Eric's Civic and other thoughts...!

Those who attended the Civics’ 80th birthday celebration had a happy time. It was wonderful to see a vibrant Rona von Zalinsky (Thomas O’Brien’s secretary) charming everyone as she cut the cake!

The Mayor of Auckland John Banks presided. Rona von Zalinsky cut the cake, and a special guest was the film critic Leonard Maltin.

An upcoming visitor to the Civic is Garry Leighton from Perth, son of Civic architect William Leighton. William Leighton and Charles Bohringer were the architects for the Civic theatre. Other notable buildings by William Leighton are the State Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria, Embassy Theatre, Sydney, New South Wales, Piccadilly Theatre and Arcade, Perth, Windsor Theatre, Nedlands, and the restored Astor Cinema), Mount Lawley

The 2008 Friends of the Civic short film winner, Katie Wolf now has her latest film Redemption in cinemas. 

Thanks to those members who purchased copies of  Teddy the 2009 recipient of the short film award,

 Good news:

The restored Auckland Town Hall Organ is scheduled for its inauguration in March, and it

 Looks like the St James Theatre is on its way to full restoration. Its previous owner has sold the Mercury Theatre, and construction has begun on the Q Theatre in Queen Street.

Sad news.

Albert (Alf) Simmons, Amalgamted projectionist and theatre manager -including the Civic. January 31st 

Beverly Quinn, widow of the Civic manager, Laurie Quinn passed away after a brief illness upon January 7^th.