logo
Work underway in Alberta town to restore one of last remaining Quonset-style theatres

Work underway in Alberta town to restore one of last remaining Quonset-style theatres

CBC01-12-2024

The historic Roxy Theatre in southwestern Alberta's Crowsnest Pass has seen better days.
Its neon sign is in need of repair, the inside is bone-chillingly cold, and the heating, flooring, original 275 seats and insulation have been ripped out.
What does remain is the two-storey entrance and lobby, complete with an art deco ticket booth and a coal chute connected to the bones of the Quonset hut-style theatre made of galvanized corrugated steel panels.
It hasn't been open for 20 years, but there is hope the theatre in downtown Coleman, Alta., that was built in 1948 can be restored to its original glory.
In the theatre's main auditorium, Fred Bradley describes how everything, including the old insulation, had to be taken out last year.
"This is the guts of the building. This is where the performance stage will be," says Bradley, a former Alberta cabinet minister who sits on the Revive the Roxy Theatre building committee.
"This place has incredible acoustics. You can whisper here and hear it in the very back."
Bradley and fellow committee members began planning in 2021 to restore the theatre.
"After the Second World War, the U.S. army had all these surplus Quonsets — 140 of them were converted into what they say is a Quonset-style theatre. This is one of them," Bradley says.
He adds there are 20 such theatres remaining in North America, with three in Canada. In addition to the Roxy, there is one in Wainwright, Alta., and one in Victoria that just closed.
The Roxy, which was facing possible demolition five years ago, was designated an Alberta provincial historic resource in 2022.
Don Budgen, treasurer and engineer for the Crowsnest Historical Society and the Crowsnest Cultural and Recreation Society, says Quonset-style theatres were easy to erect and quite popular in the U.S. for a time.
"The reason why there's hardly any left is because as easy as they were to build, they were really easy to tear down and the land would probably become more valuable than the historical value at the time," he says.
Howard Vandenhoef, the communications director for the historical and cultural societies, added, "As the numbers have diminished, the more valuable they became from a historical context."
The Roxy has had a number of owners over the years and last operated as a live theatre in 2003, when the Lost Creek wildfire burned for 26 days and resulted in the evacuation of about 2,000 people.
The community also began to see an economic decline with the closing of the coal mines in the area.
$4 million price tag
Work has already begun on fixing the foundation and the roof. Federal and provincial grants, along with fundraising efforts, are paying the bills. The final price tag at this point is $4 million and the goal is to turn the Roxy into a performing arts centre set to open in December 2027.
"It's an airplane hangar style is what it is. We've excavated. The foundation has been restored. The interior has been removed and is ready for restoration," Bradley says.
"It will all come back."
The Roxy Theatre was one of 12 heritage sites in the running for the Canada's Next Great Save contest, which comes with a $50,000 prize for the winner. It finished fourth in the national competition.
Crowsnest Pass Mayor Blair Painter remembers going to movies at the Roxy as a child and he's grateful for the effort to restore it.
"Absolutely, it would be a boost," he says.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Review – Trinity, Daughter of Wonder Woman #1: Continuity, Corgis, and Chaos
Review – Trinity, Daughter of Wonder Woman #1: Continuity, Corgis, and Chaos

Geek Dad

timea day ago

  • Geek Dad

Review – Trinity, Daughter of Wonder Woman #1: Continuity, Corgis, and Chaos

Trinity, Daughter of Wonder Woman #1 cover, via DC Comics. Ray: Tom King is known for his deeply emotional, intense comic books, but his Wonder Woman run reminded me of one thing about him – he's also very funny. His Trinity backups, which saw the young daughter of Wonder Woman (and Steve Trevor) being supervised and trained by an older Damian Wayne and Jon Kent, were some of the highlights of the first era of that run, particularly an issue where Jon and Damian were turned into super-corgis. When a solo title was announced, I wondered if this offbeat tone could truly be translated into an ongoing series. I shouldn't have worried – this issue is just as frantic as the backups, but with a strong emotional core. When we pick up, pint-sized Trinity is bopping through the multiverse in search of Jon and Damian – who have once again been turned into Corgis for reasons unknown. She encounters a despairing Pariah, in the midst of the collapse of a world, and proceeds to confuse him further. The great corgi chase. Via DC Comics. From there, we flash back to how all this chaos began. If I have one quibble with this series, it's that Jon and Damian should probably be adults by the time Trinity is around five (Jon already is), but they acts like squabbling, immature teens here. But it's very funny – and it leads them to not noticing that Trinity is very sad about not getting to meet her dad. Through a chaotic series of events, this leads to her meeting her teen self – and the two then go and track down their adult self, pulling her into an adventure to rescue Steve that has unintended consequences on the timeline. Corgi-shaped consequences. But the ending of this issue is a big surprise, playing on the events of another Tom King-penned backup and setting the stakes high for this series. Trinity is obviously a new character without many defining stories, but this issue was a strong start combining real pathos with some great Silver Age-style silliness. To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week. GeekDad received this comic for review purposes. Liked it? Take a second to support GeekDad and GeekMom on Patreon!

