The Empire Cinema in Island Bay was established in 1924 and the exterior of the building is largely still in its original form. It is an iconic building for this South Wellington suburb. Having seen a few renovations and interior alterations over the years, the new owner wanted to bring out the old charm and character of the cinema again. The main volume of the brick building was painted in ‘Cherrywood’, with historic decorations highlighted in ‘Masterton’ and soffits in ‘Half Maheno’. Lighting was introduced to compliment the colours and achieve an aesthetic reminiscent of historic cinema and theatre architecture. Since its re-opening the cinema has been highly popular and once again plays a very active part in the community of Island Bay.
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