Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Telethon was a 24-hour live television spectacular designed to raise money for charitable causes. It originated in the United States, but New Zealand put a typically Kiwi spin on the event. First held in 1975, local performers, amateur and professional were joined by international stars, who entertained New Zealand to raise money for charity. Groups of people from schools, clubs, and pubs, contributed cash and cheques, often in an oversized format, to add to the pledged totals on the day of the event.

Telethon 1981 was held on 27 June 1981 and raised funds for the International Year of Disabled Persons.
The main event in Palmerston North was held at the Rainbow Stadium and attracted a number of national and international celebrities.

Title page reads, "MANAWATU THEATRE SOCIETY
proudly presents

BARNUM
THE CIRCUS MUSICAL

May 28 - June 6 1987
Palmerston North Opera House

MUSIC BY
CY
COLEMAN

LYRICS BY
MICHAEL
STEWART

BOOK BY
MARK
BRAMBLE

DIRECTED BY
ROBERT RIMMER

MUSICALLY DIRECTED BY
STEPHEN FISHER

CHOREOGRAPHED BY
VAL BOLTER

SET DESIGN
WANGANUI AMDRAM

WARDROBE DESIGN WANGANUI AMDRAM

TECHNICAL DESIGN
CHARLIE FORBES"

This register for the Palmerston North Municipal Opera House and Coronation Hall records bookings from 1940 until 1945, for performances, meetings and the activities of community groups. During the Second World War, these venues were also used to support the war effort, including by the Women's Auxilary services, the Home Guard and for Soldier Send Off events. The Opera House hosted performances by the Kiwi Concert Party and the Young Māori Club. This building, 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 the Opera House 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 Douglas and Moana Hann, who renovated the building into a home. As of 2014, it is the premises of a painting and decoration business.

This register for the Palmerston North Municipal Opera House and Coronation Hall records bookings from 1935 until 1940, 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 Douglas and Moana Hann, who renovated the building into a home. As of 2014, it is the premises of a painting and decoration business.

The Municipal Opera House, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected for the Palmerston North Borough Council in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned 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 postcard bears no stamp or date, so the date is based on other postcards that show the same scene.

The cast of "Life with Father", performed by the Palmerston North Little Theatre Society at the Palmerston North Opera House 22-24 November 1945.
The 16 cast members were: Kay Nichols, Helen Whitehead, Derek Bennett, Ian H. Stewart, Barry Powell, Colin Tucker, Joe Lorigan, Margaret O'Connor, Mavis French, Lorna Proctor, Hector McKay, Joanne Varcoe, Win Cox, John Hunter, Fred Aisher, Beth Jones.

The play was very popular in the 1940s, widely performed in New Zealand and overseas. In 1947 it was made into a film.

The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. It originally had a much more ornate external appearance but in 1952 it was condemned 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 Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected 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.

John McGrath was involved backstage at the Opera House for many years and was its manager from 1961-?. His musical career started in the late 1950s when he ran several dance bands in Palmerston North. He was one of the original members of the Palmerston North Musicians' Club.

The cover of this booklet reads, "Sir J.M. Barrie's Immortal Peter Pan being the joint presentation by the Palmerston North Operatic Society (Inc.), the Manawatu Repertory Society (Inc.) [and] the Palmerston North Little Theatre Society (Inc.) in conjunction with the Palmerston North City Council on the occasion of the re-opening of the Opera House. Formal opening: Saturday, 19th March 1955. Season: 19th to 26th March, 1955 (inclusive)."

The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected 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 Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned 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 photograph also shows the second St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, built in 1893. This building was replaced by another church in 1957.

The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned 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. Also shown here is St Andrews Presbyterian Church.

The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned 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.

This booklet was created by the Palmerston North City Council to explain the reasons why it was considered beneficial to secure a £52,300 loan to undertake earthquake strengthening to the Municipal Opera House.

This brochure outlines the amenities and fees associated with the Municipal Opera House.

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 6th February 199.

"BB King, Palmerston North Opera House, January 10. Wednesday night, the last week in January, and Riley B. King made his first visit to Palmerston North. From all over the city, people of all ages, races and walks of life came to cram the Opera House and hear this legendary "king of the blues" in action, and the man was not about to send anyone away disappointed.

