Alice in Videoland turns 40 this month! Paul Stewart opened Alice in Videoland at 84a Hereford Street in May 1985.
The 1980s and 1990s were the heyday of video stores (see the 1987 advert at right to see some of the Christchurch businesses). Alices wanted to take it further and "whet the appetites of discriminating film-lovers who were being left hungry by the limited selection at their local video chain".
In 1992, Alices moved to the 209 Tuam Street location in the old Post Office building, a distinctive Art Deco building on the corner of Tuam and High Streets. It has moved location in that building, with C1 Espresso where Alices originally was.
Alice in Videoland has always moved with the times. As DVDs took over from VHS tapes, they became a DVD library. After the earthquake in 2011, Alices persisted and pivoted, introducing initiatives like home delivery and a depot pickup service. They are now Alice Cinemas and Film Specialists - a DVD library with two cinemas.
DVD stores have (mostly) gone, but we still have Alices. (There's also the fabulous Dead Video in Lyttelton which markets itself as "Your friendly, local video store. VHS, DVDs, CDs ...")
Lots of us have Alices memories. When I moved to Christchurch, it was a regular haunt - definitely the place to go if you liked arthouse movies and cult telly. When I first met my husband, we would borrow lots of dystopian movies and tv series (The Survivors, Day of the Triffids, The Tripods, Threads). There have been many movie-related convos through the years over the counter at Alices.
Alices and its current owners Peter Tonks and Keryn Maguire are celebrating their 40th birthday by showing some special movies and selling some anniversary t-shirts and a tea towel. In an interview with Emile Donovan at RNZ, Peter reminds people that they can supply film buffs all over Aotearoa with their mailout service. He also mentions they are thinking of doing a film podcast.
Happy birthday Alices, you are still a wonderland!
There's a lovely message on their Facebook page:
Alice is the little video shop that could! For 40 years Paul, Nick, John, Jeremy, Julian, Keryn, Pete and all the wonderful staff who have worked over the years, have poured their love, heart and soul to make Alice what she is today.
And of course, we would not be here without the loyal customers from the very early 84a Hereford Street days through to the adventurous new, who continue to support us... we thank you for this incredible journey💖
Viva la film and here's to another 40!
Alices
- Alice Cinemas
- Alice DVD Library
- Alice Cinema and Film Specialists on Facebook @alicecinemas
- Alice Cinema and Film on Instagram @alicecinemafilm
- Alice in Videoland merch
Alice in the news
- Alice in Videoland owner Peter Tonks talks to Emile Donovan on Radio NZ, 6 May 2025
- Film store's milestone in a digital world Victoria Meakin, The Press, 6 May 2025
- Keepers of the flame: The film fanatics behind one of the country's last video stores Charlotte Muru-Lanning, The Spinoff, 24 December 2022
- United they stand: The people behind our last video stores Charlie Gates, The Press, 25 April 2021
- Film buffs buy DVD store, cinema Charlie Gates, The Press, 28 January 2020
Video store history (Christchurch and New Zealand)
- Video shops and video stores in Canterbury Stories
- The last video stores Aaron Yap, The Spinoff, 6 August 2017
- United they stand: The people behind our last video stores Charlie Gates, The Press, 25 April 2021
For movie and TV fans
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