Capitalists Pursuing Financing to Revamp Historic Theaters in the Prairie Regions
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could hardly pass a day without thinking about the Princess Theatre. "It's a constant reminder when I drive by it," said David Stupnikoff, a courier service owner and event promoter. "People miss it, they have fond memories."
Situated between two old buildings in Edmonton's historic Old Strathcona district, the Princess Theatre is one of only a few early theatres still standing in Alberta. Built in 1915, it promised "high-end movies" and "high-class vaudeville performances."
With no cinema in south Edmonton until 1940, the Princess Theatre was the primary choice for moviegoers. For a brief spell in the 1970s, it screened adult-oriented films. Unfortunately, it closed in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and has been vacant since.
"It's sad to see it sitting there empty," Stupnikoff said.
Inspired, Stupnikoff has taken on the challenge to revitalize the theatre, focusing more on live performances and diverse events rather than films. But at 110 years old, the Princess has seen better days: there's asbestos throughout, the plumbing needs to be updated, and the third floor is a mess. Contractors estimate repairs alone would cost $2.5 million.
"It's a financially terrible idea," Stupnikoff admitted. But he's planning a GoFundMe campaign with an audacious goal of $9.2 million. Public funding isn't likely, Stupnikoff said, but private donors have shown interest. If the project fails, the funds would be donated to the Stollery Children's Hospital.
"I believe this will be a successful venture," Stupnikoff said.
Bringing old theatres back to life isn't an easy task, and Stupnikoff isn't the only one with big dreams. Michael Redhead Champagne is working to breathe new life into the Palace Theatre in north Winnipeg. Constructed in 1912, it's been a vaudeville house, a movie theatre, a flea market, and a furniture warehouse. It's been emptied since the late 90s.
Redhead Champagne explained that over the past five years, locals have expressed a desire for an arts and culture hub tailored to the North End. With many Indigenous-led gathering places in Winnipeg closing in recent years, he wants to provide space for First Nations artists and others to create.
"The North End has a unique and particular spirit, stemming from our shared experiences of social, cultural, economic, and racial challenges," Redhead Champagne said. "Venues like the future Palace Theatre will provide space and opportunity for those artists to share their stories in their own way."
Redhead Champagne's group is beginning to solicit private donations for the project. They'll also host community events once the building's ownership is transferred to a community-based entity.
However, the theatre will require resources for unexpected repairs – a struggle Jocelyn Dougherty is familiar with. She and her husband have owned the Orpheum Theatre in Estevan, Saskatchewan, since 1998. Opened in 1914, the theatre is one of the longest-running independently owned theatres in Canada.
Live shows have featured stars such as Kenny Shields, Randy Bachman, and Johnny Reid. But a downtown revitalization project disrupted operations last summer. "The entire street in front of the theatre was dug up," Dougherty explained. "Torrential rains hit one night, and the theatre flooded with sewer water. It was a disaster."
The restoration has hit the theater's finances hard. After months of closure, Dougherty sees the light at the end of the tunnel. Restoration crews have worked tirelessly to bring the theatre up to speed. It's expected to reopen sometime this month.
The city's residents are eager. Aside from the Orpheum, the nearest theatres are two hours away in Regina and North Dakota. Beyond entertainment, maintaining a theatre holds historical and sentimental value. One patron told Dougherty about their first date at the theatre. Another recalled seeing The Ink Spots there.
"People come back to revisit, to recall cherished memories," Dougherty said. "It's crucial for us to preserve that."
References:[1] Historical theatres: Stupnikoff, Redhead Champagne aim to bring life back to vacant theatres across the Prairies, CBC News, October 22, 2023. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/princess-theatre-edmonton-renovations-covid-19-flooding-1.6462366[2] The Orpheum Theatre's struggle for survival, CBC News, June 11, 2022. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoon/orpheum-theatre-struggle-for-survival-1.6117744[3] Renovation hiccups put brakes on Estevan's Orpheum Theatre, CTV News, July 28, 2023. https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.7140481.1636942750!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg
- David Stupnikoff, a courier service owner and event promoter in Toronto, is ready to invest in the Princess Theatre in Edmonton's historic Old Strathcona district, aiming to revitalize it for live performances and diverse events.
- The Princess Theatre, built in 1915, has a rich history of providing 'high-end movies' and 'high-class vaudeville performances' in its early days, making it one of only a few early theatres still standing in Alberta.
- Michael Redhead Champagne, working in Winnipeg, seeks to breathe new life into the Palace Theatre, with a goal of creating an arts and culture hub tailored to the North End community, offering space for First Nations artists and others to share their stories.
- Jocelyn Dougherty, the owner of Orpheum Theatre in Estevan, Saskatchewan, faces unexpected repairs and financial difficulties after a downtown revitalization project disrupted operations, flooding the theatre with sewer water last summer.
- Alongside entrepreneurs like Stupnikoff, Redhead Champagne, and Dougherty, community-based entities and private donors play a significant role in financing the restoration and revitalization of old theatres, investing in the cultural values, history, and entertainment they represent.
- The Princess Theatre, the Palace Theatre, and the Orpheum Theatre regularly attract patrons with cherished memories, as they provide spaces to recall fond experiences and establish new ones, functioning as significant parts of their respective communities' histories and cultures.
- Business ventures involving the revitalization of old theatres, such as Stupnikoff's Princess Theatre project, require substantial funding, yet the possibility of community empowerment, cultural growth, and historical preservation motivates entrepreneurs ready to take on the challenge.
- Real-estate development companies must be mindful when considering derelict buildings like theatres, recognizing their cultural and sentimental value to the community and considering alternative business models that foster artistic expression and community engagement.
