Description Comments

Municipal Opera House, Coronation Hall and ANA Ballroom, Register of Bookings

Object type

Multi page

Description: This register records bookings for the Coronation Hall from January 1932 to September 1935; for the Opera House from February to September 1935; and for the ANA Ballroom from July 1942 to January 1946. These include bookings for performances, meetings and the activities of community groups.
The Municipal Opera House, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected on Church Street in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and remodelled both inside and out in 1955. It was sold by the PNCC to a businessman in 1996 and demolished.
The Coronation Hall, located at 801 Main Street, was built as a Public Hall in 1911 to mark the Coronation of George V. In 1962 it was bought by the Palmerston North Little Theatre Society (later Manawatu Theatre Society) and became a playhouse. In 1996 the hall was bought by private owners.
The Army, Navy and Airforce (ANA) Club was a community organisation that provided social activities and entertainment for members of the armed services who were visiting Palmerston North during World War Two. The ANA Ballroom (later the Ballroom Astoria) was located on George Street.