Broadway Theatre (Saskatoon) facts for kids
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| Address | 715 Broadway Avenue |
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| Location | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Coordinates | 52°07′06″N 106°39′23″W / 52.11833°N 106.65639°W |
| Owner | Friends of the Broadway Theatre, Inc. |
| Type | Movie palace, Performing arts center |
| Genre(s) | Art cinema |
| Seating type | Fixed seats |
| Capacity | 430 |
| Construction | |
| Built | 1946 |
| Opened | December 5, 1946 |
| Closed | August 2, 1993 (re-opened October 1993) |
The Broadway Theatre is a special movie and performance place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. It's on Broadway Avenue in the Nutana neighborhood. This theatre is unique because it's the only community-owned, non-profit cinema in Canada. It shows unique films and hosts live shows.
Contents
A Look Back: The Broadway Theatre's Story
This cool movie theatre was designed by George Forrester. It opened its doors on December 5, 1946. The building has a special look called Streamline Moderne style.
Early Days and Changes
The Broadway Theatre was a popular spot after World War II. It showed many popular movies of the time. It also hosted live music performances on its stage.
Later, the neighborhood changed. By the 1970s, the theatre went through a difficult period. It began showing different kinds of movies.
Restoration and Reopening
In the 1980s, the theatre was brought back to life. It became a place for art films and live performances again. On April 14, 1997, it was named a special heritage property. This means it's an important part of the city's history.
On August 2, 1993, the Broadway Theatre suddenly closed. But people in the community wanted to save it! They started a public fundraising effort. A group called Friends of the Broadway Theatre, Inc. bought it. This group is a non-profit organization. They work to keep the theatre going and make it even better.
The theatre reopened in October 1993. It went back to showing art films and Canadian movies. It also continues to host live music shows.
Inside the Theatre: What It's Like
The theatre has a total of 430 seats for moviegoers and show watchers. There are 240 seats in the middle section. Another 95 seats are on each side. It also has 6 spots for wheelchairs.
Stage and Screen Details
The stage is a proscenium style. This means it's like a picture frame around the performance area. It's made of black masonite. The stage is about 10.79 metres (35.4 ft) wide and 7.32 metres (24.0 ft) deep.
The movie screen is 7.8 metres (26 ft) wide and 3.77 metres (12.4 ft) high. The projector is 31.39 metres (103.0 ft) away from the screen. The lobby floor is made of terrazzo. This is a special kind of flooring. There are also cool lights around the doorways.
Who Ran the Theatre?
The Broadway Theatre has had different owners and managers over the years. Here are some of them:
- 1947–1959: Odeon
- 1967–1975: Famous Players
- 1984–1993: Still Reel Cinema, Chris Jones and Guy Edlund
- 1987: Movie theatre
- 1993: Friends of the Broadway