First up, his highly-disciplined seven-piece band -- under the direction of nephew Walter King -- got things cooking with a dynamic warm-up set, then B.B. King -- resplendent in ample cummerbund, bow tie and pink dinner jacket -- was warmly welcomed: immediately cutting loose with a raunchy update of the old Cab Calloway favourite Let the Good Times Roll. The invitation was enthusiastically accepted.

Shifting up the heat with the pulsing R&B rhythm of When All's Said and Done, King worked a tight path of mounting tension, climax and release, his guitar Lucille edging the band into top gear with stinging, plaintive sustains, interspersed with clusters of precisely placed staccato runs. The slow blues Ain't Nobody's Business was a change for trading lines with trumpeter James Bolden, the audience by now being drawn into the performance: whistling, stomping , replying to the vocal lines like some gospel crowd from the deep south.

A tongue-in-cheek Sweet Little Angel found the blues boy easing in with the nooks and crannies of gypsy king Django Reinhardt, moving on to wailing feed-back sustains with control most rock guitarists would kill for. Keyboardist James Toney laid down a sultry, Southside Chicago mood for the slow blues Chains of Love while King added a heavy dose of gospel with the vocals, often skirting the border between singing and pentecostal spoken word. Continuing the showcasing of talent within the band, bassist Michael Doster took the spotlight, moving like lightning over his five-string fretboard during an impressive solo.

The intensity of stomping and cheering increased accordingly. Pausing as master of ceremonies, King then introduced his band -- adding a few stories, poking fun at himself -- then eased into a plaintive Darling You Know That I Love You, his latest single Peace to the World and an upbeat version of the U2 collaboration When Love Comes to Town. the encore of When the Saints Go Marchin' In was pure gospel. Throughout his two hours on stage, King's set was pure energy, a reminder of the well where the creators of "rock" and all its hybrid forms first journeyed for inspiration.

Instrumentally, his guitar playing was sounding better that ever, his fluid, rich vibrato and bending of notes effortlessly shaping the lines to sound like the human voice. Vocally his famous falsetto notes were heard only rarely, but despite his age and obvious fatigue at the end of the show, King still had a rootsy, fire-in-the belly style which could not fail to impress.

Perhaps some of the crowd were unhappy about the absence of his classics Three O'clock Blues, How Blue Can You Get, My Own Fault and Sweet Sixteen, yet I got the feeling he was ready for more encores, only needing a little more encouragement to take the show to a real climax. But no matter. B.B. King at the Opera House was pure gut feeling. No posing, no riding on previous reputation, just playing -- and singing -- each song as it came, straight from the heart. Anyone left unimpressed should have stayed at home and watched telly.

[Photos by Dionne Ward]"

The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected 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.

People dressed in costumes for a theatre production or fancy dress party. Visible are several knights, nuns, friars and ladies.

It is believed to be a photograph of nurses performing a revue at the Opera House 10-11 August 1945, with entertainment and sketches depicting nurses from the past. Proceeds from the shows were to go to patriotic purposes.

The woman second from left in the back row has been identified as Ellen (Nellie) Charlotte Flowers (née Ansin), a Red Cross nurse in the Ashhurst Communtiy.

The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected 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.

Group of Palmerston North Council workers and their partners at a fancy dress ball, believed to be at at the Opera House. Far left: Ian Robertson, partnering Francis Laurenson, library staff member, standing in front of Ian.

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard 26 August, 1959. "The shiny white ivory keys of the new Steinway concert grand piano looked extremely inviting to the crowd of people who gathered in the Opera House this morning awaiting its arrival. With her hands on the keys of the 2000 pound instrument is the president of the Palmerston North Registered Music Teachers' Association (Miss E. M. Rawlins)."

The Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected 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 Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened on 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened and substantially remodelled both inside and out in 1955. It was sold by the PNCC to a businessman in 1994 and demolished in October 1996.

The Municipal Opera House as seen from Ashley Street shortly before demolition. The Opera House, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected 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 Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected 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 Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned 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 Municipal Opera House, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected for the Palmerston North Borough Council in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned 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 Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned 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 Municipal Opera House of Palmerston North, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevor and Sons, was erected in 1904-1905 and opened 12 July 1905. In 1952 it was condemned 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.