Discussions

My column in today's Free Press is about the history of the Strand Theatre. Its purchase by BU came just three days after its 100th birthday: : Brandon's Strand Theatre's 100th birthday present:  
 
taking a Strand: Historic former theatre will live on - in some form - after being acquired by Brandon University  
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/taking-a-strand-410006275.html  
 
For more of my columns and blog posts about Brandon history, check out: http://westenddumplings.blogspot.ca/2017/01/brandons-strand-theatres-100th-birthday.html

Does your article mention the fact that it is about 5 years away from structural collapse and will cost million in rehab just so it will stand for another 20 years? That white elephant was one of many bad decisions made by BU

Prime downtown land for some sort of residential / training facility.

any interior pictures?? and really hope they don't demolish it why not just buy the vacant land beside it instead if they were to demolish it

Nice story Mr. Christian. I did notice your article said the theatre's grand opening was Nov 27, 1917. That's 99 years ago not 100.

Picky much?

CBS said "Prime downtown land for some sort of residential / training facility. "

No such thing as Prime down town land, the city can't even give it away

Shoot. In one place is says 1916 and later in the article says 1917. That's what I get for writing a "100th anniversary" article a year late.  
 
Thanks, I will have that first date corrected. it was, indeed, November 27, 1916.

Not many exist.  
 
For my archive I've been through the McKee collection, the Manitoba Archives and hundreds of editions of the Brandon Sun and Winnipeg papers chasing down mentions of the theatre.  
 
The only one I found was from a trade magazine in 1917. It was poor quality and didn't make the cut for the archive. I will post that at my blog soon with other bits and pieces that didn't make it into the newspaper article, like the $10,000 organ installed in 1920 !  
 
I'm sure there are photos out there, but they didn't make it into the public record.

I mean any recent interior pictures showing the condition it is now. I remember as a kid it had a bowling alley in there, downstairs? not 100% sure was like 15 years ago

back in the day was quite nice as I recall. There were two bowling alleys on that block of tenth. The 10 pin alley was on the same side of the street as the Strand but was located in the South East corner building.  
 
The Strand was the "classier" of the two theaters in Brandon. You initially entered the box office to buy tickets, entered the lobby with the concessions then walked down a long(ish) wide corridor with red carpet. I recall the screen and seating gallery being bigger than the other theater in town (the Town Cinema). The Strand had two gentleman who seemed to have worked there forever that wore dress pants, dress shirts and bow ties and carried flashlights and would inquire as to where you would like to sit and would walk you to your desired row and use the flashlight to guide you down the dim isle.  
I remember the elderly woman who owned or ran the theater was quite the no nonsense woman and it was common to see teens escorted out of the theater hehe.  
Spent many a Saturday at those 2 theaters as a child. Back when 4 bucks would get me a ticket, drink and popcorn and a dime would get me home on the bus hehe.