A unique slice of silver screen magic is on the market - we take you behind the scenes with Time Cinema's John Bell.

Many feared a change of ownership for Wellington's best kept cinematic secret could spell the end of Lyall Bay's hidden movie theatre.

But the new owner of Time Cinema, Hataitai tiler Cass Shavez, is promising only a few minor tweaks to the vision built up over many years by founders John and Margaret Bell.

The Bells are chuffed that Shavez, a former British army soldier and movie buff, his wife and their three sons plan to run the 39-seater cinema and movie memorablilia museum as it has been for the past 38 years.

KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ. Movie buff Cass Shavez still can't believe he is the new owner of Lyall Bay's 39-seater Time Cinema.

"It's perfect because Cass's passion led him here and he's staying with our vision," John Bell said.

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He said the mini-complex was a time capsule with a lot of the bygone attitudes and social mores often displayed in the archival footage being unintentionally entertaining for modern audiences.

1 of 7 ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ A unique slice of silver screen magic is on the market - behind the scenes with Time Cinema's John Bell. 2 of 7 ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ Cinematic memories in the bay 3 of 7 ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ Lights, camera, action and an adventure parade 4 of 7 ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ And they say television is bad for kids 5 of 7 ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ Here comes Woody 6 of 7 Ross Giblin Memories of a golden age. 7 of 7 ROSS GIBLIN/FAIRFAX NZ Enter the doors to a bygone era.

The Bells began building the dream machine, based around a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home, in the early 1980s. But now the couple – in their 70s and married for 48 years – want to retire.

Shavez said he was gobsmacked when he discovered the cinema when picking up one of his sons from a birthday. He was only reminded of it when he read the real estate listing for the home and cinema in September.

"I just fell in love – it felt like home," the Laurel and Hardy fan said.

KEVIN STENT/FAIRFAX NZ. Time Cinema founder John Bell, right, has sold his 'secret' cinema to Cass Shavez, who plans to keep the film club and movie memorabilia museum running just as it has been for the past 38 years.

Shavez said he wanted to keep everything just as it was apart from a few minor tweaks, including painting his vintage London cab with Time Cinema insignia.

Thousands of reels of feature films and shorts fill a tight maze of shelves behind the ruby-draped private cinema, including the 1955 Edmonds promo short The Cookery Nook and the National Film Unit's snapshot of Wellington in 1966 Toehold on a Harbour.

The operation is not just about screening movies but the entire Time Cinema experience, which is similar to a film club – with screenings taking place around four times a month and the venue available for hire.

October's programme features screen gems celebrating the National Film Unit's 75th anniversary.

The complex tender and sale involved six real estate agents with various purchase options but Shavez chose to take over the whole operation, including storage units around the city that he would eventually pare back.

Shavez and Bell will spend the next few months working together before the final handover in early 2017.