Who remembers going to the movies for the first time? Seeing the huge screen, the lollies, the blasting sound.
What was once a huge part of our society has waned a bit with streaming services available but most of us still remember seeing a movie on the big screen.
The first New Zealand feature film shown was at the Lyric theatre in Auckland during
the first week of the first World War.
Titled Hinemoa, it was a silent movie with an all Māori cast that told the love story of
Hinemoa who swam across Lake Rotorua toTūtānekai after hearing his music and
falling in love.
Hinemoa was played by Hera Tawhai Rogers and Tūtāneka iby Rua Tawhai both members of a Māori choir.
It was produced by George Hermann Tarr for £50.
George was born in Sydney, Australia on September 22, 1881, the son of Agnes
Herrmann and William Tarr.
He was something of a child star, making his debut on the stage aged five and
toured with theatrical companies most of his childhood. He came to New Zealand in
1902 appearing in vaudeville acts.
George married Alice Mary Blackburn in Melbourne in 1905. At the time he was
working as a signwriter.
In New Zealand theatres were being set up for cinema and George helped Henry
Hayward - a pioneer of the movie industry here - in setting up and managing several.
He was the manager of the Empire Theatre in Napier and the Opera House in
Gisborne.
In 1914, George moved into film production, writing and producing Hinemoa which
was shown throughout the country.
Any movie career was interrupted by the war and in 1917, George enlisted in the
army and served with the machine gun corps in France.
He produced one other major work, Ten thousand miles in the Southern Cross, which he filmed in late 1921 during the mission steamer's annual trip to the New Hebrides (Vanuatu) and the Solomon Islands.
Although the film screened widely in New Zealand and was sold overseas, Tarr did not feel encouraged to continue as a film-maker.
He continued his career in theatre as an actor, producer and scenic artist including designing stage effects at various Auckland theatres.
George was also a life member of the Light Opera club and in many ventures worked alongside his wife Alice - called Darcie - who was a skilled costume designer.
He died at Milford in Auckland on January 7, 1965 and was cremated
at Purewa Cemetery.
And Hinemoa the film was lost to history with only a still from publicity now available.
Picture by Immo Wegmann.​