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Sep 29, 2021Liked by Chris Schulz

I really hope James Kwak has had enough kicks to finally give up the juice.

I subscribed just to read this final part of The iMax series, and to be honest, I'm left more confused than when I decided to just google what's going on with the iMax theatres.

While sitting waiting for the bus a couple of not-lockdowns ago in Auckland, I had actually realised the signs weren't working just as they were in one of your previous articles.

I'm even more apprehensive now about going and seeing Dune as I was really hoping to see it in iMax, firstly hoping to get out of the higher restrictive lockdown levels. After reading through all of this and watching through checkpoint's story, I don't even feel comfortable knowing that any of my money would be going to him. I faintly remember the old bookstore/music store that is now a Carls Jr, but for me, I mostly remember the rocket elevator, the amount of fun I had as a kid going down the led lit spiral staircases to the arcade after watching a movie. I have heaps of really good memories in that arcade, a couple of first dates that are actually warm memories for me now.

Until James wants to start taking his business seriously by showing any amount of care for what this place actually means to a lot of people, ima just go try and grab myself some sad "dead mall" pics for the memories because at this point I don't even think Te Papa is going to be able to get their hands on that rocket. I need my goodbyes and maybe some form of closure in the future.

I really appreciate that you covered this in such detail, I look forward to possible updates on this in the future.

If this is the way he is going to treat this now painfully rundown attraction that I remember as a warmly nostalgic yet futuristic building, can we just move the iMax theatre elsewhere and start again with a similar architectural feel with its original intentions as this one had back in the day?

I don't want money hungry accountants owning and degenerating what was once our greatest entertainment hub. #sorrytothearcade #itsnotyouitsjames

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Thanks for the sub, and your reply Lucy. I feel the same way. I've actually wondered if it will even re-open after lockdown but I checked with Auckland Council and they have applied to have the WOF renewed, so it looks like the building will be open once we get to level two. What's going to be left in there is anyone's guess.

On another note, did you read the Metro story I wrote on this? It's the most complete story I've written about it to date, with a whole bunch of new info in it.

Link is here: https://www.metromag.co.nz/city-life/city-life-urban-design/a-quiet-place-the-sad-fate-of-the-imax-centre

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