I have added the photo that ‘inspired’ the postcard image seen here. The ‘1905’ photo that Joe Vogel references is actually the same photo, and as it appears to feature a Model T Ford, it is probably closer to 1910 after all.
I am curious about Poli’s earlier theatre across the street, known as Poli’s Wonderland Theatre, a vaudeville venue and wax museum which he started in 1893. I’ve gleaned from the web that the structure was previously St. Mary’s Hall, and had apparently been used as a church up until 1878. If anyone finds out anything further, please post it!
I now realize you can’t see the transparency of the stained glass in the marquee at this size, but the original at VanArchives will give you a more detailed view.
Colonial Theatre
VPL Accession Number: 20968
Date: September 28, 1920
The poster under the Marquee promotes the film “Simple Souls”, a 1920 American silent drama film produced by Jesse Hampton and which seems to be a lost film.
The Oakland Theatre was built during the Great Depression by Adolph Zukor, the founder of Paramount Pictures. On December 13, 1930, the Evening News of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania announced ground had broken the day prior on the new $3,000,000 theater. Based on the comment above, it looks like it didn’t last long if it was indeed gutted by February, 1932. I’ve added a photo of the New Oakland Theatre, which also shows the original Oakland Theatre right next door. In the photo, you can see both the old Oakland Theatre and the New Oakland Theatre buildings, and note the spelling of the word Theatre is consistent with both venues. The New Oakland Theatre was operating at least by July 29, 1932, when the Lebanon Daily News reported that Lina Basquette, Hollywood actress fell off the stage of the New Oakland Theatre while appearing on a vaudeville tour with Jack Dempsey, the one-time heavyweight champion boxer. The photo I’ve added shows the New Oakland Theatre was time-bombed on April 30, 1934, allegedly due to labor disputes. There were four theaters bombed that evening; the Arcadia Theater, 823 East Ohio Street, North Side; the New Oakland Theater, 213-215 Atwood Street, Oakland; the Atlas Theater, 2603 Perrysville Avenue, North Side; and the Colony Theater, 720 Broadway, West Park. In this same photo, it is apparent that the old Oakland Theatre is still for sale, and movie posters are hanging over the building’s facade, along with a for sale sign beneath. You might just be able to make out the movie poster at the top left; it is for the 1933 MGM film Dinner at Eight, which featured eight stars including Marie Dressler, Lionel & John Barrymore, Jean Harlow and others. The fact that the original Oakland Theatre is also missing its facade could suggest it too was bombed. The Pittsburgh Press reported on May 10, 1934 that there had been a rash of theater bombings in Pittsburgh in the early 1930s, when at least 17 theater bombings took place.
Ridge Theatre faces final curtain by Ian Bailey VANCOUVER— From Tuesday’s Globe and Mail Published Monday, Mar. 12, 2012 9:36PM EDT
“After more than 60 years of operation, the Ridge Theatre – birthplace of the Vancouver International Film Festival – will see its final credits roll within a year.
The 500-seat Arbutus Street cinema, a rare one-screen operation in a multiplex era, will fall victim to a massive redevelopment that will replace the cinema and other businesses in its strip-mall location with a retail complex topped by five storeys of condos…"
The website should be updated to www.festivalcinemas.ca as www.ridgetheatre.com is now officially closed. The previous management was forced out rather abruptly and new management took over in late December of 2005. The owners of the property installed cushy seats with higher backs and big cup holders, and they are now playing more modern films in rotation with the other theatres in the Festival Cinemas network. Purists may not like the new seats, but honestly, having more legroom and an aisle along the wall is hard to knock.
To it’s credit, the Ridge hasn’t gone completely mainstream. They do play favourites from Sundance and other festivals around the world among a few modern selections, but their calendar doesn’t change as often with each film showing for a longer period of time. Some of the Ridge’s former diet of classic cinema & offbeat films have moved to the excellent new International Film Centre (or Vancity Theatre).
Located downtown Vancouver, http://www.vifc.org, the Vancity Theatre is also not far from the Pacific Cinematheque http://www.cinematheque.bc.ca Both of these specialty theatres are well-run but notably smaller and lacking the heritage architecture.
