Canada's longest-running movie theatre has been restored to its former glory

[Spazito]

Maybe it's the towering red velvet curtains that adorn the stage. Or the blue peacock-themed murals on the venue's walls that date back to the 1920s. But every time 89-year-old Stewart Alsgard steps inside the iconic Patricia Theatre in Powell River, B.C., eight decade's worth of nostalgia overwhelms him.

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In 1941, he experienced his first movie, The Wizard of Oz, at the Patricia. The price of admission then was 15 cents, and the films were just transitioning from black and white to colour. The war may have been going on, but the charming theatre on the corner of Ash and Marine avenues offered an escape from the chaos and hopelessness of the outside world. Even for a six-year-old Alsgard.

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Nor has its foothold in the community changed much. The original Patricia Theatre opened just down the street in 1913, making it the longest-running movie theatre in Canada. The current location is now just four years shy of a century old. It is the only cinema in the sleepy but growing city of about 14,000 people on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast. Unless you are willing to embark on a long journey via ferry or float plane to Vancouver or Victoria to enjoy a blockbuster from a reclining leather seat, you will have to settle for the Patricia's simple, time-honoured charms.

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Part of modernizing the Patricia also goes beyond the physical renovations. The community and the qathet Film Society have been working to repair strained relationships with the local Indigenous community. (CBC's On the Island spoke to the Patricia Theatre's Laura Wilson about this topic back in March.)

From the Second World War up until the early 1970s, Indigenous peoples from the Tla'amin Nation were treated like second-class citizens in Powell River, Alsgard says. At the Patricia, Indigenous children and adults were segregated, forced to wait in the alley behind the theatre while non-Indigenous residents filled the seats. Then, once everyone else had been admitted, Indigenous movie-goers were only permitted to watch from the cramped balcony.

more

https://www.cbc.ca/arts/canada-s-longest-running-movie-theatre-has-been-restored-to-its-former-glory-1.7306849

Interesting read, imo, with some great photos.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. From the exterior looks like a lot of movie theaters in many towns

My local town has the entrance, but its been a retail location, home appliance store, now a brewery I think.

[Spazito]

2. The entrance does seem mundane compared to...

the interior which was and still is beautiful. I love the murals along the sides.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. Yes it was an upscale venue

[infullview]

4. It's a shame they didn't keep

the old carbon arc projection system intact along side the new digital projection system. I guess it’s very hard to get real film stock these days. I watched Gone With the Wind when I was a kid in a theater that was all original from the 1930’s. It had monophonic sound Voice of the theater speakers, and used carbon arc lighting. Beautiful bright display, best film lighting ever.

[Bev54]

5. Powell River, wow good for them.

Never quite expected it there.

[central scrutinizer]

6. I've ridden my bike through there a couple times

Not an easy place to get to. Requires at least two ferry rides to get there from Vancouver.

[Bev54]

7. I lived on Northern Vancouver Island and we just took one ferry across to Powell River

Haven't been there for years now though.

[central scrutinizer]

9. From the city of Vancouver

It takes two ferries. One to Vancouver Island, then one back to the mainland. Or two ferries to get north along the Sunshine Coast. I’ve also gone there via a lot of ferry rides by island hopping up the Gulf Islands. To avoid riding over the Malahat, we went around it via Salt Spring Island.

[Bev54]

11. Yes I have been both ways many times

What is wrong with the Malahat? Only in winter is it a problem, it is a beautiful drive. You don't go to Vancouver Island from Vancouver usually you go down the mainland, it is called the sunshine coast

[central scrutinizer]

12. On a bicycle, the heavy traffic on Canada 1 is not pleasant

And it takes a long time to climb that hill. I’d rather deal with the hills on Salt Spring

[Spazito]

8. I was surprised as well...

When I read the header of the article I assumed the restoration was in big centres like Toronto, Montreal or Vancouver as opposed to such a small city which is somewhat isolated. I think it was a smart decision by the people there to do this as the article says:

"Visitors from Canada's East Coast and as far as Germany and Japan have made the trek over the years to Powell River specifically to see the theatre."

[werdna]

10. Here's some pics.