ESTEVAN - Estevan's Orpheum Theatre continues to get closer towards reopening, but there is still some work remaining before it can start welcoming guests and showing movies once again.
The 111-year-old business has been closed since late August, when it sustained flood damage during a powerful thunderstorm while a water main replacement was happening as part of the downtown revitalization project. Jocelyn Dougherty, who owns the company with her husband Alan, said they hope to be open again soon.
"We had new carpet put into both cinemas, because the flood water had come in partway in both cinemas, so the entire carpets had to be replaced," Jocelyn Dougherty in an interview with SaskToday.
Most of the work has been completed in the basement. All of the wall tiles had to be redone, and painting had to take place. The flooring had to be removed, which Dougherty said was a big task.
"They had two different professional cleaners in there, trying to clean it, but because it was sewer water, they couldn't get it clean enough or disinfected enough. Finally, approval was given to replace, so it's all jackhammered out, and now we're waiting to have it replaced and our new floor poured into the basement," said Dougherty.
Pouring began April 17.
The toilets and partitions have to be put in, and some more plumbing and electrical work has to be completed, but "we can see the end, finally", she said.
Before the Orpheum can reopen, Dougherty said the projectors and sound equipment will need to be checked because they haven't been used for the past eight months. They will have to hire and train staff, since most of the previous employees have found other employment in the past eight months. And they will have to order items for the concession, talk to the movie companies and bring in promotional posters.
Waiting for insurance companies caused the longest delay, she said. Then they encountered the Christmas holidays, and it seemed like they were waiting for one thing after another, including the contractors.
The Orpheum hosted a performance by Saskatchewan comedian and YouTube personality Quick Dick McDick in January. The show sold out quickly and a full house packed the main theatre for the show. Washrooms had to be set up outside for that one night. Dougherty said everything went well, as the concession was open, the popcorn machine worked and McDick put on a great show.
"Of course, it started to snow and got windy that night, but I never heard anybody complaining that they had to go outside. We do have the main bathroom on the main floor, but the majority of people had to go outside. Everybody was just in a good mood, and there were no complaints," said Dougherty.
A reopening date has yet to be established, but they hope it can be in May so they can show as many summer blockbusters as possible, including Marvel's Thunderbolts flick, the new Mission Impossible movie, the upcoming live-action version of Lilo and Stitch, and more.
"We hope we don't miss those movies, because being closed since late August, just in 2024, we missed five of the top 10 movies of the entire year," Dougherty said. "It's been difficult to sit back and watch, so we sure hope we're going to be open sometime in May."
Dougherty said they continue to receive lots of support from the community and questions about when the theatre will reopen. A lot of people don't understand why it's taken so long.
"It's been a long road, very frustrating at times, but a lot of it you're waiting on insurance or approvals, and you have to wait for materials, wait on contractors. We just never dreamed everything would take this long," said Dougherty. "It's been a challenge, and we can finally see that we are going to reopen soon."
She hopes people are excited to come back and watch a movie or possibly live events so the venerable theatre can remain in business.
