a curtain call — or an encore? future is uncertain for vancouver's historic park theatre
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the single-screen park theatre at 3440 cambie st. has been a fixture of the neighbourhood for generations. as of saturday, oct. 25, it would only be open for a few more nights.
sarah grochowski
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the night the park theatre opened its doors in 1941, vancouver’s mayor was there to officiate. the province newspaper hailed it as “one of the most attractively designed and modern theatres ever constructed” — a single-screen marvel in art deco style that brought a touch of hollywood glamour to cambie village.
eighty-four years later, the marquee still glows with the same lettering — but for only two more nights. on saturday, the park hosted some of its final screenings under cineplex, including showings of paul thomas anderson’s latest film, one battle after another.
before the afternoon screening, ticket holders sought shelter from the rain under the theatre’s marquee, which read: “3 days left.” a laminated note taped to the glass doors offered a small consolation: “please join us for a free bag of small popcorn between oct. 20-26 with your movie ticket purchase.”
for many, the moment was bittersweet.
bob pearson, who has been watching films at the park for two decades, said the news of the theatre’s closure was “devastating.”
“it’s a genuine cinematic experience, to view screenings in that space,” said pearson, who lives just a five-minute walk away.
in its lifetime, the park theatre has reinvented itself more than once. when alliance atlantis ended its lease in 2005 and stripped the seats, local theatre fixture leonard schein stepped in, rebuilding the interior and restoring its 505-seat capacity. in 2023, schein sold the park to cineplex, which has leased and operated the space for the past 13 years.
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the cineplex chain is moving out oct. 26. in an email, alannah o’farrell of cineplex said the company will move its 70-millimetre projector to another theatre.
now, the park’s future could lie with the team behind the rio theatre.
corinne lea, who owns and operates the broadway and commercial drive theatre, acknowledged thursday that rio’s ownership might take over the park, though details haven’t been released.
“we’re going to be putting out a press release next week about it, so i can’t say anything until that time,” lea told postmedia.
she noted that single-screen theatres have struggled in the age of multiplexes, saying the rio has survived by booking live events alongside movies.
“we’re a hybrid, where we do live shows and movies,” said lea. “that’s how we survive and keep busy. it seems to be a winning combo.”
pearson is optimistic that if the rio’s owners take over, cambie village won’t lose one of vancouver’s most enduring cinemas.
“another entertainment venue would be fantastic, anything but another highrise,” he said saturday. “i was genuinely surprised that the venue itself has lasted this long. there were multiple screenings where i might have been the only audience member.”
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jordan welsh recalled watching one of his favourite childhood movies at the park, his local cinema at the time.
“i clearly remember seeing toy story there when it first came out,” said welsh. “that was such a good time.”
the 42-year-old thinks that for the space to survive, it should, like the rio, add live events to its list of offerings under new ownership.
“if it won’t have a theatre, it would be ideal for comedy shows,” he said. “i’d go a lot more if there were live shows there for sure.”
— with files from john mackie
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