JIMI HENDRIX with sound engineer EDDIE KRAMER (behind him) and the studio manager JIM MARRON in the control room of the unfinished Electric Lady Studios on June 17, 1970. Photo: Fred W. McDarrah
American couple Jim and Maxine Marron moved to New Zealand in 2000 and provided funding to build Akaroa’s first purpose-built community cinema. Jim was a music industry professional with a passion for cinema. When he and Maxine discovered Akaroa, they fell in love with the village and chose it to become their new home.
One of Jim’s first jobs in 1967 was running a nightclub called "The Scene" in New York. He learnt everything about the music business, there he met people like Jim Morrison and The Doors, Janice Joplin, and Jimi Hendrix. Jimi Hendrix had just bought a defunct nightclub and asked Jim to turn it into a recording studio. After the official opening of the Electric Lady Studio in 1970 Jimi went to England on tour but died in London at age 27. Jim stayed on as the President and CEO of Electric Lady Studio and continued to work for the Jimi Hendrix estate.
From 1998 to 1995 Jim was the Director of Operations for the Manhatten School of Music in New York. In 1995 Jim moved jobs and became Director of Operations at Riverside Church. After time in Akaroa Jim and Maxine returned to their home in the US, and a charitable trust was established to oversee the stewardship of the Akaroa cinema complex. Jim died at age 71 years of cancer after fighting a brave battle for a number of years. Today the cinema building remains in the ownership of Jim and Maxine's charitable trust and operates as Ethels Cinema, Cafe and Bar.
Who is Ethel?
PHOTO CREDIT: Jan Shuttleworth
Ethels Cinema, Cafe and Bar is named as a tribute to Akaroa's pioneering women Ethel Jacobson. Ethel was born at Lyttelton, on 6 September 1877, her father Howard Charles Jacobson was the owner and editor of the Akaroa Mail.
After graduating university Ethel taught in Nelson until her father became ill and called her home to Akaroa to help run the paper.
Her father died in 1910, leaving Ethel as editor and business manager. Ethel remained the editor of the Akaroa Mail for almost 50 years. She recalled, 'When I started off most people really meant it when they told women they had no brains.'
Ethel rode side-saddle all over Banks Peninsula wearing a wide-brimmed hat and hobnailed boots. She also travelled by horse and gig, and by launch to Pigeon Bay and Port Levy.
On her retirement in December 1952 she was paid tribute by a large gathering at Akaroa who applauded her long service to the community. She never married, and died at Mt Leinster on 14 June 1965.
Mt Leinster circa 1890 in Rue Balguerie, Akaroa. PHOTO CREDIT: Jan Shuttleworth
After her father's death Ethel Jacobson continued to live with her mother and sisters Alice, Mabel and Barbara at their nine-acre family residence, Mt Leinster, in Rue Balguerie.
The women shared the household tasks, kept pigs and turkeys, and sawed logs for firewood. They attended Akaroa's St Peters Anglican Church and Ethel, a keen gardener, was a strong supporter of the Akaroa Horticultural Society.
She was also a foundation member of the Akaroa Women's Institute and through this group played a vital role in reducing the isolation and loneliness of women on Banks Peninsula.