Neon dreams and nature scenes make for two very different home decor trends in 2025
Neon dreams and nature scenes make for two very different home decor trends in 2025

Winnipeg Free Press

time6 days ago

  • Winnipeg Free Press

Neon dreams and nature scenes make for two very different home decor trends in 2025

Home decor's got a split personality this year: Call it 'city glow' and 'cottage flow.' At the two international design fairs that I attended — Maison et Objet in France, Ambiente in Germany — acres of exhibition booths were full of Art Deco furnishings, island-vibe rattan seating and lighting, and lots of emphasis on sustainably produced materials. But a couple of aesthetics drawing crowds were especially interesting. Capturing the 'city glow' One was an exuberant urban vibe I'm nicknaming 'city glow.' It's full of highlighter-hued throw pillows, edgy surrealism, street art and hefty, Brutalist-style furniture — lots of sharp-cornered steel or concrete consoles and lamps that loomed over rooms — as well as rugs and wallcoverings covered in graffiti-style motifs or swaths of vibrant color. Gretchen Rivera, an interior designer in Washington, D.C., sees it as a look that resonates especially with 'younger generations who grew up with digital influences. There's surrealist art, energetic colors and playful, almost toy-like design.' Interior designer Anton Liakhov in Nice, France, agrees: 'For a generation clamoring for creativity and self-expression, it's loud and in-your-face.' For surface colors, look at Benjamin Moore's spicy orange Bryce Canyon or the bubblegum-pink Springtime Bloom. Daydream Apothecary has a whole collection of neon wall paints for intrepid decorators. Sisters Ana and Lola Sánchez use art as a bold form of self-expression at their luxe brand Oliver Gal, in South Florida. It's known for its handcrafted, statement-making pieces — including large acrylic gummy bears, graphic surfboards and wall art inspired by fashion, pop culture and modern surrealism. The result is a vibrant, edgy aesthetic. A new collection, Rococo Pop, introduces rococo-inspired frames in high-gloss acrylics paired with playful graphic imagery. 'We wanted to take the opulence of 18th century rococo,' notes Ana Sánchez, 'and give it a cheeky, pop-art punch.' 'These frames are like little rebels in ballgowns — elegant, over-the-top and totally unexpected,' adds Lola Sánchez. The style, her sister says, 'celebrates contrast. Old World charm meets modern mischief.' Following the 'cottage flow' The other impressive decor style at the design fairs was very different from the urban look. I'm calling this one 'cottage flow,' and Liakhov describes it as evoking a 'peaceful sanctuary, where you can play around with textures that are anchored in, and in tune with, nature.' Think nubby woolen throws in mossy hues. Softly burnished wooden tables. Vintage quilts, and dishware. Gingham and garden florals. Landscape prints. Imagery of birds and woodland animals on textiles and wallcoverings. Etsy's 2025 spring/summer trend report showed that searches for 'French cottage decor' were up over 26,000% compared to 2024. 'I see people embracing a slower pace to life where they can,' says New York-based interior and decor designer Kathy Kuo about the country cottage style. 'The past two decades or so were dominated by a glorification of fast-paced 'hustle culture' — trends like cottagecore and coastal grandmother are evidence that the pendulum's swinging toward taking pleasure in simpler, more nature-adjacent things in life, whether or not you actually live in a country cottage,' she says. Paint colors are also reflecting the trend. A calming sage green called Quietude is HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams' color of the year. Little-Greene's collection has names like Rolling Fog, Tea with Florence and Hammock. Mixing the styles Watching design show visitors excitedly discovering new finds among the aisles, I thought THIS is what's fun about home decorating: You can think as creatively as you like when it comes to your own home. You're all about high-octane city nightlife? Come this way. Scottish crofts, Scandi cabins and cozy porches more your thing? Right over here. And if you want to mix these two aesthetics? Go for it. There's space to blend elements of both, says Kuo. 'Design trends are so fluid. I absolutely see the potential to merge these into each other,' she says. 'Many city dwellers love time in nature and have an affinity for a more rustic look, while still feeling called to honor their urban environment in their home. I see plenty of modern interior design motifs that are sleek and urban on the surface, but in the details, they're infused with organic textures and biophilic elements.' 'Really, the best designs are the ones that are personal, rather than perfect,' she adds. You could display an array of contemporary glass bowls on a curvy walnut credenza. Mix botanical patterns in vibrant, unexpected colors. Soften room elements like a sleek table and industrial-style lamp with boucle or velvet cushions and a fluffy rug. Pair polished concrete floors with vintage-inspired wallcovering. If you don't want to mix elements in one space, consider using sliding partitions from one room to another. You'll create a little style 'journey.' If the recent international design fairs are any indication, you're going to find loads of fun home decor in stores over the coming months. Get ready to flow. ___ New York-based writer Kim Cook covers design and decor topics regularly for The Associated Press. Follow her on Instagram at @kimcookhome. ___ For more AP Lifestyles stories, go to

