In the golden age of Kiwi cinemas many theatres had a well stocked intermissions full of food, drinks and ice creams. The Kerridge-Odeon cinema chain called their's 'Nibble Nooks'- but this slide looks like it came from an independant cinema. It would have screened during the interval itself as a reminder for hungry film-watchers.

Times changed, and times grew tough for picture theatres across New Zealand. Intermissions were phased out by the end of the 1970s (for the most part) as were 'God Save The Queen' and newsreels. All of a sudden going to 'the pictures' was less of an occasion. 

So it seems like this theatre cut back on it's interval offerings. The slide once added 'Milk Shakes' and 'Ice-creams' to the menu- but tape covers up all but 'Drinks'.  Intervals were big business for the concession stands- and there was evidence that some chains cut their intermissions down to force independant contractors out of business so they could take over the market for themselves!

We do not know the cinema this slide came from- but it probably didn't survive for long after this slide was made....

Cinema advertising was big business to the point that companies were even sponsoring the intermissions! The 'Time for a Capstan' advertising campaign was popular in New Zealand in the 1940s and 1950s. These ads associated having a Capstan cigarette with relaxation. During the Second World War they were often promoted to women who had just entered the workforce as a way of unwinding after a workday.

During this time the cinema interval was long enough to catch up with friends, restock your confectionary and have a cigarette. As a result of the increasing evidence between smoking and cancer, cigarette advertising in cinemas ceased in 1973.