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The St. James Theatre on the old Opera House site.1966.
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DescriptionThe "new" St James Theatre on the site of the old Opera House that burnt down.
"Looking at the West Coast" May,1966.Date of Photo1966Map[1] ContributorHeather Newby
"Looking at the West Coast" May,1966.Date of Photo1966Map[1] ContributorHeather Newby
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Location (city or town)GreymouthOrganisation (eg business)St James Theatre
Category Information
Category Tagentertainment
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LinkFacebookDate Created7th January 2018CommentsBrian McIntyre
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Bob Williams was the first Manager from memory. Told us kids he carried a pistol in a shoulder holster to try to frighten us from playing up. Dont remember it working though
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Brian McIntyre
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Brian McIntyre shows what bad little b.....s you were!
Arthur Bass
Cynthia Scott was there in the early 80's ?
Anita Lorraine Barltrop
I remember going to the movies there as a kid.
Sandra Arnott
Memories eh!
Alan Messenger
I worked part time there for Rupert Kay in 1960s
Wendy McDiarmid
Jîll Rōss remember going to the movies here?
Pauline Burrows
The St James was an awesome Theatre,
Modern and attractive.
An asset to the Greymouth Township....
Pauline Failes
I remember going to see Shirley Temple films there in the 60’s. Does anyone else remember the serials they showed before half time? We never went often enough to see the following episode unfortunately
Karen Thomson
We used to go to the movies there on school holidays from ChCh & stayed with our Grandma Mary Ward nee Meates in Herbert St!
Wayne Leckie
Remember rolling Jaffa’s down under the seats
Dan Mckinley
50 cents for Saturday afternoon movies .
Sandra Arnott
Memories eh!
Alan Messenger
I worked part time there for Rupert Kay in 1960s
Wayne Leckie
Alan Messenger he was a grumpy guy lol
Alan Messenger
Wayne, yes but he was very good to us in the cycling club, probably because his son Graham was a member
Wendy McDiarmid
Jîll Rōss remember going to the movies here?
Pauline Burrows
The St James was an awesome Theatre,
Modern and attractive.
An asset to the Greymouth Township....
Pauline Failes
I remember going to see Shirley Temple films there in the 60’s. Does anyone else remember the serials they showed before half time? We never went often enough to see the following episode unfortunately
Karen Thomson
We used to go to the movies there on school holidays from ChCh & stayed with our Grandma Mary Ward nee Meates in Herbert St!
Lyn Galvin
Karen Thomson Are you related to Tony Ward who married Jean Pinn from Runanga
Wayne Leckie
Remember rolling Jaffa’s down under the seats
Dan Mckinley
50 cents for Saturday afternoon movies .
Wendy Bruce
You mean those Lone Ranger & Tonto and Phantom serials? The ones that aren’t allowed now
Susan Barlow
Wendy Bruce Weren't they awful? We as kids, loved them though
Susan Barlow
So exciting when this opened! Made us feel as if we were part of the sophisticated World!
Zane Inglis
My nana ( Alice Davidson ) worked there and all the grandkids got free movies!
Abbie Catherine Cook
Zane Inglis - did you dip the ice creams?
Carol Cook
Abbie Catherine Cook i think you had to oay 10c to get in.
Bruce Keddie
My mother, Freda Keddie, was the cashier there from opening night until the early 1970s
Tania Mcilroy
Bruce Keddie must have been late 70s because I remember going there when she was working and helping in the wee office part until the movie started lol
Ian Haussmann
What happened to her you didnt mess with her as you would get banned
Jill Smith
Lots of great memories of the St James. Daphne Perrin worked in the nibble nook for years.
Raewyn Giles
Ray Port we saw the best ever movie here lol
Ray Port
Raewyn Giles lol.
I remember it well.
Wasn't a great movie for a first date.
Raewyn Giles
Ray Port it was terrible but the company was great.
John Greaney
Removed a few times by Rupert Kay . By God he liked that tourch.
Johannes Debreuk
Same I got kicked out for talking
Heather Newby
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there used to be a grumpy woman who worked who stormed around with a torch,, trying to catch whoever it was who was rolling jaffas down the sloping floor.I forget her name.
Wayne Leckie
Heather Newby probably me lol
Pauline Walsh
I remember all the Jaffas Rolling down the stairs so it was u Wayne leckie
Heather Newby
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Cowboy movies every Saturday afternoon..
Robin Gibbens
Only talking about it yesterday as dads panel shop ( Gibbens panel beating) was opposite and my brother only told me yesterday that it is to be demolished also very soon. Be little left to remember from our past the way they are tearing things down.
