The Henderson Collection
Collection Details
DescriptionThis collection centres around Bill and Eva Henderson who were well known in Katikati, since they operated the picture theatre in the town until 1947. William was born in 1877 on the west coast of the South Island, in Waimangaroa and Eva was born in Thames in 1899. Bill spent most of his young days in Australia but returned to to New Zealand in 1897 to live in Waihi, where he worked for many years before developing an interest in the silent movies which began to appear. Bill bought a portable movie machine which allowed him to travel from Waihi to Hikutaia, Netherton and Katikati to show movies to a paying audience. He was so popular in Katikati that he moved a hall from Waihi to Katikati in 1926 and set up the town's first and only picture theatre. There were only four other businesses on the main road at the time, the others being The Billiard Room and McLeod's Shoe Shop, opposite the Talisman Hotel. On the same side as the hotel was a blacksmith's business run by Harry Wills. The picture theatre was quite luxurious, boasting plush red seats with iron frames and red velvet curtains in front of the screen which would be drawn apart to show the movie. The sound effects were provided by Eva who was an accomplished pianist and would bring the screen to life with her playing. During World War II, Bill was in charge of the cinema at the Papakura Training Camp while Eva ran the Katikati Theatre. After the war Bill and Eva retired, selling the theatre to the Purcells. The theatre was eventually pulled down when Cherry Court was built in the mid 1980s. 
Donor or SourceErin Kennedy
Donor or SourceErin KennedyPhotographs
Documents
Related Information
PersonMinna McLAUCHLAN (nee Henderson previously White)CollectionsTurn Back Tuesday
CollectionsTurn Back Tuesdayloading google map....
The Henderson Collection. Western Bay of Plenty Community Archives, accessed 05/04/2026, https://westernbay.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/2700
