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AddBy: Rachel Sonius5th Sep 2016 11:54AMThe following comment about this image was posted on the Upper Hutt Heritage Facebook page by Lisa Truttman on 31.8.2016:
"According to the Hutt Valley Independent on Papers Past -- earliest ads for 'People's Pictures' in the Town Hall start from October 1912, so that could give you a closer date for your image."
"According to the Hutt Valley Independent on Papers Past -- earliest ads for 'People's Pictures' in the Town Hall start from October 1912, so that could give you a closer date for your image."
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People's Pictures, c1912
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DescriptionPhoto supplied by Vin 'Snow' Benge, who dated it as from sometime around 1910. It shows the building known as the Town Hall. This was not, as the name might suggest, a building owned and run by the Town Board (Upper Hutt's first local authority, which came into existence in 1908). Rather it was privately owned and let out for socials, meetings, etc, as well as the screening of films. At the time this photo was taken it was regularly used by Angus McCurdy's cinema business People's Pictures. Following a dispute with the owners McCurdy left these premises in 1914, building the nearby Record Hall where he continued showing films.
This item was previously titled 'Cosy Theatre' and the name 'Cosy' can be seen on its front. Some accounts give this as the original name of the building, while others indicate that it wasn't called this until the mid-1920s. Possibly it was first called the Cosy Theatre, then became the Town Hall (other photos taken around 1915 show this name written on it) and then reverted back to Cosy Theatre for a time. It later became known as the Mayfair Theatre and is now the Mayfair Cafe, incorporated within a larger structure with a shared facade known as the Mayfair Buildings.
Date Takenc.1910
This item was previously titled 'Cosy Theatre' and the name 'Cosy' can be seen on its front. Some accounts give this as the original name of the building, while others indicate that it wasn't called this until the mid-1920s. Possibly it was first called the Cosy Theatre, then became the Town Hall (other photos taken around 1915 show this name written on it) and then reverted back to Cosy Theatre for a time. It later became known as the Mayfair Theatre and is now the Mayfair Cafe, incorporated within a larger structure with a shared facade known as the Mayfair Buildings.
Date Takenc.1910Depicts or relates to
PlaceMayfair buildings; Town Hall, then theatre, then incorporated into larger group.
About the original
FormatElectronic downloadSize3680 x 2052 pixels
Size3680 x 2052 pixelsScanned byV Benge
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People's Pictures, c1912 . Upper Hutt Libraries, accessed 22/08/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/25338