Wayne Leckie
Remember we caught a bag full of moths and let them out and they headed straight to the camera so funny
Josephine Wesley
Remember seeing National Velvet starring Liz Taylor with my dad when I was young. Good memories.
Margaret Harrington
Wasn’t it Rupert Kaye
Lyn Gosling
I remember going to the movies there
Megan Tahapeehi
I remember going there mostly with my brothers and being able to exit from the top. There also used to be space world video game place below
Tony Hartigan
Spaceworld and mrs scott was such a hardcase lady
Paul Huffam
There was a certain dignity to life in those days.
Peter McEnaney
Good times!!
Donna Laugesen
Late 60's it was 20cents 15 to get in and 5 for a K-bar my 1st movie i saw was Born Free also went to the live show of The Sound of Music
Ken OLeary
Sunday nite movies ,just to finish off the weekend ,
Stacey Campbell
I remember space world too Megan Tahapeehi
Warren Parkin
I almost got kicked out of there once by the then manager, Rupert Kate. He took out to the bottom of the stairs and gave me a stern talking too. I was with the Bradley boys from Kaiata and the movie was, One Born Every Minute. Well I was being a smart … See More
Jann Hines
Warren Parkin same
Keith White
Cartoon parades....... and the J. Arthur Rank movies - the musclebound guy hitting the gong at the start.....
Helen O'Dea
Do you guys remember if it was your birthday Mrs Scott would stand up the front and call out your name and you had to go up and get a free ticket back to the movies - I can still see her standing up the front. Great memories
Dean Gutberlet
Does anyone have a picture of the interior? I can't recall the layout. Did it have one floor with just one entrance in the middle?
I do remember the movies I saw in here: Krull, Karate Kid, BMX bandits, Greystone - the legend of Tarzan, Ghostbusters, … See More
Heather Gaulter
That’s not like you Dec
Brent Rubbo
I think I still owe Peter Toal a few 20's for the times we spent at Space World. Good Times.
Steven Shrives
Space world
Liz N Steve Packer
I rolled many jaffas down those stairs before grumpy Mrs Scott came around shining her torch in my face!
Diane Whittle
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I went with my Dad to see Jaws, I was scared stupid and my Dad just laughed and laughed, he was a fisherman so I presume he could see through the puppetry, swear to god that movie is to blame for my innate dislike of swimming in the sea! Lol!
Alan Smith
I remember going to the movie there
Shona Ratana
I to remember attending the movies there?
Nicola Noone
My Nan worked there (Inez Mundy). We would go everyday in the school holidays and see the same movie over and over. We thought we were the bees knees!
Ivan Murray Wilson
Interesting sign showing the feature. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning was a black and white film as I vaguely recall and about a British working class family and relationships. Very gritty for it's day.
Sarah Samson
Ivan Murray Wilson oh I’d watch that!
Russell Knipe
I remember going in there with rest of our band Harlem, for a private viewing of a band called Mudd (?) playing a song we were contemplating playing.
I think it was arranged by Budgies mum, who worked there at the time as Theatre Manager.
Grant Thornley
Budgies sister,Cynthia Scott.
Russell Knipe
Grant Thornley I stand corrected.
Christine Rose Ashdown
Used to go there on a Saturday to watch the films and serials each week loved it
Christine Rose Ashdown
Also used to go to the ice cream shop over the road at half time as the ice creams were bigger than the ones sold in the theatre
Crow Bay
I see it now as a place of evil. ACC caused suicide and destroyed the lives of hundreds of people from that building. ( I wonder how long this statement of truth will last, not long I bet!)
Bruce Keddie
Crow Bay Rubbish!
Arthur Bass
Crow Bay ACC seem to think it is their money. Bit like how IRD used to drive people to the wall.
Jo-Anne Smith
I remember going there after winning tickets from the radio station so my cousin’s and I could go when I was 8
Vanette Hawke
My mum was the cleaner there
Kyle Webster
The 1979 floods.....wading through the front door to see James Bond in 'For Your Eye's Only'......ringing out socks to hang on the stage....
Debz Turner
Projectionists were from memory Jack Turner, Ken Halliren and Harry Piner.
Alan Messenger
Was Ken Hallinan.
Mandy Bruce
My grandfather cleaned this theater. In 1966 I was 6years old.
Mandy Bruce
My brother and I went to a lot of awesome movies there they use to have serials. We use to go every week it was cheap then. We use to sit at the top and roll Jaffis down to the bottom got kicked out once for that but every one did it.
Warren Parkin
Lol...toppa and I trialled, bending staples into the shape of a bird and flick them using rubber bands at mainly girls as they would lodge in there hair.
