Towne Theatre
2910 30th Avenue,
Vernon,
BC
V1T 2B7
2910 30th Avenue,
Vernon,
BC
V1T 2B7
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The Capitol Theatre opened its doors on November 7, 1938 with Wayne Morris in “Valley Of The Giants” (unknown if extras added), with a total capacity of 800 seats. The theater itself was built by the National Cafe Holding Company for the Famous Players chain at the cost of $60,000. A total of 1,070 patrons attended its grand opening that day.
The theater did had a short closure for a few months in 1988 when the theater was sold to Landmark Theatres. It had an updated interior which also included Dolby surround stereo sound.
The Vernon Towne Cinema was owned by Gerry Sellars from 2000-2020. It’s doors closed November 2020 due to Covid, at which time Gerry decided to retire. The cinema was given a refresh and reopened by The Okanagan Screen Arts Society as The Towne Theatre in September of 2021. The Okanagan Screen Arts Society is a not for profit group who previously rented the Cinema every Monday to show Arts Films, and decided to take on the regular operations of the Cinema in addition to their Art films.
Circa 1959 photo added courtesy Brian Anthonisen. Since then a second floor was added & facade modified with the center tower encapsulated. Official website and Facebook page below says it is again called Vernon Towne Cinema since 2000. Full history on Facebook page under “Our Story”.
http://vernoncinema.com/
https://www.facebook.com/TowneCinema/