Auckland's Hollywood Cinema sold

The Hollywood cinema in Avondale. Photo / Regan Schoultz.

Auckland's first cinema has been sold but will continue showing movies.

The Jan Grefstad Hollywood Cinema in Avondale has changed hands, outgoing owner Mark Matheson confirmed in a statement today.

Mr Matheson, who signed the statement off as the "cinema manager", did not say who the new owner was and could not be reached for comment.

"The new owner intends to continue with the cinema as a viable venture and put his own stamp on it," the statement says.

"This is great news for the local community. Customers and locals have expressed a great desire for the cinema to continue."

A historic Wurlitzer organ has also been removed.

It was now in storage but negotiations were taking place to find it a permanent venue in west Auckland, Wurlitzer Organ Trust of Auckland chairman James Duncan said.

A historic Wurlitzer organ. Photo / Supplied

"It's looking promising," he said of the talks.

The organ was a fixture in Hutt Valley High School until the Wahine storm in 1968 damaged it. After a period in storage it came to Auckland in 1978.

The cinema had a capital value of $1.1m and was last sold for $247,000 in 1992.

The first planned event under the cinema's new ownership is the annual 24-hour movie marathon in November.