Mandy Bruce
Warren Parkin lol such a boy thing to do, they were the days
Robert Hilton Marsh
my mother work as a cleaner for while
Paulette Turner
I remember if it was your birthday they would call your name out at half time and you would get oressies like bow and arrow sets, water guns,cap guns etc
Debz Turner
Paulette Turner they used to have dress up competitions as well to promote the movies on a Saturday afternoon - you had to dress up as a person / character from the movie and there was a first, second and third prize.
Paulette Turner
Debz Turner it's all coming back to me now.
Gordon Dixon
Had some good times there alright
Sheryl Walker
Paulette Turner didn’t your father work there??
Lyn Roberts
Sheryl Walker yep he sure did.
Kelvyn Gilshnan
Cheech and chong in the 80s
Suzi Kiely
Cynthia Scott was the grumpiest woman in my childhood. I was terrified of her. She would stand and watch you buy your tickets and glare at you... especially when it was R13.... I remember the boys throwing Jaffa’s at her while she was looking for misbehaviour with that torch if hers
Sonja Macfarlane
OMG - when I grew up there, there was always a bit of a distinction between the St James, and the Regent theatres - WHY? the Regent was always the dominant one....I think I only went to the St James a couple of times.....how things change
Debz Turner
Sonja Macfarlane at one time the St James only had movies on the weekends - the Regent had much better acoustics according to my Dad who was the projectionist. The Regent was sold to Matai industries and then all movies were at the St James.
Doug Griffin
Remember it well
Jeffrey Peacock
worked there in the mid to late eighties till it closed.....jill...dot ..marion ...judy ..ken..harry.........i remember the great riot bust up of 87 with the punks ..they came to watch queen city rocker and all hell broke loose after half time she was all onJeff Louwman
remember Saturday afternoon matinee's there
Heather Newby
cowboy movies
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Heather Newby the serial before interval. Birthday club.
Heather Newby
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands oh yes.. i just remembered that
Annie Van Looy
Aww went there many a time ya had to stand up for the national anthem
Bobby Turner
Annie Van Looy
Not me.
Bobby Turner
It was God Save the Queen
Bobby Turner
Annie Van Looy
My dad was projectionist at the movies.I used to sit up the back and I just know( even tho he never told me off) that he was muttering under his breath about his daughter,who was the only one remaining seated during God Save the Queen.
Annie Van Looy
Bobby Turner cool Bobby back in the day everyone stood up as a mark of respect
Bobby Turner
Annie Van Looy
Never was a Royalist.People had to earn my respect.
Heather Newby
jaffas and snifters rolling down the aisles
Jason Mather
I saw Zanadu there & got my daughters name from Olivia Newton John's character in the movie, RIP Olivia.
Mick Turner
Debz Turner dads window
Debz Turner
Mick Turner zoom in on the window looks like him standing there.
Debz Turner
Bobby Turner
Robin Gibbens
What year did it open
Bruce Keddie
I think about 1959
=
Carolyn Graham
Bruce Keddie we were just wondering about this last night. We figured it would be around then too. Tony played bass with the Sabres Band in front of the screen on the opening night. He's got a photo that was taken that night.
Robin Gibbens
Bruce Keddie thanks everyone that would have made me five at the time
Deborah Sweetman
When a train went past the whole place shook and you could hardly here what was being said on screen.
Bruce Keddie
My mother, Freda Keddie, worked there in the ticket box from opening night
David Hall
Bruce Keddie = great memories.
Margaret Moore
Loved going to the movies there,. Ice creams brought around at half time. I remember Freda Keddie in the box office. Lovely memories.
Amanda Stephens
Margaret Moore I remember Cynthia Scott and her torch!!
Margaret Moore
Amanda Stephens Yes I remember Cynthia Scott she was so scary
Murray Saunders
Me too....
Doug Griffin
Remember it well
Linda Erikson
I was impressed by the sophisticated Ice-cream boys in their white jackets at half time. They were probably quite young teenagers but I was awestruck. And lining up at the Nibble Nook in the foyer
Annie Van Looy
And don't forget the k bars
Heather Newby
Annie Van Looy and Reginas Toffee slab
Maxx N Mark Blackburne
Watch my first movie there while on holidays Grease RIP ONJ
Garry Wick
Had many a date here .
Mary Biddington
I remember those days!
Theresa Gibson
Fred Dagg concert.
Kath Merv Moreton
Good times!
