CARNDUFF — Carnduff has been home to a theatre for many years.
It opened in 1916 in the Oddfellows Hall, showing silent movies. The first talking movie was Dawn Patrol and that didn’t happen until 1931.
In 1941, the theatre changed locations, moving into an old Methodist church building, and it was at that point that it became the Carnduff Community Theatre. Eighty-four years later, it is still operating.
Its storied history has had its ups. For instance, in the past decade the theatre has taken some steps to enhance movie viewing. It went digital in 2013, which made obtaining movies easier and resulted in less technical issues. Attendance began to go up.
Then in 2016, the old seats were replaced with very comfortable ones. This made watching the movies even better.
But that storied history has also had its downs. Like so much else in the world, COVID-19 took its toll on the theatre. Attendance started to slide as movie-goers turned to other avenues to get their cinematic fix. Others who turned to the theatre for take-out snacks like popcorn started making their own at home.
It made for a bad combination and the theatre has struggled financially.
But Amanda Purves, the theatre’s manager and her board, are determined to add more positive chapters to the theatre’s history. They want to keep the nostalgia alive and continue to provide affordable entertainment options for the community.
Prices to watch movies have not increased since 2012. It still costs only $6 for an adult to attend and $4 for a child.
The income generated by movies and concessions barely takes care of the day-to-day expenses. It does not allow for improvements and upgrades. To attract more patrons, the theatre management is attempting to bring in movies quickly after their release and to bring in a variety of genres to appeal to a greater audience.
The management team also makes creative use of the building, renting it out to a local church and the archery club, and making it available for functions such as birthdays and private screenings. As well, over the past few years, they have encouraged people, organizations and businesses to sponsor a movie. That involves purchasing the movie for the theatre to show, which enables all ticket sales to go into the profit column.
The local Lions Club is one organization that has stepped up to be a sponsor, as have a few individuals.
The theatre does more than simply bring in movies to provide entertainment for the community. It hosts a yearly Christmas family dance, and it brings in live music groups and entertainers, such as magicians and hypnotists.
The theatre has been an entertainment centre for a long, long time. And the current board is determined that it will continue to be a part of the Carnduff landscape for a long, long time to come.
