[2] It is a famous example of the atmospheric theatre style wherein lighting and interior design create the illusion of an open sky complete with twinkling stars, giving the audience the impression of being seated in an outdoor auditorium at night.

The main auditorium is of a similarly exotic style, imitating a Moorish garden with turrets, Minarets, spires and tiled roofs, as well as two life-sized Abyssinian panther statues.

O'Brien persuaded a group of wealthy Auckland businessmen to build a massive atmospheric cinema on Queen Street, and managed to secure a £180,000 loan from the Bank of New Zealand for the project.

[2] However, the BNZ loan and soaring construction costs caught the attention of the New Zealand Parliament as the final price tag ballooned to over £200,000[4] (approximately NZ$18.9 million in 2016).

During this period, the venue was host to events such as concerts by Bob Hope, speeches by Eleanor Roosevelt and General Bernard Montgomery, and erotic dances by Freda Stark.