Mary Findlay
Good times! Went at least twice a week
Lois Iacoppi
Remember it well
Saw Frankenstein there, scared stiff
Heather Newby
i saw Day of the Trifids there and was terrified.. i thought the trifids would come to GreymouthPaul Cheryl Culling
Didn't mess with Cynthia, lol ,great times, remember goodbye pork pie there
Chook Egg
Paul Cheryl Culling rolling the jaffas down the aisle...lol
Paul Cheryl Culling
Chook Egg awl you weren't allowed to do that
Mandy Bruce
Chook Egg yes lol my brother and I use to do that the trick was not getting caught
Sue Maree Aitken
Chook Egg my roll down the isle were snifters
Dianne Blythe
Yep mine were snifters
Graham Hay
Chook Egg I took a sling shot and fired them at the screen.
Del Godfrey
Paul Cheryl Culling so true, she could shine the torch on the exact watch that was beeping!
Paul Cheryl Culling
Del Godfrey big stainless steel torch if I remember
Del Godfrey
Paul Cheryl Culling yep, Beamer!!! Out of the middle of nowhere, a bright light and a stern voice, turn that watch off!
Murray Saunders
“We’re taking this car to Invercargill”
Paul Cheryl Culling
Murray Saunders she was a classic,R13 rated,when I was 13,the movie I could watch again and again
Sharon Burrell
I had one of those Mini's, got 8 in it one night
Murray Saunders
Jesus we had a mini too…
Just me in it was enough Sharon
Marty Byrne
Was great when staying with the grandparents at Chapel St in the holidays . Straight down the road and we were there .
Mandy Bruce
Marty Byrne my grandparents lived in chapel street next to the hall my grandad use to work there.
Janine Norcliffe
Went to see the sound of music there about 3 times..
Greg Chilton-Smith
National Anthem was played before the start of the movie
Megan Smith
Greg Chilton-Smith Snd they had half time
Greg Chilton-Smith
Megan Smith enough time to buy a rock hard ice cream
Curtis Parker
Yes lots of fond memories of this first ever picture therter I went to and of course the spaces there as a kid, it's gone now I herd ,sad
Reply1d
Del Godfrey
Mum worked in the nibble nook downstairs.
Linda Erikson
Del Godfrey chocolate dipped ice cream
Del Godfrey
Linda Erikson yep
Graham Hay
Del Godfrey now You mention it I remember her working there.
Jim Webber
Saw Cliff Richards "Summer Holiday" there in 1959? It was a big step-up from the Rotomanu Hall!
David Briggs
Throwing jaffas high enough to get caught in the projector light (and simultaneously avoiding the matrons torch as she'd try and catch the culprit)
Mandy Bruce
David Briggs I rember that sort of thing
Ray Swift
Took my daughter and her friends to see sesame street with a big bird awesome
Ed Dando
I remember those days!
Pat Walklin
Worked as a tray boy there and at Regent
Mandy Bruce
Pat Walklin I remember the tray boys great way to get icecreams
Linda Erikson
Pat Walklin I was awed by the manly sophistication of the ice cream tray boys.
Pat Walklin
Linda Erikson pleased someone was
Kate Fairhall
Don't mess with Aunty Daphne Perrin either, she knew how old we were and there was no way you were getting into any x rated movies, she was looking after our moral compass!
Lyn Whittle
Michele Buchanan
Sheryl Luscombe
Used to go there with some of the kids from the High School Hostel when we stayed at the Hostel as my Nana was the matron there. Thought we were so lucky as we were allowed to go at night
Pam Englefield-Absolum
Grease
Amön Greening
Spaceys out the front.
Shaun Rose
Amön Greening I even said that ro myself the other day when I drove by..lol
David Hall
Bruce Keddie.
Anne Mcmillan Miller
Great memories of those days
Emma Gaskins
Saw E.T. There when I was 7 yrs old. 1982!
Bruce Keddie
That is a very early photo, taken I suspect just before it opened in 1959. My Mother, Freda Keddie, worked there as cashier in the "Ticket Box" from opening night.
Anne Mcmillan Miller
Bruce Keddie yes she did . Remember your mum wrll Bruce
Ian Buchanan
Had good times there in the day
Paul Buchanan
Ian Buchanan being chucked out!
Ivan Murray Wilson
Premiere of Bad Blood.
Sue Maree Aitken
My dad always took me to the movies he wanted to see….John Wayne etc. No one else would go with him
Debbie Ansett
I remember the curtain would come up at the start of the movie and they would play God save the Queen.
Sue Maree Aitken
Debbie Ansett and Lo and behold if you didn’t stand
Cher Murdoch
Sue Maree Aitken miss Scott would have you!!
Debbie Ansett
Cher Murdoch Scary
Bobby Turner
Sue Maree Aitken
I never did.
