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Otago Daily Times
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
Opening ceremony held for third cinema
Chris Rottenberry and Grace Rottenberry hold daughter Mia, 2, at the first screening in the newly refurbished cinema. PHOTOS: SUPPLIED The curtains have been pulled on the third screening room at The Riviera Cinema in Oamaru after it had its first public screening last week. Since taking over in June last year, the cinema's owners, husband and wife team Chris and Grace Rottenberry, say business has been booming. Mr Rottenberry said they were happy to give the refurbished third cinema a new lease of life. "We feel relieved after six months of work in the space and a little emotional as Grace and I did a majority of the refurb ourselves. There is something special about transforming a space like that with your own hands," Mr Rottenbury said. Elijah Rottenberry, 4, officially opens the cinema at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The "grand opening" on June 19 was a screening of French film-maker Agnes Vardas' 1962 film Cleo from 5 to 7 for the Oamaru Film Society. Mr Rottenberry said it was a "fantastic turnout". "We nearly filled the cinema, and the screening was accompanied by food, wine and a ribbon-cutting ceremony. "It was a nice little celebration," he said. The first screening was at 7pm and they only just finished all the refurbishments on the cinema at 6.20pm, so it "really got down to the wire", Mr Rottenberry said. The first public screening was an advance screening of Karate Kid: Legends which was "about half full and a nice way to kick things off", he said. The Riviera operates two screens: one theatre seats 78 and the other 58. The new theatre seats 42, with 36 individual chairs and three two-seater couches. Mr Rottenberry said the third theatre had come at the "perfect time", as it had a "robust" film programme for the coming school holidays.
Otago Daily Times
06-05-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Third theatre coming as business booms
Grace and Chris Rottenberry, holding their daughter Mia, 2, are delighted a third theatre at The Riviera Cinema is being recommissioned. PHOTO: JULES CHIN Business is booming and a third theatre is being developed at Oamaru's Riviera Cinema. Since taking over in June last year, the cinema's owners, husband and wife team Chris and Grace Rottenberry, had their biggest opening during the first weekend of this school holidays. The Riviera at present operates two screens: one theatre seats 78 and the other 58. Mr Rottenberry said recommissioning a third, out-of-use theatre, in the complex by June 19 would be a significant advance. ''We've pretty much gutted it, and it will have all new seating, a new screen, new equipment, new sound system - the whole shebang,'' he said. The upgrades had been planned since January and work started the following month. The third theatre would have 36 seats. Couches at the front would enable a 44-person capacity per viewing, Mr Rottenberry said. New seats were due this month and the new cinema would feature a 3.6m-high, 7.5m-wide ''wall to wall'' screen. ''We're glad we ordered everything before the crazy tax tariffs were introduced as everything is coming internationally.'' Mr Rottenberry said they realised the cinema had good potential to expand when they bought it last year. The timing was right for a third screen. ''We've been so busy. We've also had our second biggest opening this week again with the Minecraft movie for the school holidays.'' Since taking over, the couple had dabbled in a variety of movie offerings to see what Oamaru audiences would like: ''It turns out Oamaru likes a bit of everything''. The couple have also set up a small Riviera Cinema in Balclutha. - By Jules Chin
