Skip to Content
Description

His Majesty's Theatre opened on 6 February 1911. Charles Blackbourn, building contractor, is in the black suit on the left, standing on the scaffold. Blackbourn's building firm collapsed during the depression, after which he drove a taxi while his brother, Albert Blackbourn (who had worked with him), started out on his own account. It was then used as a skating rink, auction rooms and for storage until returning to theatre use, at first as the Paramount, then the De Luxe (1924-30). It continued use as the De Luxe Skating Rink, the De Luxe Dance Hall, the Coconut Grove Dance Hall (1936-42), ANA Dance Hall, George Street Dance Hall and eventually the Ballroom Astoria from approximately 1948-84. The ballroom was demolished in 1984 but the façade remains. It now the frontage for retail shops. (2004).

Identification

Object type
Image
Relation
Public Photograph Collection T 27
Date
1910
Digitisation ID
2014N_T27_009100
Held In
Coolstore

Related items

Construction of C M Ross Building, The Square
Construction of C M Ross Building, The Square
Workers Repairing Early Bridge
Pike factory employees
Traction Engine Cutting Timber
The "Breaking Down Bench" at Climo and Eggers Sawmill, Waituna West
Carting a Log from Bush to Sawmill, Pohangina Valley
Workers at Longburn Freezing Works
Railway Worker's Hut, Palmerston North
Excavation for construction of the Main Science Building, Massey Agricultural College
Wagon-load of Wool, Matsubara, Bunnythorpe
Felling a Rimu Tree at Waituna West

Taxonomy

Tags
buildings,
construction,
labour,
theatre,
workers,
Community Tags

Report a problem

Related items

Construction of C M Ross Building, The Square
Construction of C M Ross Building, The Square
Workers Repairing Early Bridge
Pike factory employees
Traction Engine Cutting Timber
The "Breaking Down Bench" at Climo and Eggers Sawmill, Waituna West
Carting a Log from Bush to Sawmill, Pohangina Valley
Workers at Longburn Freezing Works
Railway Worker's Hut, Palmerston North
Excavation for construction of the Main Science Building, Massey Agricultural College
Wagon-load of Wool, Matsubara, Bunnythorpe
Felling a Rimu Tree at Waituna West