Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services

NNSL (Sep 24/99) - Silver City, here we come!

OK. We aren't about to inherit the earth by way of a West Edmonton Mall-style movie theatre extravaganza, but compared to what we have now, we'll be close.

Here's the history. In 1975, Bellanca Developments bought the existing Coles Theatre, located in the Scotia Centre. Bellanca then built the Precambrian Building, which has since housed Yellowknife's movie house. The company ran it until 1990, at which point Magic Lantern took it over.

"Magic Lantern is a company based in Edmonton," explains Kelly Hayden, general manager at Bellanca, who ran the movie house for its final two Bellanca-run years.

Hayden says that Magic Lantern's administrative centre was located in the south, and finished with the comment that he really doesn't want to talk about the company. He prefers to look forward.

The bottom line is that Yellowknife has a 22-year-old movie theatre, says Hayden, and 'forward' means a whole different take on flicks in the 'knife.

Here's the $1-million breakdown.

Dolby digital sound will grace all three theatres with a six-channel sound system organized around the seating area.

Come Tuesday, after Monday night's final showing, the theatres will be completely gutted. New high-backed seats will replace the existing chairs. New sound-proofing will be installed to prevent the current sound-bleed between theatres.

But that's just the beginning. Work has already begun on the second floor of the Precambrian Building on the other side of the wall that borders the staircase of the existing theatre.

Family entertainment

Bellanca visualises the new Capitol as a total family-centred entertainment space. When we climb those same stairs for the first time sometime at the end of November, we'll be turning right -- into a huge lobby that will include a kids' birthday party space, an electronic games room, a new bigger and better concession stand, and more lobby space than we'll know what to do with.

"We're expanding 4,000 square feet," says Hayden, adding that Bellanca would like this space to be a great place for kids, and families, to hang out in. Plus, handicap access will become what it should be in 1999, with elevator access and new washrooms."

But Hayden remains focused on the youth of the city, making the point that there aren't very many places for them to hang out safely.

Hayden believes that adult supervision, by way of the cashier box attendant, floor supervisor and theatre manager, will ensure that a healthy atmosphere is maintained.

New attractions

There will be no movie ticket required to access the new area, only to enter the theatre area itself, which will also sport portable stages for day-time use. Conference organizers will now be able to use this space, complete with audio-visual technology, for staging speakers.

Hayden finally reveals the last secret. Blueprints for the new theatre include an expansion of the building -- into the present parking lot -- that would see three further theatres.

As Hayden explains, the Yk population in 1990 was 12,000. Now, it sits around 18,000. In 10 years, there is the possibility of a $1.5-million addition to entertain a potential 25,000 to 30,000 Yellowknifers.

But for now, seating capacity will remain as is, at 205, 132 and 95, respectively. Ticket prices will probably increase, but not excessively.

"It'll be in line with Edmonton," states Hayden, though he adds that prices have not been set as yet.

As for content, the new Capitol will be a first-run house as a result of a deal with a company out of Calgary, "western Canada's largest booking agency, with lots of clout to get the films," Hayden says. This is much in keeping with the films that came to Yellowknife under Magic Lantern. Another similarity will be discounts.

Hayden concludes with this final statement, "There will be a lot of fun happening."

Though movie-goers may tremble at the thought of no theatre for two months, Hayden points out that the period of September, October and November are the slowest for great movie releases. The Capitol will re-open right on time for all those awesome pre-Christmas releases.