Sue Maree Aitken
Bobby Turner you were brave
Sue Maree Aitken
Cher Murdoch oh I never thought NOT to stand….far better than me tried got caught and marched out
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Bob Williams was the first Manager from memory. Told us kids he carried a pistol in a shoulder holster to try to frighten us from playing up. Dont remember it working though
Anne Miller Mcmillan
Brian McIntyre
Lorraine O'Donoghue
Brian McIntyre shows what bad little b.....s you were!
Arthur Bass
Cynthia Scott was there in the early 80's ?
Anita Lorraine Barltrop
I remember going to the movies there as a kid.
Sandra Arnott
Memories eh!
Alan Messenger
I worked part time there for Rupert Kay in 1960s
Wendy McDiarmid
Jîll Rōss remember going to the movies here?
Pauline Burrows
The St James was an awesome Theatre,
Modern and attractive.
An asset to the Greymouth Township....
Pauline Failes
I remember going to see Shirley Temple films there in the 60’s. Does anyone else remember the serials they showed before half time? We never went often enough to see the following episode unfortunately
Karen Thomson
We used to go to the movies there on school holidays from ChCh & stayed with our Grandma Mary Ward nee Meates in Herbert St!
Wayne Leckie
Remember rolling Jaffa’s down under the seats
Dan Mckinley
50 cents for Saturday afternoon movies .
Sandra Arnott
Memories eh!
Alan Messenger
I worked part time there for Rupert Kay in 1960s
Wayne Leckie
Alan Messenger he was a grumpy guy lol
Alan Messenger
Wayne, yes but he was very good to us in the cycling club, probably because his son Graham was a member
Wendy McDiarmid
Jîll Rōss remember going to the movies here?
Pauline Burrows
The St James was an awesome Theatre,
Modern and attractive.
An asset to the Greymouth Township....
Pauline Failes
I remember going to see Shirley Temple films there in the 60’s. Does anyone else remember the serials they showed before half time? We never went often enough to see the following episode unfortunately
Karen Thomson
We used to go to the movies there on school holidays from ChCh & stayed with our Grandma Mary Ward nee Meates in Herbert St!
Lyn Galvin
Karen Thomson Are you related to Tony Ward who married Jean Pinn from Runanga
Wayne Leckie
Remember rolling Jaffa’s down under the seats
Dan Mckinley
50 cents for Saturday afternoon movies .
Wendy Bruce
You mean those Lone Ranger & Tonto and Phantom serials? The ones that aren’t allowed now
Susan Barlow
Wendy Bruce Weren't they awful? We as kids, loved them though
Susan Barlow
So exciting when this opened! Made us feel as if we were part of the sophisticated World!
Zane Inglis
My nana ( Alice Davidson ) worked there and all the grandkids got free movies!
Abbie Catherine Cook
Zane Inglis - did you dip the ice creams?
Carol Cook
Abbie Catherine Cook i think you had to oay 10c to get in.
Bruce Keddie
My mother, Freda Keddie, was the cashier there from opening night until the early 1970s
Tania Mcilroy
Bruce Keddie must have been late 70s because I remember going there when she was working and helping in the wee office part until the movie started lol
Ian Haussmann
What happened to her you didnt mess with her as you would get banned
Jill Smith
Lots of great memories of the St James. Daphne Perrin worked in the nibble nook for years.
Raewyn Giles
Ray Port we saw the best ever movie here lol
Ray Port
Raewyn Giles lol.
I remember it well.
Wasn't a great movie for a first date.
Raewyn Giles
Ray Port it was terrible but the company was great.
John Greaney
Removed a few times by Rupert Kay . By God he liked that tourch.
Johannes Debreuk
Same I got kicked out for talking
Heather Newby
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there used to be a grumpy woman who worked who stormed around with a torch,, trying to catch whoever it was who was rolling jaffas down the sloping floor.I forget her name.
Wayne Leckie
Heather Newby probably me lol
Pauline Walsh
I remember all the Jaffas Rolling down the stairs so it was u Wayne leckie
Heather Newby
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Cowboy movies every Saturday afternoon..
Robin Gibbens
Only talking about it yesterday as dads panel shop ( Gibbens panel beating) was opposite and my brother only told me yesterday that it is to be demolished also very soon. Be little left to remember from our past the way they are tearing things down.
Wayne Leckie
Remember we caught a bag full of moths and let them out and they headed straight to the camera so funny
Josephine Wesley
Remember seeing National Velvet starring Liz Taylor with my dad when I was young. Good memories.