Here is the letter that the previous owners posted late last November:
“The management and staff of the Ridge are truly heartbroken to announce that in late December of this year the theatre will be undergoing a change in ownership. Lease negotiations between the Ridge and the property owners began this summer in an attempt to deal with a substantial increase in operating expenses, largely tied to a 16% increase in property taxes, but these talks were unfortunately unsuccessful.
When it opened its doors in April 1950, the Ridge Theatre was hailed as “A miracle of modern architecture and construction” boasting the latest in projection equipment and creature comforts. In the late 1970s the Ridge became a repertory or “second run” theatre, a role that continues to this day. Although the baton has been lovingly passed from hand to hand over the years, those of us behind the scenes at the Ridge have always made it our priority to provide Vancouver’s theatre goers with the best all-around moviegoing experience, a mission we regret deeply that we will no longer be able to fulfill. It’s no understatement that for many of us here, life will not be the same.
The Ridge was recently named “Best Second-Run Theatre” by the readers of the Georgia Straight, a fitting, if somewhat sad, honour under the circumstances. That said, what better way to part company than with the support of the
community we have always cherished and striven to serve.
Our last screening will be long time Ridge favourite the World’s Best Commercials on December 23, after which we’ll say good-bye and thank you, Vancouver.
Thanks for your support & interest over the years…
I’ve just added a new photo of the neon marquee from a 1939 home movie.
I have added the photo that ‘inspired’ the postcard image seen here. The ‘1905’ photo that Joe Vogel references is actually the same photo, and as it appears to feature a Model T Ford, it is probably closer to 1910 after all.
I am curious about Poli’s earlier theatre across the street, known as Poli’s Wonderland Theatre, a vaudeville venue and wax museum which he started in 1893. I’ve gleaned from the web that the structure was previously St. Mary’s Hall, and had apparently been used as a church up until 1878. If anyone finds out anything further, please post it!
I now realize you can’t see the transparency of the stained glass in the marquee at this size, but the original at VanArchives will give you a more detailed view.
A real short attention span theater!
Colonial Theatre VPL Accession Number: 20968 Date: September 28, 1920
The poster under the Marquee promotes the film “Simple Souls”, a 1920 American silent drama film produced by Jesse Hampton and which seems to be a lost film.
https://archive.org/details/clcop_000113
https://archive.org/details/clcop_000114
https://archive.org/details/clcop_000118
https://archive.org/details/clcop_000018
Renamed the Imperial in 2014.
Here’s a good article by Aaron Chapman that covers some of the early days:
http://www.vancourier.com/community/vancouver-special/chinatown/backstage-past-remembering-the-golden-era-of-chinatown-nightlife-1.808376
A detailed look at the theatre owner Hector Quagliotti-Romano is also provided here, in James Johnstone’s blog post:
http://househistorian.blogspot.it/2009/12/1518-laurier-shaughnessy-heritage-house.html
It also includes an in depth spotlight from the Province Newspaper from March 17, 1972 looking back at the Colonial before it was demolished.
The history of the York theatre can now be seen here: https://thecultch.com/the-york-the-little-theatre-that-could/
The York recently celebrated its 2 year anniversary as a new theatrical venue, and they were canvasing for memories of the space:
https://thecultch.com/its-the-york-theatres-two-year-anniversary-share-your-york-story/
Watch this space for more:
https://thecultch.com/category/york-theatre/
The Oakland Theatre was built during the Great Depression by Adolph Zukor, the founder of Paramount Pictures. On December 13, 1930, the Evening News of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania announced ground had broken the day prior on the new $3,000,000 theater. Based on the comment above, it looks like it didn’t last long if it was indeed gutted by February, 1932. I’ve added a photo of the New Oakland Theatre, which also shows the original Oakland Theatre right next door. In the photo, you can see both the old Oakland Theatre and the New Oakland Theatre buildings, and note the spelling of the word Theatre is consistent with both venues. The New Oakland Theatre was operating at least by July 29, 1932, when the Lebanon Daily News reported that Lina Basquette, Hollywood actress fell off the stage of the New Oakland Theatre while appearing on a vaudeville tour with Jack Dempsey, the one-time heavyweight champion boxer. The photo I’ve added shows the New Oakland Theatre was time-bombed on April 30, 1934, allegedly due to labor disputes. There were four theaters bombed that evening; the Arcadia Theater, 823 East Ohio Street, North Side; the New Oakland Theater, 213-215 Atwood Street, Oakland; the Atlas Theater, 2603 Perrysville Avenue, North Side; and the Colony Theater, 720 Broadway, West Park. In this same photo, it is apparent that the old Oakland Theatre is still for sale, and movie posters are hanging over the building’s facade, along with a for sale sign beneath. You might just be able to make out the movie poster at the top left; it is for the 1933 MGM film Dinner at Eight, which featured eight stars including Marie Dressler, Lionel & John Barrymore, Jean Harlow and others. The fact that the original Oakland Theatre is also missing its facade could suggest it too was bombed. The Pittsburgh Press reported on May 10, 1934 that there had been a rash of theater bombings in Pittsburgh in the early 1930s, when at least 17 theater bombings took place.
