Kütne Reader reader Bob Guesford recently pointed out something to me that I never noticed: two giant walls from the old Strand Theatre in downtown Trail still stand.
The site of the Strand, 1330 Cedar Ave. was formerly home to Trail Opera House, built in 1917, and later renamed the Liberty Theatre. After remodelling and a major expansion, it reopened in 1938 as the three-storey, 900-seat Strand, a movie house managed by Will Harper for Famous Players.
While the lobby stood where the Liberty used to be, the now L-shaped building wrapped behind the adjacent Hughes Block, built in 1937. The seats and projection booth were parallel to the alley.
Three postcard views of the Strand Theatre, which opened in 1938. On the first two cards the marquee bills Anna Neagle in Piccadilly Incident (1946) and Secret Service Investigator (1948). (Greg Nesteroff collection)
The Strand also occupies a dubious place in Trail history. According to Injustice Served: The Story of British Columbia’s Enemy Aliens During World War II (2012), it was home to the police office where local Italians deemed enemy aliens reported.
Mario Mondin recalled in the book that his mother Emilia would take him with her.
It was sheer stupidity for one to say that my mother was an enemy alien … We would go to the Strand Block building and line up in the hallway and then go up to the second floor office. There would be quite a buzz in the queue of those registering, among whom many were Italians known to my parents. I was only four or five at the time but I do recall that we didn’t speak Italian there … One would line up in front of this large desk on which a register was visible. Sign and you were done!
Author Raymond Culos writes: “Many of those polled felt that being compelled to report each month to the [police] constituted an indignity and personal embarrassment. Other respondents regarded this dictum a travesty of justice and denial of a person’s basic rights.”
At about 6:20 a.m. on Dec. 11, 1956, fire broke out in the theatre. Manager Alec Barclay and his wife escaped their apartment, along with two others from a separate apartment.
Thirty-five firefighters battled the blaze for more than four hours in freezing temperatures as flames threatened to engulf the entire block, including the post office. Four firefighters were taken to hospital after being overcome with smoke.
It was called the biggest fire in Trail in 25 years. Damage was estimated at $200,000. The theatre was destroyed — the roof caved in — along with three offices on the second floor. The cause was not established, but the point of origin was variously reported as on the stage and in the balcony at the southeast corner.
“Thick fireproof walls between the theatre and the adjoining stores prevented the flames from spreading,” The Vancouver Sun reported.
In 1960, a new Sally Shop was built on the former Strand site. However, the walls at the rear of the Hughes Block were left standing. They’re still there today as the area is now a parking lot.
The building seen below in the middle is on the site of the former Strand lobby. The Hughes Block is seen at left and the old post office at right. The former Strand wall is seen peeking out overtop the Hughes Block.
The Strand is remembered in this heritage marker.
Updated March 10, 2020 to add the part about the Strand block being where local Italians reported to police during World War II.
When I was very young, about five or six, I saw a newsreel at the Strand preceding the movie. I don't remember the movie but as a boxing fan, I sure remember the newsreel because it showd the fight between Rocky Marciano and Jersey Joe Wollcock for the Heavyweight Boxing Championship of the World. Marciano had never been defeated so you can imagine the excitement when Wollcock knocked him down in the first round. However, in the end, Marciano prevailed knocking out Wollcock in the 13th round with an overhand right shot that would have dropped a horse. Wollcock was far in front until Rocky's thundering blow. What excitement there was in the Strand that night!
They had all-afternoon Saturday matinees for kids back in the late 1940s. Usually about six cartoons, a couple of shorts and one or two features like Roy Rogers or Bowery Boys or Tarzan. I spent a lot of afternoons there. Mothers hosting birthday parties would give each of the kids admission and send the mob off to the movies and out of the way. Great times. (Jim Sadler)
I remember when my parents decided to take a day trip to Trail --as it was a hot day my Mother made sure I wore my nice white hat I thought I was miss princess all dressed up -- After shopping we went back to Nelson and when I got into the car I took off my white hat and it was just covered in soot and grime. I cried all the way back home as my hat was ruined. I always use to tease my Mother about why she put the white hat on me especially going to Trail in those days.
I remember that morning well. As a 16 year old, we lived at the end of Cedar Avenue above the old Junior High School and while getting ready for school we could see the smoke from the fire. A real tragedy as I spent many enjoyable hours in that theatre.