This week Paarl’s only big-screen movie theatre, the MiniMax, turns a full 26 years old.
Paarl businesswoman Molly Minitzer established the MiniMax in 1998.
At that stage the historic Protea Cinema was still operational, but shortly afterwards the building was sold to the AGS Church and converted into a place of worship, leaving MiniMax as the only cinema in the town.
Through the years Paarl had an array of cinemas due to the popularity of big-screen entertainment.
There was the Planet in Klein Drakenstein Road and The Roxy, where Paarl Fire Station is now situated.
The Good Hope Hall had been changed into a cinema and was a well-known cinema already before the First World War.
In 1922 The Elite cinema was established, where CJ Kelders is now.
In 1923 The Palladium, on the corner of Lady Grey and Fabriek streets, was built, which was also referred to as “the Bughouse”, but closed down in 1957. Then there was the smaller Odeon in the Odeon Centre in late ’70s and ’80s.
The jewel, however, was the Protea, a still-beautiful art-nouveau building, which rekindles many memories for literally thousands of Paarlites over more than half a century.
Many people will remember having their hand held for the first time in a cinema and then perhaps too a stolen kiss in the back row.
All this while watching some of the greatest stories told on the big screen – all very larger than life.
But things changed and in the 1990s it was evident Paarl needed a more modern upgraded cinema.
And so MiniMax was born in central Paarl and today Drakenstein’s only surviving cinema.
Even the Covid 19 pandemic, which threatened to shut the MiniMax down due to lockdown, curfews and dwindling movie audiences, couldn’t keep its doors closed, and over the past two years the cinema has regained its strength in Paarl again among audiences.
Minitzer said despite all these challenges, also with easy accessibility to streaming services such as Showmax and Netflix, MiniMax is regaining popularity as people are returning to movie theatres.
“After all it is always better on the big screen!
“We have come back from the brink and it is now time for us to keep our loyal patrons informed in the manner to which they were accustomed.
“We are going to add a QR code to the weekly advert in Paarl Post, which will put patrons easily in touch with our website where our upcoming attractions are posted as well as giveaways from time to time.
“After 26 years we certainly have become an entrenched part of the Paarl community and appreciate the LOCAL IS LEKKER support.”
It is advisable always to take caution when a deal is to good to be true. However, the price of a normal straight-up MiniMax ticket is still a damn fine deal.
The half-price special on a Monday and Tuesday is a further sweet treat. Nothing beats the BIG SCREEN MAGIC the smell of popcorn, the dimming of the lights and the voorprente of coming attractions before the main attraction even begins.
. As part of its birthday celebrations, MiniMax is giving away 13 sets of double tickets (26 tickets to celebrate 26 years) to Paarl Post readers.
To win a set of tickets, WhatsApp the name of one of the movies that will be showing at the MiniMax this weekend to 066 484 3728.
