"Tomorrow, after a century of dreaming and six years of planning and building, the Christchurch Town Hall will become an official part of the city’s life." (Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33034, 29 September 1972, Page 1)
So announced page 1 of The Press, Friday 29 September 1972. The Christchurch Town Hall opened Saturday 30 September 1972.
Thanks to the wonders of Papers Past we can see local news about the Town Hall opening. The Press on Friday 29 September has lots of information on the Christchurch Town Hall in a special section of the paper the day before it opened. On 30 September - opening day - the main story was about an All-night vigil for opening of Town Hall.
Ngā Taonga Sound and Vision has audio excerpts from the broadcast of the opening ceremony for the new Christchurch Town Hall: Opening of Christchurch Town Hall
What's on and Whatson at Christchurch Town Hall
So what was happening in the new Town Hall? Henry V - directed by Dame Ngaio Marsh and starring David Hindin in the titular role - was on in the James Hay Theatre. Seats cost $5. In a neat coincidence, 50 years later Ngaio's work is being celebrated at the In search of Ngaio exhibition on at Tūranga. Philip Matthews' article The bard and the dame: Ngaio Marsh's Shakespeare revival has more about Ngaio's role as a director of Shakespearean adaptations. Listen to the Long Read podcast:
The first pop concert - also dubbed the first rock concert - at the Town Hall included the band Chapta and their splendidly named bass guitarist Dick Whatson. Read more in Precedent for Electronic Rock, Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33038, 4 October 1972, Page 16 (Fun fact: Chapta's ranks included the one and only Sharon O'Neill).
I wonder where that first acoustic guitar is now?:
Other events in the first days of the Town Hall were the Mobil Song Quest and the Schools Music Festival (many Christchurch people experienced the Town Hall via the Schools Music Festival experience).
To mark the 50 year anniversary of the Christchurch Town Hall, Newsline has looked through the archives and compiled Christchurch Town Hall's 50 years of famous acts:. They note the last act before the Town Hall was closed after the 22 February 2011 quake was Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) and American Pie singer Don McLean. The first concert after its restoration was on 1 March 2019 - a sold out crowd tuned into Shapeshifter and the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra.
Photos of the Town Hall
Take a look into the Town Hall - from plans and models, to the real thing: Christchurch Town Hall set on Canterbury Stories
Have you got any photos of the Town Hall - graduations, concerts, etc? Share them in October for our Photo Hunt!
- More Christchurch Town Hall images on Canterbury Stories
- Christchurch Town Hall images on the Discovery Wall
- Christchurch Town Hall set of images on Digital NZ
- More Christchurch Town Hall images on Digital NZ
More
- Christchurch Town Hall on Canterbury Stories
- Our page on the Christchurch Town Hall
- Christchurch Town Hall in our collection
- Christchurch Town Hall CCC
- Warren and Mahoney
- A dream come true - The Christchurch Town Hall turns 48
Add a comment to: Happy 50th birthday to the Christchurch Town Hall!