WELLS ARCHIVES
RECORD GROUP 27

 

WRG 27 - Sunset Theatre

Collection Dates, Series 1 of 3 1930 - 1990

 

Historical Data

The Sunset Theatre was constructed in October/November of 1935 by Olson and Pigeon.  It was operated as a theatre for both films and live performances until the early 1940’s when these operations moved into the new Lode Theatre on the tailings.  The Dominion Club moved in, a licensed gambling establishment begun in the basement of Bustone Barber Shop next door.  The Dominion Club was the only licensed gambling club in BC although Wells alone contained numerous other unlicensed gambling halls.  The boilding was owned by the Wells Historical Society, until 1996 and was operated as a movie theatre and performance space.

 

Stylistically, this building fits into a late Victorian mode, with its simple, geometric form and ‘Carpenter Gothic’detailing.  1930’s deco details are not as visible except in the most stylized rendition of the Victorian design; and, on the original building - the marquee, curved stairs and signage.

 

Scope and Contents

These Series contain material collected from the Sunset Theatre in 1996.  The Historical Society, who have operated the theatre since the 1060’s will no longer be leasing the building and all the contents will be removed.

 

Series 1:

In this Series:

1. = Film Rental Catalogues

2. = Miscellaneous

3. = Books

 

1. FILM RENTAL CATALOGUES

 

   1.1          (11)        Criterion Pictures  No dates

   1.2          (5)          Disney         1981 - 1990

   1.3          (1)          Universal/16           1985

   1.4          (1)          The New Cinema Collection of Foreign Films      No dates

   1.5          (2)          Public Performance Rights Catalogue  No dates

   1.6          (6)          Astral Bellevue Classics          1981 - 1984

   1.7          (2)          MGM/UA Entertainment Co.     1984

   1.8          (1)          Paramount   No date 

 

2. MISCELLANEOUS

 

   2.1          (20)        -JVC Instruction Book

         -Hand drawn plans for:  power electric changeovers and

          curtain control

         -Canadian Astatic Ltd. instruction sheet

         -LaVezzi Machine Works, projector pamphlet

         -Griswold Film Splicer parts list

         -“The Carbon Arc” - International Projectionist 1954

         -The Brown scope manufacturing Co. - Telescope kit pamphlet

         -Simpson Sears Ltd. - Automatic Electric Cellar Drainer

          instruction and parts list

         -Simplex Four Star Sound, Weaver Dousers

         -Film rating signs

 

3. BOOKS

 

   3.1          (1)          Theatre Catalogue - 11th Annual All New Edition    1953-1954

      (1)          The Radiotron Designers Handbook        1941

      (1)          Cameron’s Theatre Television for Projectionists        No date

      (1)          Cameron’s Fundamentals of Motion Picture Projection     No date

      (1)          Bell & Howell instruction book            No date

      (1)          Vista Vision book      No date

      (1)          Laboratory Exchange Theatre - Common Causes of   1952

         damage to 35mm release prints

      (1)          F.H. Richardson’s Handbook of Projection     1930

         name inside cover:  E.L. Bobier, Roy R. Roberts

      (3)          Film Weekly - Year Book       1954/55, 1960/61, 1970/71

      (1)          Projection Rooom Guide, James R. Cameron    1955

         Name inside cover:  E.L. Bobier

      (1)          Radio Craft Library No. 17 - Servicing with set Analyzers  1937

      (1)          3-ring binder containing blank forms for “Projection”        No date

         Inspection Reports” in Keystone Flexible binder

      (1)          Holmes Professional Projector - parts list & instructions

      (1)          The Strong “Jr. High” High Intensity Projection Arc Lamp             No date

         instructions

      (1)          Operadio - Amplifiers and Sound System, Service Manual 1939

      (1)          Ballantyne - Instructions for installation of sound system  No date

      (2)          Simplex - parts list, National Theatre Supply   1945, 1951

         Has name on front cover:  Woodland Theatre, Youbou, BC

      (1)          LaVezzi Projector Parts and Assemblies          No date

      (1)          Motiograph Inc. “A model Projection Room” No date

      (1)          National Projector Carbon Bulletins       No date

      (1)          Guest Book, Grand Opening - Sunset Theatre        June 21, 1975

      (2)          Prov. of BC, Film Classification Film and Video               1982, 1988         Report  

      (1)          The New Cinema Collection of Classic and Foreign Films

 

Series 2:

In this Series:

