ROGER MORONEY
A step-back-in-time movie night to celebrate the release of a book about 100 years of cinema in Napier and Hastings drew people from as far away as the United States and Australia.
The event was staged at Napier's Century Theatre on Tuesday and attracted about 250 people.
Co-authors of The Reel
Story, Michael Fowler and Dave Turnbull, were delighted with the turnout.
Mr Turnbull said relatives and family of people who featured in the book, particularly in the colourful 1920s and 1930s era, travelled to the Bay for the launch.
A 40-minute program of nostalgia, from Woody Woodpecker to Laurel and Hardy, delighted the audience - who were issued with Jaffas and ice cream.
"We sold about 150 books on the night and I had nine calls the following morning from people wanting a copy," Mr Turnbull said.
Jane Paul from the New Zealand Film Archive praised the book, as apart from being the only one of its type focusing on cinemas in one region, it also encapsulated an important part of New Zealand's entertainment past.