Margaret Harrington
Wasn’t it Rupert Kaye
Lyn Gosling
I remember going to the movies there
Megan Tahapeehi
I remember going there mostly with my brothers and being able to exit from the top. There also used to be space world video game place below
Tony Hartigan
Spaceworld and mrs scott was such a hardcase lady
Paul Huffam
There was a certain dignity to life in those days.
Peter McEnaney
Good times!!
Donna Laugesen
Late 60's it was 20cents 15 to get in and 5 for a K-bar my 1st movie i saw was Born Free also went to the live show of The Sound of Music
Ken OLeary
Sunday nite movies ,just to finish off the weekend ,
Stacey Campbell
I remember space world too Megan Tahapeehi
Warren Parkin
I almost got kicked out of there once by the then manager, Rupert Kate. He took out to the bottom of the stairs and gave me a stern talking too. I was with the Bradley boys from Kaiata and the movie was, One Born Every Minute. Well I was being a smart … See More
Jann Hines
Warren Parkin same
Keith White
Cartoon parades....... and the J. Arthur Rank movies - the musclebound guy hitting the gong at the start.....
Helen O'Dea
Do you guys remember if it was your birthday Mrs Scott would stand up the front and call out your name and you had to go up and get a free ticket back to the movies - I can still see her standing up the front. Great memories
Dean Gutberlet
Does anyone have a picture of the interior? I can't recall the layout. Did it have one floor with just one entrance in the middle?
I do remember the movies I saw in here: Krull, Karate Kid, BMX bandits, Greystone - the legend of Tarzan, Ghostbusters, … See More
Heather Gaulter
That’s not like you Dec
Brent Rubbo
I think I still owe Peter Toal a few 20's for the times we spent at Space World. Good Times.
Steven Shrives
Space world
Liz N Steve Packer
I rolled many jaffas down those stairs before grumpy Mrs Scott came around shining her torch in my face!
Diane Whittle
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I went with my Dad to see Jaws, I was scared stupid and my Dad just laughed and laughed, he was a fisherman so I presume he could see through the puppetry, swear to god that movie is to blame for my innate dislike of swimming in the sea! Lol!
Alan Smith
I remember going to the movie there
Shona Ratana
I to remember attending the movies there?
Nicola Noone
My Nan worked there (Inez Mundy). We would go everyday in the school holidays and see the same movie over and over. We thought we were the bees knees!
Ivan Murray Wilson
Interesting sign showing the feature. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning was a black and white film as I vaguely recall and about a British working class family and relationships. Very gritty for it's day.
Sarah Samson
Ivan Murray Wilson oh I’d watch that!
Russell Knipe
I remember going in there with rest of our band Harlem, for a private viewing of a band called Mudd (?) playing a song we were contemplating playing.
I think it was arranged by Budgies mum, who worked there at the time as Theatre Manager.
Grant Thornley
Budgies sister,Cynthia Scott.
Russell Knipe
Grant Thornley I stand corrected.
Christine Rose Ashdown
Used to go there on a Saturday to watch the films and serials each week loved it
Christine Rose Ashdown
Also used to go to the ice cream shop over the road at half time as the ice creams were bigger than the ones sold in the theatre
Crow Bay
I see it now as a place of evil. ACC caused suicide and destroyed the lives of hundreds of people from that building. ( I wonder how long this statement of truth will last, not long I bet!)
Bruce Keddie
Crow Bay Rubbish!
Arthur Bass
Crow Bay ACC seem to think it is their money. Bit like how IRD used to drive people to the wall.
Jo-Anne Smith
I remember going there after winning tickets from the radio station so my cousin’s and I could go when I was 8
Vanette Hawke
My mum was the cleaner there
Kyle Webster
The 1979 floods.....wading through the front door to see James Bond in 'For Your Eye's Only'......ringing out socks to hang on the stage....
Debz Turner
Projectionists were from memory Jack Turner, Ken Halliren and Harry Piner.
Alan Messenger
Was Ken Hallinan.
Mandy Bruce
My grandfather cleaned this theater. In 1966 I was 6years old.
Mandy Bruce
My brother and I went to a lot of awesome movies there they use to have serials. We use to go every week it was cheap then. We use to sit at the top and roll Jaffis down to the bottom got kicked out once for that but every one did it.
Warren Parkin
Lol...toppa and I trialled, bending staples into the shape of a bird and flick them using rubber bands at mainly girls as they would lodge in there hair.
Mandy Bruce
Warren Parkin lol such a boy thing to do, they were the days
Robert Hilton Marsh
my mother work as a cleaner for while
Paulette Turner
I remember if it was your birthday they would call your name out at half time and you would get oressies like bow and arrow sets, water guns,cap guns etc
Debz Turner
Paulette Turner they used to have dress up competitions as well to promote the movies on a Saturday afternoon - you had to dress up as a person / character from the movie and there was a first, second and third prize.
