Thomas Bates was involved in both eras of Everybody's Theatre/Mayfair construction: he superintended the building of the Grierson and Aimer- designed auditorium as his first job in New Plymouth for Taranaki Amusements Ltd in 1916 (see Everybody's Theatre - Auditorium, 1916).
The original Everybody's Theatre building (sometimes known as Everybody's Pictures) was also home to the premises of confectioner Frank Brady, who advertised his store as Everybody's Confectionery.
Later, in 1937, Bates designed this facade and entrance foyer to the theatre, successfully merging the Art Deco decorations of the later design with the more traditional Art Nouveau theatre - interior. (Taranaki Herald 28 July 1938 pages 9-10). A permit for this work was issued on 8 October 1937 with an estimated cost of £10,300.
In January 2010 the "Arthouse Cinema" (previously at Butlers Reef, Ōakura) revived the upper floor of the Mayfair and films were shown once again. The cinema was forced to close in 2012 when the building underwent extensive earthquake strengthening (TDN 10 June 2013). In June 2013 this upper storey of the Mayfair was reopened as a pool parlour, "Eight ball Pool & Dart".
The ground floor space was also refurbished during the earthquake strengthening and re-opened as the "Mayfair Bar".
The Mayfair Bar closed in October 2019 after the tenant went into liquidation. In August 2020 it became a youth space run by the organisation Zeal.
Related documents:
N.P.D.C. CBD Heritage Inventory Entry (1995)
Local Study: The Change in the Cinema Industry...in New Plymouth, Nancy de Bueger, 1994. (TRCT791.43 DEB)
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