Numerous movie theatre venues have come and gone since Richmond’s first movie theatre was opened in 1929 by Eugene Greczmiel, a well-respected resident and entrepreneur.
The movie theatre was located in one of the buildings -- at 3700 Moncton St., between 1st and 2nd avenues -- that survived the infamous 1918 Steveston fire.
Silent and imported films would be screened twice a week, catering to Steveston’s large Japanese community.
As films with synchronized dialogue began to spread, Greczmiel built his own speaker for the projector.
The theatre's final curtain fell in 1932, making way for the Redden Net Company, which was eventually replaced by a dental office.
The Steva Theatre was Richmond’s next movie theatre. It was also located in Steveston and opened on Oct. 3, 1947.
Washington Thorne, originally from Saskatchewan, started the transformation of a former Buddhist temple on 12191 1st Ave. into the cinema in 1946.
The 420-seat theatre had red leather seats, a concession stand and a 12-by-16-foot screen. It sold out on its grand opening with a showing of “Black Beauty.”
Living quarters for Thorne's family of three were installed in the back of the house, as they made up most of the theatre’s staff.
Three different movies each week and kids' matinees on Saturdays ensured the cinema was constantly busy.
In the late 1940s, admission was 10 cents for features and five cents for matinees.
In 1960, The Steva Theatre closed its doors and the building was sold in 1972. Today it houses a daycare and children’s learning centre.
Another iconic theatre still fondly remembered by Richmond residents is the Delta Drive-In Theatre on No. 5 Road, which operated between 1953 and 1980 and served as the only one of its kind in the city.
In 1953, the Chechik Brothers from Mayer Enterprises applied to the city to build what was first called the Fraser Drive-In Theatre on a 40-acre lot north of Mitchell School.
Construction of a 50-foot-wide screen, a building for the snack bar and projection room and a children’s playground only lasted 10 weeks.
The theatre’s name would later be changed to the Delta Drive-In. It opened on May 13, 1953 with “Ten Tall Men,” a French Foreign Legion action film, and Walt Disney’s “Beaver Valley.”
Admissions to the theatre were considerably cheaper 71 years ago, with tickets for adults costing 60 cents on weekdays and 75 cents on Saturdays and holidays.
Students aged 12 to 18 were charged 40 cents on weekdays and 50 cents on Saturdays and holidays, with those under 12 gaining free entry.
The Delta Drive-In closed its doors in 1980, remembered for showcasing films of every kind throughout the years and hosting swap meets on Sundays.
By 1984, the land was redeveloped for housing, with its old entrance being replaced by Greenland Drive.
Canada's first movie theatre opened in Vancouver
Movie theatres have captivated audiences since the late 19th century. Vancouver’s first motion picture was played in a warehouse on Cordova Street in 1898.
Originally from Sweden, John A. Shuberg was the owner of a Kinetograph, the world’s first projector, and he showed intrigued Vancouver audiences moving images from the Spanish-American war.
He added sound to the movie by shooting and banging on sheets of tin from behind the screen, taking his show around Canada and the United States after two weeks of success.
Upon returning to Vancouver in 1902, Shuberg opened Canada’s first movie theatre, known as the Edison Electric Theatre.
As growing demand for streaming platforms continues to draw eyes away from the big screens, the future of movie theatres is uncertain, yet theatres like the Delta Drive-In mark important milestones in Richmond’s cultural heritage.
For more information, visit the Richmond Archives Blog website.
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