Paulette Turner
Debz Turner it's all coming back to me now.
Gordon Dixon
Had some good times there alright
Sheryl Walker
Paulette Turner didn’t your father work there??
Lyn Roberts
Sheryl Walker yep he sure did.
Kelvyn Gilshnan
Cheech and chong in the 80s
Suzi Kiely
Cynthia Scott was the grumpiest woman in my childhood. I was terrified of her. She would stand and watch you buy your tickets and glare at you... especially when it was R13.... I remember the boys throwing Jaffa’s at her while she was looking for misbehaviour with that torch if hers
Sonja Macfarlane
OMG - when I grew up there, there was always a bit of a distinction between the St James, and the Regent theatres - WHY? the Regent was always the dominant one....I think I only went to the St James a couple of times.....how things change
Debz Turner
Sonja Macfarlane at one time the St James only had movies on the weekends - the Regent had much better acoustics according to my Dad who was the projectionist. The Regent was sold to Matai industries and then all movies were at the St James.
Doug Griffin
Remember it well
Jeffrey Peacock
worked there in the mid to late eighties till it closed.....jill...dot ..marion ...judy ..ken..harry.........i remember the great riot bust up of 87 with the punks ..they came to watch queen city rocker and all hell broke loose after half time she was all onJeff Louwman
remember Saturday afternoon matinee's there
Heather Newby
cowboy movies
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands
Heather Newby the serial before interval. Birthday club.
Heather Newby
Catherine Moffitt Rowlands oh yes.. i just remembered that
Annie Van Looy
Aww went there many a time ya had to stand up for the national anthem
Bobby Turner
Annie Van Looy
Not me.
Bobby Turner
It was God Save the Queen
Bobby Turner
Annie Van Looy
My dad was projectionist at the movies.I used to sit up the back and I just know( even tho he never told me off) that he was muttering under his breath about his daughter,who was the only one remaining seated during God Save the Queen.
Annie Van Looy
Bobby Turner cool Bobby back in the day everyone stood up as a mark of respect
Bobby Turner
Annie Van Looy
Never was a Royalist.People had to earn my respect.
Heather Newby
jaffas and snifters rolling down the aisles
Jason Mather
I saw Zanadu there & got my daughters name from Olivia Newton John's character in the movie, RIP Olivia.
Mick Turner
Debz Turner dads window
Debz Turner
Mick Turner zoom in on the window looks like him standing there.
Debz Turner
Bobby Turner
Robin Gibbens
What year did it open
Bruce Keddie
I think about 1959
=
Carolyn Graham
Bruce Keddie we were just wondering about this last night. We figured it would be around then too. Tony played bass with the Sabres Band in front of the screen on the opening night. He's got a photo that was taken that night.
Robin Gibbens
Bruce Keddie thanks everyone that would have made me five at the time
Deborah Sweetman
When a train went past the whole place shook and you could hardly here what was being said on screen.
Bruce Keddie
My mother, Freda Keddie, worked there in the ticket box from opening night
David Hall
Bruce Keddie = great memories.
Margaret Moore
Loved going to the movies there,. Ice creams brought around at half time. I remember Freda Keddie in the box office. Lovely memories.
Amanda Stephens
Margaret Moore I remember Cynthia Scott and her torch!!
Margaret Moore
Amanda Stephens Yes I remember Cynthia Scott she was so scary
Murray Saunders
Me too....
Doug Griffin
Remember it well
Linda Erikson
I was impressed by the sophisticated Ice-cream boys in their white jackets at half time. They were probably quite young teenagers but I was awestruck. And lining up at the Nibble Nook in the foyer
Annie Van Looy
And don't forget the k bars
Heather Newby
Annie Van Looy and Reginas Toffee slab
Maxx N Mark Blackburne
Watch my first movie there while on holidays Grease RIP ONJ
Garry Wick
Had many a date here .
Mary Biddington
I remember those days!
Theresa Gibson
Fred Dagg concert.
Kath Merv Moreton
Good times!
Mary Findlay
Good times! Went at least twice a week
Lois Iacoppi
Remember it well
Saw Frankenstein there, scared stiff
Heather Newby
i saw Day of the Trifids there and was terrified.. i thought the trifids would come to GreymouthPaul Cheryl Culling
Didn't mess with Cynthia, lol ,great times, remember goodbye pork pie there
Chook Egg
Paul Cheryl Culling rolling the jaffas down the aisle...lol
Paul Cheryl Culling
Chook Egg awl you weren't allowed to do that
Mandy Bruce
Chook Egg yes lol my brother and I use to do that the trick was not getting caught
Sue Maree Aitken
Chook Egg my roll down the isle were snifters
Dianne Blythe
Yep mine were snifters
Graham Hay
Chook Egg I took a sling shot and fired them at the screen.
