The Hollywood Theatre
by Garet Keetley
 Photo with permission of Angus Macintyre & Sarah Kift, Communications & Administration, Church at the Hollywood PGCC,604-732-5577| 778-881-5295, sarah@pgcc.org, http://churchatthehollywood.ca/
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The Hollywood theatre, located at 3123 West Broadway, is an important part of Vancouver’s history and culture. It was conceived during the great depression when Margret Fairleigh was concerned that her children would be unable to find work in such a troubled economy. Recognizing that even in the depression theatres were still able to thrive, Margret had the foresight to know that their own theatre would provide her children with steady work which would allow them to make it through the tough times ahead. And so, her husband Reginald went to work with architect Harold Cullerne, building a theatre and creating an icon of Vancouver culture.
Doors opened on October 24, 1935 and the Hollywood was born. With only ten cents, or fifteen to sit on the balcony, patrons could lose themselves in the double-bill showing and forget about the depression and their woes for a few hours at least. The depression would end, years and decades came and went, but the Hollywood remained. For nearly seventy-six years, the Hollywood continued to offer its cheap double-bill showings to movie-lovers while retaining most of the original look and feel of the theatre. Adding to the nostalgic atmosphere was that the Fairleigh family still owned and operated it after four generations, making it the oldest family owned and run cinema in Canada. |
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After keeping its doors open to the community for so many years and, the Fairleigh family could no longer afford the increasing tax rates while maintaining the now iconic theatre. On May 29, 2011, the Hollywood closed its doors, no longer able to offer the people an escape or provide a piece of Vancouver culture to those who would seek it.
At the time of its opening, there were twenty-six theatres operating in Vancouver. The great majority of these no longer stand, unable to compete with the multiplexes in ideal locations; they have given way to increasing taxes and shrinking profits. However, as numerous theatres that were once an important part of Vancouver’s heritage become condos and office buildings, the Hollywood has thus far, escaped this grim fate. After more than a year with an uncertain future, still empty save for the memories of generations of movie-goers, the Hollywood would once again see life. |
 from "The Ubyssey," October 27, 1960 Page 11. UBC Historical Newspaper Database http://historicalnewspapers.library.ubc.ca/
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Photo by Jason Statler (http://www.jasonstatlerphotography.com/)
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Photo by Jason Statler (http://www.jasonstatlerphotography.com/)
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The UTown Church united with Point Grey Community Church chose to take an innovative approach to their emerging problems of space. The Hollywood would be leased to them and become the Church at the Hollywood, holding its first service on September 16, 2012. Rather than turn a theatre into a church, the newly formed Church at the Hollywood would preserve the integrity of the Hollywood and its place in the community by leaving it intact and even adopting a name and a logo based on that of the Hollywood. Recognizing the importance of this theatre, the people of Church at the Hollywood are more than willing to allow visitors to enter and view this historic site. Additionally, when the first Christmas came around since Church at the Hollywood relocated, the projectors booth was once again occupied as It’s a Wonderful Life was shown for the purposes of charity. A year and a half after closure, the Hollywood could once again reclaim its status as the historic theatre, even if only for a few showings.
It is unknown how long Church at the Hollywood will hold the lease for and as such, the Hollywood will always have an uncertain future unless it becomes a protected heritage site. Theatres like the Hollywood are much more than old buildings; they are monuments of our culture. The Hollywood was a place where people from the community could gather for a shared experience in a warm and friendly setting. Strangers could connect; family and friends could enjoy each other’s company without a word being uttered between them. As time passed, these connections and experiences were not just shared over space, but over time; sitting and enjoying a show in the same place as a stranger did decades prior, making them less of a stranger and more of a fellow movie-lover. The Hollywood bridges a gap seventy-five years long and creates an opportunity for people to actually touch and interact with the history and culture of their community. |
 Photo with permission of Angus Macintyre & Sarah Kift, Communications & Administration, Church at the Hollywood PGCC,604-732-5577| 778-881-5295, sarah@pgcc.org, http://churchatthehollywood.ca/
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Photo with permission of Angus Macintyre & Sarah Kift, Communications & Administration, Church at the Hollywood PGCC,604-732-5577| 778-881-5295, sarah@pgcc.org, http://churchatthehollywood.ca/
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Not only does the Hollywood represent a heritage with its original design, but the countless films shown there are important themselves. Films, as art, have always reflected society at the time of their creation; and so, these films become part of our heritage as well. To know the films that have been shown in the Hollywood is to understand what was occurring in society at the time. With this, we are even better equipped to know how the Hollywood has become a symbol, allowing us a glimpse of our past. The Hollywood remains standing and intact today as an icon of Vancouver heritage. While it may no longer operate as a theatre, it still represents our history of art and community. Sites of this significance are few and becoming fewer. While Church at the Hollywood has given it a use that has not resulted in the loss of this important site, it still remains at risk of future ‘development.’ A site of such importance to people, community, and heritage must be protected; therefore, the Hollywood must be made a protected heritage site as it stands now, because once it is lost we can never get it back. |
Resources:
 Photo with permission of Angus Macintyre & Sarah Kift, Communications & Administration, Church at the Hollywood PGCC,604-732-5577| 778-881-5295, sarah@pgcc.org, http://churchatthehollywood.ca/
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