The Patricia Theatre in Powell River, British Columbia, was built in 1913, just three years after the town itself was born around a pulp and paper mill on the sunshine coast. One hundred years later, after one rebuilding in 1928, the theatre is still standing, having outlasted four other cinemas in town. In 2002, the Patricia was on the verge of closing when it was bought and restored by a mother-son team, with financial help from the local community. The story of the long-running theatre — the town’s first and, so far, last — attracted Reuters photographer Andy Clark, who travelled to Powell River to document a relic of an earlier movie-going age. Check out these photos for a look at the murals and gold-painted seats, as well as the loyal patrons who show up for everything from vaudeville shows to classic movie nights.
See the full gallery here: http://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/a-fascinating-look-at-the-patriciatheatre.
(Photo credits: REUTERS/Andy Clark)
