The Hollywood Theatre is a significant community landmark, built in 1935-36. This intact Art Deco-style theatre is important for its unique interior and exterior architectural features and its use as a community cultural space. It is one of Vancouver’s last surviving, unaltered theatres. Below, we discuss the theatre’s value and its special character. Read on at vancouver-trend.
History of the Theatre
The theatre officially opened on October 24, 1935, marking the birth of a true Hollywood in Canada. For just ten cents—or fifteen to sit in the balcony—patrons could immerse themselves in a double feature and forget the Depression and their troubles for at least a few hours. The Depression ended, and years and decades came and went, but the Hollywood remained. For nearly seventy-six years, the Hollywood continued to offer moviegoers its cheap double-bills while preserving much of its original look and feel. Adding to the nostalgic atmosphere was the fact that the Fairleigh family still owned and operated it after four generations, making it the oldest family-run movie theatre in Canada.
After keeping its doors open to the community for so many years, the Fairleigh family could no longer afford the rising property taxes while maintaining the now-iconic theatre. On May 29, 2011, the Hollywood closed its doors, no longer able to offer people an escape or provide a piece of Vancouver’s culture to those who sought it. At the time of its opening, there were twenty-six theatres operating in Vancouver. The vast majority of them are no longer in business, unable to compete with multiplexes in prime locations; they succumbed to tax increases and shrinking profits. However, as numerous theatres that were once a vital part of Vancouver’s heritage became apartments and office buildings, the Hollywood has so far escaped this grim fate. Meanwhile, Vancouverites could only dream that the cultural hub would come to life again as a performance venue.
The Theatre’s Lease by a Church
The UTown church, affiliated with the Point Grey Community Church, took an innovative approach to its new space challenges. The Hollywood was leased to them and became the Church at the Hollywood, which held its first service on September 16, 2012. But instead of converting the theatre into a place of worship, the newly formed Church at the Hollywood preserved the integrity of the creative venue and its place in the community, leaving it unchanged and even adopting a name and logo based on Hollywood motifs. Recognizing the theatre’s importance, representatives of the church were willing to allow visitors to enter and see the historic site. Furthermore, when the first Christmas arrived after the church moved in, the projection booth was once again occupied, as they screened “It’s a Wonderful Life” for a charity event.
A year and a half after its closure, the Hollywood was able to reclaim its status as a historic theatre, even if just for a few screenings. This is why the landmark’s future will always be uncertain. Theatres like the Hollywood are much more than just old buildings; they are the history of Vancouver’s culture. Moreover, the Hollywood was a place where people from the community could gather for a shared experience in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Many Vancouverites met new people; family and friends could enjoy each other’s company without exchanging a single word. Over time, these connections and experiences extended not just through space, but through time; sitting and enjoying a show in the same spot where a stranger sat decades ago makes them less of a stranger and more of a fellow film lover. Thus, the Hollywood creates an opportunity for people to physically touch and interact with the history and culture of their community.
The Threat to the Hollywood Theatre
All eyes were on the fate of the Art Deco-style Hollywood Theatre (1935-36) at 3123 West Broadway. Bonnis Properties purchased the Hollywood, and its doors were closed as a theatre in May 2011. Bonnis planned to redevelop the property and open a 2-storey American chain fitness centre. However, the City of Vancouver imposed a 90-day moratorium on any construction permits for the demolition or alteration of the site. Despite these efforts, the future of the Hollywood Theatre remained under threat.
At the time, despite concerted community efforts to save the theatre, no buyer came forward with a commitment to preserve the Hollywood as a cultural community space. But the loss of the Hollywood would have had a significant impact on the city. For Vancouver residents, it would have equated to a failure to preserve the community’s cultural assets; the loss of its iconic architectural presence on West Broadway; and last but not least, the beautiful interior space and details of the theatre would have vanished forever.
Between 2010 and 2012, Vancouver’s historic movie theatres closed one after another, resulting in the loss of beloved neighbourhood landmarks and cultural spaces. Indeed, many historic theatres were lost, including the Varsity on 10th Avenue, the Imperial (1910) (last known as the Venus) on Main Street, the Van East Cinema on Commercial, the city’s oldest theatre, the Pantages (1908), the Fraser on Fraser Street, and most recently, the Ridge Theatre (1949). The Hollywood was also at risk of being lost. The entertainment industry magazine Variety called them “nabes”—neighbourhood movie theatres that were the backbone of the vast North American film distribution network. They were an integral part of Vancouver’s community cultural life for many decades.
For many years, Vancouver was caught in a cycle of losing more venues for music, independent film screenings, and art than were being created. This trend was noted by the Mayor’s Task Force, which heard from people in Vancouver that we were losing the places and cultural spaces where people can gather, perform, and celebrate. But these historic, cultural, and socially significant community spaces continued to be undermined by high land costs, competing priorities, and the allure of new commercial ventures.
What is the Significance of the Hollywood Theatre?
The beloved Hollywood Theatre is a valuable community landmark. The Hollywood Theatre is listed on the Vancouver Heritage Register. It is an architectural treasure and one of the last remaining movie houses from the 1930s. The architect, Harold Cullerne (1890-1976), designed a concrete, Streamline Moderne Art Deco theatre with glamorous, exotic elements such as hieroglyphic-like ornamentation on the roofline, a black and gold tile ticket booth, and colourful neon signs. The vintage interior includes a sign reading “Loges,” which points the way to the balcony seating.
Community cultural and entertainment venues are unique assets that define the urban landscape. That is why finding innovative ways to preserve them helps maintain the vitality of a city as a network of diverse histories, aspirations, and future goals. Today, the Hollywood remains an untouched icon of Vancouver’s heritage. And although its schedule may not be packed with performances, the venue remains a cultural hub that continues to foster the arts.
