StettlerLocal.com June 5, 2023 at 6:42 pm
Stettler's historic Jewel Theatre will celebrate 70 years of cinema and community at a Red Carpet event on June 30, 2023.
When it first opened on December 21, 1953, the Jewel Theatre was a state-of-the-art theatre with 530 seats and a crying room for parents to soothe their babies. Also that year, Queen Elizabeth was a newly-crowned Queen, and John Wayne and Rock Hudson were two of the most popular actors on the screen.
The Jewel Theatre has faced many challenges in the past few years, including COVID, staffing shortages, significant industry changes, and a projector malfunction during the 2022 holiday season, which forced a two-month closure.
The now-modern Jewel Theatre has undergone extensive renovations since December 2020, including an updated lobby, the addition of a handicapped-accessible washroom, custom cinema tables, and a fresh coat of paint in preparation for the anniversary year.
Local Owner & Operator Wendy Rairdan purchased the theatre in December, 2020, and has been working to address the historic building's needs, from upgrading electrical and plumbing to new flooring and a new flat roof.
She also purchased a new state-of-the-art laser projector allowing the reopening of the Jewel in March of this year and, most recently, installed a new commercial popcorn machine.
Other achievements of the Jewel include a community volunteer program that has contributed more than $5,000 to local non-profit organizations, and the Green Jewel Sustainability Program that has made the Jewel Theatre one of Alberta's most environmentally responsible cinemas. It also hosts the Reel Good Coffee Shop.
"The Jewel has been a Stettler landmark and a beloved outing for Central Albertans and visitors of the area for seven decades," says Rairdan. "It is an important part of our community, very important to our local economy, and every space where a community can come together and share experiences should be championed."
The movie that played on the grand opening of the Jewel Theatre 70 years ago will again be showing on the night of the celebration: the Oscar-winning Calamity Jane starring Doris Day and Howard Keel.
There will also be a special showing of a short film about the history of the Jewel featuring local interviews, and a reception, with drinks and hors d'oeuvres and fantastic swag bags for guests.
Tickets are on sale for the Jewel Theatre 70th Anniversary Gala at Reel Good Coffee at the Jewel Theatre from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Tuesdays through Saturdays.
You can find out more about the celebration and the theatre at jeweltheatre.ca.
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