1. = Posters

2. = Regulations

3. = Financial

4. = Stationary

5. = Photographs

6. = Licences

7. = Work Orders

8. = Film Rental

9. = Miscellaneous

10. = Phonograph Needles

11. = Artifacts

 

 

1. POSTERS

 

   1.1 Sunset Theatre Posters            1981 - 1995

         Farwell To The Jack  1995

   1.2          (11)        Movie Posters:

   Bloodline

   Die Harder

   Dick Tracy

   Lord of the Flies

   Blue Steel

   Crimes & Misdemeanors

   My Blue Heaven

   Presumed Innocent

   Young Guns 2

   Total Recall

   Roger & Me

   Stanley & Iris

   Robo Cop

   The Doors

   1.3          (19)        Posters of Movies and Movie Stars:

         Barbara Stanwyck

         Richard Barthelmess (by Marland Stone)

         Sue Carol (by Marland Stone)

         Ann Harding (by Rolf Armstrong)   March 1930

         Richard Dix (by John Clark)   Apr. 1930

         Mary Brian (by Marland Stone)

         Cry Danger  1951

         The Naked Jungle   1954

         The Lion and the Horse           1952

         Golden Girl 1951

 

2. REGUALTIONS

 

   2.1          (3)          Province of BC Regulations      1942, 1959

 

3. FINANCIAL

  

   3.1          (1 Book)Cash Book  1968 - 1991

   3.2          (23)        Cash up sheets (blank)

   3.3 Concession and Series office records                1989, 1990, 1991

 

4. STATIONARY

 

   4.1          (35)        Monogramed envelopes          No date

         blank squares of adhesive paper

 

5. PHOTOGRAPHS

 

   5.1          (6)          Glossy photographs, by Freelance, Lansdale, Pa.        1972

   -Robin Hood - Errol Flynn, Basil Rathbone

   -The Lone Ranger - Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels

   -Casablanca - Humphrey Bogart, Claude Rains, Ingrid Bergman

   -Huckelberry Finn - Mickey Rooney

   -Hop-A-Long Cassidy - William Boyd

   -Little Caesar - Edward G. Robinson

   -Angels With Dirty Faces - Dead End Kids

   -John Wayne

   -Rita Hayworth - Gilda

   -Johnny Weissmuller - Tarzan

   -Frank McHugh, James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart -

    Roaring 20’s

   -Greta Garbo, John Barrymore - Grand Hotel

   -Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour - Road to

    Morocco

   -Shirley Temple - The Little Colonel

 

6. LICENCES

 

   6.1          (19)        -Application for Special Occasion Licence  July 15, 1994

         Wells Historical Society - Doug Rummel

         -Province of BC - Motion Picture Licence                1980, 1981, 1983         1984, 1986, 1987

         -Application for licence sugned by Judy Campbell           1986, 1988-90

          Anne Laing

         -Motion Picture Act (3 booklets)      1986

         -Prov. of BC Film Classification Branch Licence 1990-1996

 

7. WORK ORDERS

 

   7.1          (5)          -S&M Electric - Joe Mattiasch          June 2, 1994

         -CRD - Bud Wilkinson            May 8, 1994

         -CRD - Bud Wilkinson            Sept. 22, 1993

         -Certificate of Electrical Inspection     July 23, 1993

         - S&M Electric    July 15, 1993

        

8. FILM RENTAL

 

   8.1          (42)        Criterion Invoices  1986-1991

   8.2          (11)        Priority Courier bills of lading  1991

   8.3          (5)          Criterion Statements          1987, 1989

   8.4          (14)        Correspondence  1986-1991

 

9. MISCELLANEOUS

 

   9.1          (13)        - change of address for Criterion Pictures    July, 1990

         -Invoice for Bellevue Film Distributors        May 20, 1986

         -Postal Receipt    June 14, 1993

         -Petro Canada Invoice        May 17, 1994

         -1990 Movie Schedule      1990

         -1989 Movie Schedule      1989

         -List of Ocsar winners from Criterion Pictures

         -Cinecenta publication - In search of Canadian Culture       1992

         -Sheet music for “I’m Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover”           Copyright 1927

 

10. PHONOGRAPH NEEDLES

 

   10.1       (2)          Walco “400” Needle

         Walco Replacement needle for the BSR-TC-8 cartridge

 

11. ARTIFACTS

 

   11.1       (3)          -Empty box addressed to the Lode theatre

         -Empty metal film box from Bellevue film Distrubutors

         -Cloth Banner for Wells Historical Society