End of an era for Te Puke's art deco cinema

Multimedia Journalist, Bay of Plenty Times·Bay of Plenty Times·

1 Dec, 2017 07:13 PM4 mins to read

Capitol Cinema's owner, Ross Trebilco, has put his cinema building up for sale. Photo / George Novak

Ross Trebilco's passion for the big screen has not waned but his connection with Te Puke's historic Capitol Cinema is set to come to an end.

The business, which he has owned and operated for over 17 years, is up for sale, as well as two leased stores next door, with offers to Tauranga Bayleys closing on December 4.

The Capitol Cinema is one of the last remaining art deco cinema buildings and multi-screen movie complexes in the country, with four theatres and viewing capacity of 413.

Formerly known as the Alliance Hall, the building was rebuilt and named the Capitol Theatre in 1929 after it was damaged by a fire next door.

In 1930 the Capitol screened the first "talkie" movie.

A large doorway on one side of the stage, which has since been removed, enabled travelling circus elephants to enter for their live shows - hugely popular during the 1930s and 1940s.

Cinemascope widescreen movie technology was added in 1954 and in 1978 the Capitol closed due to dwindling sales and stood empty until Trebilco came along in the 1990s

Trebilco, a former pig farmer in Matamata, move to Te Puke with his wife, Evelyn, in 1985.

"I came over here after buying two kiwifruit orchards but with all the problems and regulations we decided to get out of that type of business.

"I was looking for something else to do and the rest is pretty much history," he said.

Trebilco said he bought the building next door and set up a Bin Inn business for his wife.

A few years later after becoming sick of falling debris from the empty Capitol landing on the Bin Inn store he approached the owners.

"It stood empty for years and it was just a shell when I bought the building in 1997 for $230,000, and I spent about million dollars rebuilding and refurbishing it.

"We reopened on September 20, 2000. It had one cinema with about 500 seats and because of all the regulations we had to run the same movie four times a day," he said.

"I have spent another $500,000 on extensive renovations since then, and today the Capital features about 20 movie sessions a day across our four theatres."

Trebilco said after 17 years it was time to pass the mantle over to someone else.

"I'll be 73 next September. With my wife's health problems, and working seven days a week from 8am to midnight most days, it does not leave much time for much else. I'd love to have a holiday," he said.

Trebilco also owns a beef farm at the bottom of Number 4 Rd.

Ironically, the last movie he saw in his own cinema was Perfect Storm when the Capitol reopened in 2000.

Trebilco said handing over the keys would be a sad day and he would definitely miss all the "buzz and great atmosphere", especially when blockbusters were shown.

"Hopefully, a local couple or a local family buys it. I'd really hate to see it close."

Trebilco said there had been some interest from two people from the United Kingdom.

Regular patrons Barb and Ross Hansen said it was sad news.

"We have been coming here for years and used to bring our kids as well. I would hate to see someone close it down after all Ross's hard work. He's done an amazing job."

Bayleys Tauranga salesman Brendon Bayley said the Capitol had been a landmark building in Te Puke for generations.

"It has remained a profitable entity at a time when similar operations in big cities had wavered, with lots of opportunities for new owners to grow the business," he said.