The original Oakland Theatre is just barely visible at left in this photo; it is still for sale when this 1934 photograph was taken.
The Ridge Theatre, again making the news.
Ridge Theatre faces final curtain
by Ian Bailey
VANCOUVER— From Tuesday’s Globe and Mail
Published Monday, Mar. 12, 2012 9:36PM EDT
“After more than 60 years of operation, the Ridge Theatre – birthplace of the Vancouver International Film Festival – will see its final credits roll within a year.
The 500-seat Arbutus Street cinema, a rare one-screen operation in a multiplex era, will fall victim to a massive redevelopment that will replace the cinema and other businesses in its strip-mall location with a retail complex topped by five storeys of condos…"
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/ridge-theatre-faces-final-curtain/article2367247/
The website should be updated to www.festivalcinemas.ca as www.ridgetheatre.com is now officially closed. The previous management was forced out rather abruptly and new management took over in late December of 2005. The owners of the property installed cushy seats with higher backs and big cup holders, and they are now playing more modern films in rotation with the other theatres in the Festival Cinemas network. Purists may not like the new seats, but honestly, having more legroom and an aisle along the wall is hard to knock.
To it’s credit, the Ridge hasn’t gone completely mainstream. They do play favourites from Sundance and other festivals around the world among a few modern selections, but their calendar doesn’t change as often with each film showing for a longer period of time. Some of the Ridge’s former diet of classic cinema & offbeat films have moved to the excellent new International Film Centre (or Vancity Theatre).
Located downtown Vancouver, http://www.vifc.org, the Vancity Theatre is also not far from the Pacific Cinematheque http://www.cinematheque.bc.ca Both of these specialty theatres are well-run but notably smaller and lacking the heritage architecture.
Here is the letter that the previous owners posted late last November:
“The management and staff of the Ridge are truly heartbroken to announce that in late December of this year the theatre will be undergoing a change in ownership. Lease negotiations between the Ridge and the property owners began this summer in an attempt to deal with a substantial increase in operating expenses, largely tied to a 16% increase in property taxes, but these talks were unfortunately unsuccessful.
When it opened its doors in April 1950, the Ridge Theatre was hailed as “A miracle of modern architecture and construction” boasting the latest in projection equipment and creature comforts. In the late 1970s the Ridge became a repertory or “second run” theatre, a role that continues to this day. Although the baton has been lovingly passed from hand to hand over the years, those of us behind the scenes at the Ridge have always made it our priority to provide Vancouver’s theatre goers with the best all-around moviegoing experience, a mission we regret deeply that we will no longer be able to fulfill. It’s no understatement that for many of us here, life will not be the same.
The Ridge was recently named “Best Second-Run Theatre” by the readers of the Georgia Straight, a fitting, if somewhat sad, honour under the circumstances. That said, what better way to part company than with the support of the
community we have always cherished and striven to serve.
Our last screening will be long time Ridge favourite the World’s Best Commercials on December 23, after which we’ll say good-bye and thank you, Vancouver.
Thanks for your support & interest over the years…
…the staff & management of the Ridge Theatre."