Del Godfrey
Paul Cheryl Culling so true, she could shine the torch on the exact watch that was beeping!
Paul Cheryl Culling
Del Godfrey big stainless steel torch if I remember
Del Godfrey
Paul Cheryl Culling yep, Beamer!!! Out of the middle of nowhere, a bright light and a stern voice, turn that watch off!
Murray Saunders
“We’re taking this car to Invercargill”
Paul Cheryl Culling
Murray Saunders she was a classic,R13 rated,when I was 13,the movie I could watch again and again
Sharon Burrell
I had one of those Mini's, got 8 in it one night
Murray Saunders
Jesus we had a mini too…
Just me in it was enough Sharon
Marty Byrne
Was great when staying with the grandparents at Chapel St in the holidays . Straight down the road and we were there .
Mandy Bruce
Marty Byrne my grandparents lived in chapel street next to the hall my grandad use to work there.
Janine Norcliffe
Went to see the sound of music there about 3 times..
Greg Chilton-Smith
National Anthem was played before the start of the movie
Megan Smith
Greg Chilton-Smith Snd they had half time
Greg Chilton-Smith
Megan Smith enough time to buy a rock hard ice cream
Curtis Parker
Yes lots of fond memories of this first ever picture therter I went to and of course the spaces there as a kid, it's gone now I herd ,sad
Reply1d
Del Godfrey
Mum worked in the nibble nook downstairs.
Linda Erikson
Del Godfrey chocolate dipped ice cream
Del Godfrey
Linda Erikson yep
Graham Hay
Del Godfrey now You mention it I remember her working there.
Jim Webber
Saw Cliff Richards "Summer Holiday" there in 1959? It was a big step-up from the Rotomanu Hall!
David Briggs
Throwing jaffas high enough to get caught in the projector light (and simultaneously avoiding the matrons torch as she'd try and catch the culprit)
Mandy Bruce
David Briggs I rember that sort of thing
Ray Swift
Took my daughter and her friends to see sesame street with a big bird awesome
Ed Dando
I remember those days!
Pat Walklin
Worked as a tray boy there and at Regent
Mandy Bruce
Pat Walklin I remember the tray boys great way to get icecreams
Linda Erikson
Pat Walklin I was awed by the manly sophistication of the ice cream tray boys.
Pat Walklin
Linda Erikson pleased someone was
Kate Fairhall
Don't mess with Aunty Daphne Perrin either, she knew how old we were and there was no way you were getting into any x rated movies, she was looking after our moral compass!
Lyn Whittle
Michele Buchanan
Sheryl Luscombe
Used to go there with some of the kids from the High School Hostel when we stayed at the Hostel as my Nana was the matron there. Thought we were so lucky as we were allowed to go at night
Pam Englefield-Absolum
Grease
Amön Greening
Spaceys out the front.
Shaun Rose
Amön Greening I even said that ro myself the other day when I drove by..lol
David Hall
Bruce Keddie.
Anne Mcmillan Miller
Great memories of those days
Emma Gaskins
Saw E.T. There when I was 7 yrs old. 1982!
Bruce Keddie
That is a very early photo, taken I suspect just before it opened in 1959. My Mother, Freda Keddie, worked there as cashier in the "Ticket Box" from opening night.
Anne Mcmillan Miller
Bruce Keddie yes she did . Remember your mum wrll Bruce
Ian Buchanan
Had good times there in the day
Paul Buchanan
Ian Buchanan being chucked out!
Ivan Murray Wilson
Premiere of Bad Blood.
Sue Maree Aitken
My dad always took me to the movies he wanted to see….John Wayne etc. No one else would go with him
Debbie Ansett
I remember the curtain would come up at the start of the movie and they would play God save the Queen.
Sue Maree Aitken
Debbie Ansett and Lo and behold if you didn’t stand
Cher Murdoch
Sue Maree Aitken miss Scott would have you!!
Debbie Ansett
Cher Murdoch Scary
Bobby Turner
Sue Maree Aitken
I never did.
Sue Maree Aitken
Bobby Turner you were brave
Sue Maree Aitken
Cher Murdoch oh I never thought NOT to stand….far better than me tried got caught and marched out
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West Coast New Zealand History (23rd Nov 2022). The St. James Theatre on the old Opera House site.1966.. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 24th Apr 2026 23:20, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/22706