Submitted by Ross Haworth,
Curator’s Corner

In 2014 the Columbia Valley’s only cinema, the Toby Theatre, closed its doors for the last time.

The building had been a staple of the community for the previous sixty-two years ever since Clint Morgan and Morley Hogan had first realized the potential for a theatre in the area after visiting the busy Yoho Theatre in Golden. In 1952, the gears were set into motion for the theatre to be built. However, before construction could start, Clint tragically drowned. This did not deter Mr. Hogan and Billie Morgan, Clint’s wife, who oversaw the construction using supplies from a Calgary theatre. The Toby Theatre showed its first film later that year, “Calamity Jane and Sam Bass,” using projection equipment they had bought second hand from the Lux Theatre in Banff.

 Seating 300, the cinema offered tickets at the price of 60 cents for adults, 35 cents for students, and 25 cents for children. In 1967, Steve Capowski bought the theatre and ran it until 1971. The theatre was sold to Ron and Elizabeth Peters, who lived upstairs and ran the business. Ron and Elizabeth added their personal touch to the cinema by creating a comfortable living room-style in the Lobby, hanging model planes from the ceiling, as well as decorating it with Roger Rabbit characters. During the early eighties, the Peters recognized the growing video rental business and started to rent films out of the theatre. They kept this side business going for fifteen years before they decided to shut down the rentals as they were detracting from ticket sales.

 Unfortunately, in 2013, the production of movies on 35mm film ceased, and the Toby Theatre could not afford the transition to digital after several years of declining profits. A year later, the theatre showed its last film, “Planes: Fire and Rescue,” though for many, the magical memories of watching classic movies in a classic theatre will last forever. For more information on the Toby Theatre, you can visit their website at https://sites.google.com/site/tobytheatre/home or visit the Windermere Valley Museum.

Learn more about what’s happening at the museum by visiting www.windermerevalleymuseum.ca.