Brownstein: Against long odds, Denis Brott brings chamber music fest back for 30th year
Brownstein: Against long odds, Denis Brott brings chamber music fest back for 30th year

Montreal Gazette

time05-06-2025

  • Montreal Gazette

Brownstein: Against long odds, Denis Brott brings chamber music fest back for 30th year

Denis Brott is nothing if not resilient. Against the longest of odds, Brott kicks off his 30th Montreal Chamber Music Festival this weekend. More than 40 acclaimed classical musicians from around the planet will partake in this anniversary edition, which runs from Saturday until June 22 and features 15 concerts, mostly taking place at Salle Bourgie. 'We're celebrating celebrations this year with some special concerts: National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21), the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War (June 18), the 40th anniversary of the establishment of this country's Musical Instrument Bank (June 16) and, of course, our 30th anniversary, among other celebrations,' notes the ever-upbeat Brott, the festival's founder and artistic director and also the co-founder, along with William Turner, of the Musical Instrument Bank. But Brott doesn't mince words in talking about the issues, hardly celebratory, he has confronted over the last 30 years — particularly in the last five years: 'It's been quite the roller-coaster ride — and not always a good one.' To say the least. Although it's hard to imagine this Renaissance man — also a master cellist and music professor — ever embarking on a roller-coaster ride, the analogy is apt. But many would argue it's downright miraculous that he has managed to keep this festival afloat at all, let alone attracting the world-class talent he has this year. It was just five years ago that physicians gave Brott little chance of survival — less than 10 per cent — after returning home from a series of European concerts. One of the earlier victims of COVID-19, Brott was to spend 32 days in an induced coma on a ventilator. His prognosis was grim, having endured all manner of infections, liver and kidney failure, not to mention terrifying hallucinations. Even after undergoing much physio following his release from hospital, it took him many months to play his cello again, let alone to simply pick it up. While still dealing with some lingering COVID issues, Brott was picking up the pieces of his life when tragedy struck in April 2022. His older brother, Boris Brott, 78, a world-renowned maestro, died in a freakish accident after being struck by a car in a hit-and-run while walking in Hamilton, Ont. Boris, the artistic director and conductor of the Orchestre classique de Montréal, had also been the director of Hamilton's National Academy Orchestra of Canada and the Brott Music Festival. Needless to say, Denis was crushed and still mourns the passing of his brother. The two brothers hailed from noble musical genes: their mother, Lotte Brott, was a virtuoso cellist while their father, Alexander Brott, was a highly successful violinist/conductor/composer. 'Music has always been a saviour for myself and my family,' Brott says. 'Music has transcended everything for us. What I do is not a job — even though I do three jobs as a professor (at the Conservatoire de musique de Montréal), a cellist and running the festival — it's my life.' But Brott acknowledges that he is also dealing with a music world that is topsy-turvy, one where some will pay thousands of dollars to catch Taylor Swift in concert and many hundreds to check out singers a few rungs below her. He concedes that his festival sales are down 30 per cent from last year — and this is with tickets selling for about $60 on average for adults and $25 for students and children. This year's fest also features seven free concerts. 'You know what the definition of insanity is: I know what I know. I know what I don't know. And I don't know what I don't know. But on top of that is doing things and expecting different results. … I think it was Einstein who said that. 'Yet I can't believe we have done this festival for 30 years with magnificent artists, innovative programming, premières and partnerships and on and on. That's what's exciting to me. That's what gets my juices flowing and makes me feel young and effervescent even as I'm about to turn 75 this year.' Paramount to Brott is bringing this year's seven free concerts to the festival. 'I've been trying to be the Pied Piper of democratizing chamber music,' he says. 'Since COVID, in my way to try to thank all the physicians who saved my life, I started a series of free health and wellness concerts at different hospitals during the year, and we have two such free concerts during this year's festival, both featuring the fantastic Janoska Ensemble from Vienna.' These concerts take place June 10 at noon at The Neuro, the Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital on University St., and June 11 at 4:15 p.m. at the CHUM on St-Denis St. Brott is also particularly pumped about Saturday's opening concert, Canadian Concertmasters Unite, at 7 p.m. at Salle Bourgie, a first such collaboration featuring concertmasters from Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton. Not to be outdone is the Jazz and Jeans Family Concert, Sunday at 3:30 p.m. This one, also at Salle Bourgie, showcases Canadian fiddling legends Natalie McMaster and Donnell Leahy and — count 'em — seven of their offspring playing various instruments on the same stage. But Brott has a special place in his heart for American trumpeter Jens Lindemann, who will be playing in three concerts: Liberation World War II (June 18 at 7:30 p.m. at Salle Bourgie), Concerto Night (June 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Salle Bourgie) and the Oscar Peterson Centennial (June 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Cinquième Salle in Place des Arts). 'Talk about rising from the ashes, Jens's house was torched by these horrible Pacific Palisades fires,' Brott says. 'He only had time to run into his burning home to save his seven trumpets, most of which are made of gold. 'Talk about dealing with the challenges life can throw your way.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store