REGENT THEATRE RE-OPENS – OPTIMIST FRONT & CENTRE

OSHAWA, Oct 25:  The Regent Theatre an historic building officially  re-opened  it’s doors with  a huge crowd in attendanc Saturday in downtown Oshawa. Oshawa Optimist Membership officials Margaret Ross, Neil Metcalfe and retired director Carol Sargent represented our orginization opening night. Glyn Laverick should be commended for opening the doors on schedule despite a 90 minute delay. still had to The venue orginally opened it’s doors on October 16, 1919 by the Famous Players Theatre chain for the  cost of $100,000. Over the year’s this building has had in shares of “up’and downs’ . During it’s life span  it was the prime movie venue attracting over 500,000 patrons annually. Since the early 90’s this historic building had been listed on the National Register as a vaudeville movie palace. This decade the City of Oshawa permitted the Oshawa Folks Art Council to oversee the operations. During this time frame the Oshawa Optimist membership donated $5,000.00 towards the “Youth Group” activies to be operated at  this venue. Eventally the Folk Arts Council despite good intentions couldn’t arrange the complete funding to revamp this downtown complex. Our City where continuing to overhaul in it’s downtown core and the Regent Theatre was just another main cog in it’s ongoing new look. Last year Glyn Laverick a Toronto business man purchased the theatre with the conditions the doors had to be open prior to the end of 2008 and a mimimum of 100 events held annually. like most opening night problems arose. A 90 minute delay occured as carpet was still being laid. The customers realizes the growing pains would happen however all echoed  with departing comments of this being a memorial occassion with great acts featuring  David Usher, The Leahy Family and Dr. Draw, with revamped theatre a joy to be in.  The show ended at 1:00 am.

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