This photograph ran with the caption, "The Great Sorcar as he stepped off the bus from the aerodrome yesterday with the five girls in his company. They are all relatives of his and are, they say, enjoying our lovely country very much". Sorcar was ...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          November 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 as unsafe by the Palmerston North City Council and was strengthened an...

Creator:      L G West Son & Callendar (architects) for Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Corner of Ashley Street and Church Street, Palmerston North
Date:          September 1953

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 ...

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council, Treasurer's Department
Date:          November 1940 to October 1945

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 ...

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council, Treasurer's Department
Date:          October 1935 to October 1940

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 an...

Creator:      L G West Son & Callendar (architects) for Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Corner of Ashley Street and Church Street, Palmerston North
Date:          April 2, 1951

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 an...

Creator:      L G West Son & Callendar (architects) for Palmerston North City Council
Place:          Corner of Ashley Street and Church Street, Palmerston North
Date:          August 24, 1954

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 an...

Place:          Corner of Ashley Street and Church Street, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1955

A Grand Wireless Concert, broadcast from Auckland, was held in the Opera House, Palmerston North, 1 December 1923. It was arranged by St Paul's Wesley Guild. Ticket no.410, for the Back Stalls at a cost of 2/-.

Creator:      Unknown
Date:          December 1923

Built as a Public Hall in 1911 to mark the Coronation of George V, this building served as such for the next 50 years. This plan shows a wooden frontage but it appears from photographs that at some stage a new facade was added.

In 1962 the Corona...

Creator:      William Adams (for Palmerston North Borough Council?)
Place:          801 Main Street, Palmerston North
Date:          February 20, 1911

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. Cross dressing performers regularly appeared in Palmerston North theatres between 1910's and 1950's, ranging from war veterans to international celebrities. Newspaper reviews ...

Creator:      Ralph Body
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          September 10, 2022

Local historians weekly "Back Issues" article in the Manawatū Standard. The story of dancer and singer George Robert WATTS (1885-1947). His stage name was Professor Owen Cardston. Cardston entertained in New Zealand and overseas, working with comm...

Creator:      Russell and Philip Poole
Date:          November 18, 2023

Journalist Tina White's weekly "Memory Lane" article in the Manawatū Standard. The story of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force Entertainment Unit, also known as the Kiwi Concert Party, in World War 2. It entertained the troops overseas and pu...

Creator:      Tina White
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          February 22, 2020

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 04 July 1958, page 11: "Patricia Sheridan is seen here entertaining members and guests present at the Sunshine Club's 25th birthday celebrations which were held yesterda...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          July 4, 1958

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 14 September 1960 "Members of the Savage Club held an evening in the Repertory Hall on Monday night for their sons and daughters. The daughters in this photograph claime...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1960-09-14T00:00:00+00:00

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 23 August 1961 "Two of the Neapolitan troubadours, members of the Pensioners' and Old Folk's choir, who joined in the traditional airs yesterday afternoon at the 16th bi...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          August 23, 1961

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 29 November 1958: "These four members of the Commercial Travellers' Association entertained a large crowd in the Square yesterday while fellow members raised money for t...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          November 29, 1958

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 12 December 1958: "These six members of the Sunshine Club's song group entertained members of the Aged and Blind Club at the Christmas party on Wednesday. They are (from...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          December 12, 1958

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 11 December 1958: "Miss Grain McConnell entertained at the Happiness Club's evening held on Tuesday night with a skipping ballet. She is seen during her item."

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          December 11, 1958

[Enjoying the attractions of the sideshows at the Horowhenua A. & P. Show, two young women are chatting as they ride the ferris wheel]

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Levin
Date:          January 1961

[Enjoying the attractions of the sideshows at the Horowhenua A. & P. Show, two young women are spun around on the "Octopus" ride]

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Levin
Date:          January 1961

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 08 November 1958: "The entertainment section of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association's Show had a good patronage early in the day as can be seen by this pho...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          Palmerston North Showgrounds, Palmerston North
Date:          November 8, 1958

This image was taken for a story that ran in The Manawatu Evening Standard on 25 November 1960 "The Palmerton North Travellers' and Warehousemen's Association held its street day in the city today in aid of numerous charities, especially blind ex-...

Creator:      Manawatu Evening Standard
Place:          The Square, Palmerston North
Date:          1960-11-25T00:00:00+00:00

[Two men and a woman surround a woman at a piano.]

Creator:      Manawatū Evening Standard
Date:          1963-06-20T00:00:00+00:00

This register for the Palmerston North Municipal Opera House and Coronation Hall records bookings from 1945 until 1950, for performances, meetings and the activities of community groups. The Opera House, designed by F J Wilson and built by J Trevo...

Creator:      Palmerston North City Council, Treasurer's Department
Date:          November 1945 to November 1950

The revue show, "Talk of the Town", was established by Bruce Harris (pictured centre) with performances beginning in February, 1976. It was believed to be the only revue of its kind in New Zealand at the time. Shows were held at 100 Broadway Avenu...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          100 Broadway Avenue, Palmerston North
Date:          circa 1976

This programme gives details for Cherry Blossom Sunday in October 1957. Two trains brought Wellingtonians to Palmerston North for a day of dancing and music in the Victoria Esplanade Gardens.

Creator:      Palmerston North Public Relations Organisation (Incorporated)
Date:          October 1957

The Meteor theatre was located on the west side of The Square, it operated from 1937-1964. This photograph shows the exterior of the building in the late 1950s. Gregory Peck starred in Moby Dick in 1956. Seating capacity was for 940 - 990 people, ...

Creator:      Unknown
Place:          Palmerston North
Date:          1957 to 1959

Zappo the magician performs for children at the Village Valley Centre in Ashhurst.

Creator:      Ashhurst Library
Place:          Ashhurst
Date:          January 2014

The Village Valley Centre in Ashhurst was filled to capacity for the Ashhurst School fundraiser Comedy Night.  The comedians on the night were Paul Ego and Ben Hurly.

Creator:      Ashhurst Library
Place:          21 Guildford St, Ashhurst
Date:          June 29, 2019

Ashhurst School hosted a comedy night in 2019 and were lucky to have the very funny Paul Ego and Ben Hurly take part. It was held in the Village Valley Centre.

Creator:      Ashhurst Library
Place:          21 Guildford St, Ashhurst
Date:          2019