Garneau Theatre
garneau theatre historic movie theatre located street edmonton alberta canada theatre originally operated independently joined famous player closed late reopened december magic lantern theatre restored magic lantern operated garneau june closed garneau became metro cinema new home july officially reopened september designated municipal historic resource october designed noted edmonton architect william blakey built garneau remaining theatre early modernist style period alberta walter wilson famous player theatre manager winnipeg moving family edmonton manage capitol theatre son bill wilson worked father usher winnipeg working engineer federal government married wife bill promised would never work movie industry laid began raising fund new chain movie theatre company suburban theatre opened first theatre roxy second theatre garneau opened thursday october time theatre described spacious attractively designed modern every detail ticket booth encased bubble vitrolite lobby tiled red foyer featured furniture specially commissioned george vi stay hotel macdonald usher custom tailored red eaton jacket deep blue trouser pillbox hat operated free coat check showed guest seat projection booth equipped dual holmes mm arc lamp projector produced extremely bright picture day theatre featured seat including several red leather two company seat without armrest space also designed live theatre featured large stage dressing room wing rather expensive balcony architect william blakey economized incorporating terrace time described climbing mezzanine garneau leased famous player guaranteeing theatre supply firstrun picture wilson managed theatre almost continuously save two year managed capitol two paramount famous player renovated theatre installed larger seat lowered seating capacity wilson retired manager retained ownership theatre suburban theatre group continued operate office garneaus basement time claimed seen two movie previous eight year wilson died january famous player continued operate theatre late announced would renewing lease theatre famous player gained reputation showing stodgy uninteresting film superseded larger multiplex magic lantern theatre leased reopened garneau discount theatre catering university student december theatre came pressure toronto property developer greg sandwell applied site rezoned food liquor service plan theatre would become garneau bar playhouse featuring dancing indoor basketball volleyball billiards response magic lantern president tom hutchinson sought found investor purchase theatre preserve repertory theatre garneau remained open continued operate discount theatre renovated switched firstrun film larger seat installed lowering theatre seating capacity time theatre existence threatened university alberta threatened expropriate land plan eventually failed faced community opposition prohibitive cost local developer john day purchased garneau investor group promising theatre going anywhere plan tabled would dramatically altered structure adding second floor business plan abandoned community opposition city edmonton agreed pay return agreement restore building exterior appearance city designated theatre municipal historic resource magic lantern theatre ceased operating garneau june citing rent increase edmonton nonprofit metro cinema society took control garneau theatre july representative magic lantern theatre complained grant supported organization pushed private business theatre theatre remained closed two month underwent significant maintenance one article noted carpet cleaned first time speculation metro officially reopened garneau september promising new film daily guest curated festival event staged garneau annually include northwestfest documentary film festival rainbow vision film festival lgbtq film suburban theatre commissioned william george blakey garneau theatre architect late extant building include edmonton christ church masonic temple roxy theatre last modernist theatre still used original purpose alberta blakeys design economized featuring raised terrace rather balcony lobby modern featuring curved wall understated gumwood door simple semicircular light fixture theatre bold colour scheme recessed neon lighting ultramarine wall blue chair red love seat gold highlight around proscenium year light fixture several theatre acquired integrated garneau currently theatre contains lighting salvaged edmonton original varscona theatre distinct current varscona theatre live venue innisfails royal theatre melfort saskatchewan grand theatre coeur dalene idaho wilma theatre metro cinema official website