Motueka residents learned in late 1926 of plans for a new theatre in the town, driven largely by the efforts of Mr J. A. Wallace of Motueka and Mr Ephram Norden of Nelson.
Norden was well known in the theatre industry throughout New Zealand. He became managing director of Nelson Theatre Enterprises and, at one time, leased the Theatre Royal in Nelson.
The plans announced in 1926 were ambitious. The proposed main building was to measure 190ft by 62ft, with a stage large enough to accommodate major visiting companies and seating for up to 1,000 people. The plans also included a smaller hall, tearooms, a marble bar and shops.
Two years later, architects Houlker and Duke of Nelson invited tenders for the construction of a theatre for the Saunders Estate. Messrs Kelly and Calder secured the contract.
The Saunders family and the trustees of the late Mr Saunders, a prominent figure in the motion picture business in Nelson, were responsible for establishing the theatre. Harry Saunders operated the theatre, followed by his son Henry from about 1947. Henry was later succeeded by his sister Valda and, subsequently, their mother Molly.
There remains some uncertainty as to whether the theatre constructed for the Saunders Estate was the same one proposed in 1926. The dimensions given in the earlier plans differ considerably from those of the building that was eventually constructed, suggesting the original proposal may have been altered or that the first scheme did not proceed.
The newly-named Majestic Theatre opened with considerable ceremony on 20 February 1929, officially opened by Motueka Mayor J. Wallace.
Centrally situated in High Street, near the Post Office, the theatre occupied a site 130ft deep with a frontage of 50ft.
The ground floor contained a large foyer, a circular stairway and two shops. On the first floor were cloakrooms, a lounge and the operating box, as well as a rewinding room and storeroom.
The auditorium measured 60ft by 42ft and seated about 550 people, including the circle. Four dressing rooms were located behind the stage.
The opening programme featured The Valley of the Giants, a film adapted from the novel by Peter B. Kyne.
At the conclusion of the opening evening, the architects were praised for the arrangement of the theatre's exits, which allowed for the rapid evacuation of the building.
Although designed primarily for showing motion pictures, the Majestic Theatre was also available for stage performances and other community uses. Its stage and dressing rooms enabled it to host a variety of events alongside regular film screenings.
The theatre also offered Motueka audiences the chance to see their own district on screen. In the week following the opening, a film crew was expected in the area to photograph tobacco crops and hop gardens, with the prospect that local residents would later watch scenes from their district at the theatre.
For more than 50 years, the Majestic Theatre was a cornerstone of Motueka's entertainment scene, providing a venue for films, stage performances and community events.
Generations of residents passed through its doors until 25 November 1980 when the building was destroyed by fire, bringing the history of the Majestic Theatre to an end.
