A long-time portal to live theatre will help bring new life to another Shuswap community venue.
In March 2022, Shuswap Theatre announced it would be fundraising for an overdue renovation of the downtown Salmon Arm building's facade. Thus began Operation Facelift, an initiative that would see the deteriorating cedar siding and other "" elements replaced with "something bolder and more beautiful."
The operation is near complete. Designed by Salmon Arm's Warren Welter, the front of the building now features bright red corrugated metal, installed in waves to mimic the appearance of stage curtains.
One of the later pieces in the project was the replacement of the four glass, wood and brass front doors that had served the theatre since the early 1980s.
"The theatre wanted to change the look, go with the metal鈥� industrial look we have now," said long-time Shuswap Theatre volunteer Cilla Budda, who valued the doors for their quality and history.
Budda explained the doors were made locally in 2002 to replicate those that had previously served as the theatre's front entrance since its opening in 1981. Those earlier doors had been acquired by Shuswap Theatre co-founder James Bowlby from another former entertainment venue, the Capitol Theatre on Yates Street in Victoria, B.C. The doors had hung at the front of the Capitol from its opening in 1921 until 1980 when it was torn down. Upon learning of the Capitol's demolition (to make way for the Capitol 6 Theatres building), Budda said Bowlby was able to secure the doors as well as the ticket booth that is one of the first things one sees upon entering Shuswap Theatre.
When the current metal and glass doors arrived from Salmon Arm Window and Door, Shuswap Theatre faced a bit of a dilemma: what to do with the old doors which, despite some exterior weathering, were still usable and of value.
"We could have probably got some money for them because they鈥檙e good on the inside," said Budda.
Worried no arrangements had been made for the doors, Budda called Jake Jacbobson, who helped build Shuswap Theatre and is currently part of the Gleneden Community Association.
"I phoned Jake because I thought God, we鈥檝e got to save them, and he came up with the plan for Gleneden Hall," said Budda, adding "as long as they鈥檙e out of the weather they'll be fine."
Jacobson confirmed each of the doors will be used inside Gleneden Hall as part of another big renovation. He said the association is going to be 100 years old in 2029. Technically, the community hall is about half that age, as the original burned down in 1973.
"So we鈥檙e looking at putting in a small stage, green room, storage room, new concession, new washrooms 鈥� major renovations to kind of get it put together for the next 50 years," said Jacobson. "We needed four interior doors and when I heard those were being removed and had no destination, I said we will take them, we will recycle them, we will re-purpose them."
While still adjusting to Shuswap Theatre's new look, Budda is happy knowing parts of the former facade will continue to serve the community.
"It was a save on my part, let鈥檚 put it that way. Quick thinking," said Budda. "Oh my God, I couldn't have those going to the dump."
