic, social and cultural benefits the Regent provides would be the envy of any provincial town.
Thanks to this theatre and high regard Allan is held within the New Zealand movie theatre industry, the Regent has attracted a number of premieres of top films to celebrate its birthdays.
For the theatre’s 75th birthday — 2007 it held the NZ premiere of Miss Potter, for its 70th in 2002 A Beautiful Mind, for the 60th — 1992 it was My Girl and in 2004 it also premiered the New Zealand film Her Majesty.
While recognising and celebrating the past 90 years of the Regent, we must also look forward to the future with the first milestone being its centenary.
An ongoing positive future has been set by Allan’s act of incredible generosity in gifting the Regent, containing the most up to date movie equipment and a unique collection of memorabilia to a trust.
A trust board has been established in Te Awamutu people with passion
for the theatre and strong governance experience.
We are under no illusion that this is a huge undertaking, especially in this Covid environment.
We know we have huge shoes to fill in providing quality in the movie experience.
Speakers for the final evening session were Allan Webb Theatre Trust trustees Campbell Stewart and Dean Taylor.
Both related their histories with the Regent Theatre and the impact on their movie-going appreciation.
Campbell came to Te Awamutu in 2004 to meet the family of his love interest after their first year at university in Dunedin.
He recalls being whisked off to a movie at the Regent Theatre.
“Back then, like every time since,
I was struck with a sense of wonder, awe and anticipation when I came into this place,” he said.
Seventeen years on, Campbell has married his love interest, and he and Meredith raise their family in Te Awamutu and the Regent Theatre remains an important part of their lives.
Speaking to Allan Webb, he said it had been a privilege to get to know him and work with him in the course of establishing the Allan Webb Theatre Trust and making preparations to take over the theatre.
“In that process, I have talked to many people about what they love about the Regent and there are some very common themes.
“I’m probably preaching to the choir here, but the Regent is special. It is a huge asset in our community, and I can’t, and don’t want, to imagine Te Awamutu without it.”
He said Allan hands over with almost half a century’s experience in the New Zealand film industry and, while he has generously offered to help, and is as keen as we are to see it continue to succeed, he also deserves a good break.
Dean also spoke about his and his wife Robyn’s passion for movies, and the Regent Theatre.
He noted that he and his wife first became a “couple” while at Te Awamutu College in the same year Allan Webb took over the Te Awamutu theatre.
“Robyn reminded me that as kids we would dress in our good clothes to go to the matinee and all dutifully stand for God Save The Queen.
“As teens it was the tried and true date — or we would sneak into an R16 with a group of friends for a night out.”
He said that love of movies was encouraged by his mother Coral — who was attending the screening.
“Our appreciation of film as an art form was further enhanced when we both undertook Sam Edwards’ film study course while at teachers’ college.
As a journalist for the Te Awamutu Courier, Dean also related the pleasure he had over the years of writing most of the stories that map the development of this theatre from a one-screen hall to the five-screen facility we enjoy today.
He concluded by thanking Allan for everything he has done for movie-lovers of Te Awamutu — and indeed New Zealand — keeping and improving this wonderful theatre for more than half its 90 years.
“We will be doing our best to see it to 100 and beyond.”