HaroldKissin
- Actor
Harold Kissin ran coffee bars, theatres and transport companies, and performed on stage and screen. From 1974 to 1981 he was a key force behind Auckland's New Independent Theatre, alongside acting roles on pioneering Kiwi soap Close to Home, and classic series Winners & Losers. His acting career continued after he moved to Australia in 1982. Kissin passed away on 8 September 2004. Image credit: Joel Kissin
Screenography
Biography
Auckland-raised Harold Kissin was a man of many parts. During WWll he served in Italy and Egypt as a gunner. In the 1950s he launched what may have been Auckland's first coffee bar to serve authentic coffee — Ca' d'Oro in Customs Street — after importing an espresso machine with his friend Memé Churton. Later Kissin spent eight years running road and rail company Transport and Storage (aka Alltrans), before selling it on.
“Harold's philosophy was that there should be a place where any hopeful (and hopefully talented) director or performer would have a chance to show their mettle ...[Harold] was the driving force behind all this for the first eight years — it was his creation. He had virtually given up his job for it... ”
More information
Related images
