Since 1927, the Wales Theatre has been entertaining audiences in High River, Alta. Now, the historic building — and its movie-screening business model — is up for sale. The owners of the movie theatre say it's time to move on, so it's officially been listed for just over $1 million.
Joshua Torrence is an associate broker at Century 21 Foothills Real Estate in High River, and he's in charge of selling the cinema. "There's so much history in that building," Torrence told CBC Radio's the on Friday. "As we go through the history a little bit, you'll see that everyone that has had their hand on it has fallen in love and has stayed there for a long time.
" Originally named the Highwood Theatre when it first opened nearly 100 years ago, Torrence says it offered seating for 400 people. Then, in 1929, it became the first theatre between Calgary and Lethbridge, Alta., with the latest talking-picture technology, Torrence says.
The man who installed the equipment ended up staying on as the projectionist at the theatre for over 40 years, according to Torrence. The cinema even survived the that caused severe damage across parts of southern and central Alberta. The nearly 100-year-old cinema was purchased by the Kidwai family in 2000.
They have owned and operated it since. (Vanessa Hernandez-Munoz/Realtor.ca) The comes with a commercial space — which is currently leased to Domino's Pizza — as well as a two-bedroom residential suite above the pizza place.
"It's got an art deco charm t.