I echo the sentiments of Michelle Bakke-Purnell and would also like to thank Harley Hay for his thoughtful editorial on the legacy of the Park Plaza Theatre.
What a great piece of history the Purnell family created for our community. This strikes close to home for me since my father worked for the family many years ago, as projectionist and, later, as a manager.
I have many fond memories of attending movies at the Paramount, 2-11 Drive Inn, 40th Avenue Drive in and, of course, the Park Plaza Theatre.
It was very obvious to me at a young age that the family run businesses had very high standards for customer service and that they took great pride in their part of Red Deer’s entertainment industry.
Shortly after Famous Players acquired the Park Plaza Theatre, I obtained my first job as a candy girl.
The theatre was still very much the way it was when it was family owned — the standards were high and the service was top-notch.
The building had a very old-fashioned ‘show hall’ feel to it with its high ceilings and bright red carpet. The ushers would usher you to your seat and popcorn was topped with real butter.
But slowly over the following five years that I worked there, I watched as the building became neglected and the standards seemed to dwindle. No longer were pop, popcorn and candy the only fare at the concession — they were now competing with the likes of nachos, hot dogs and slushes. The ticket prices skyrocketed, making the task of taking the entire family to the movies out of reach for some. The quaint lobby where people came to see and be seen soon became over run with arcade games. Somehow the ambiance slowly faded away.
I felt saddened at the time, that a city landmark with such great history behind it was left to deteriorate. And, it was confirmed when the article in the paper indicated that Cineplex didn’t deem the building worth fixing up. I think that’s a shame, because there was a lot of heart and soul behind that business at one time.
It’s unfortunate that this generation and the ones to come will never know how the movie going experience used to be.
To Harley, good for you for attending one last time! The same thought crossed my mind, but with such little notice of the closure and barely any media coverage, I and many others were unable to enjoy that one last film in a place where many memories were created.
Krista Leroux
Red Deer