FRIDAY, September 11, 2015
www.kamloopsthisweek.com
B11
COMMUNITY FALL + WINTER RECREATION FUN & FITNESS WITH FRIENDLY FOLKS
SQUARE DANCE WITH THE
KAMLOOPS + BEEJAY DANCERS
OPEN HOUSE The Rex Hall (left), at 409 Seymour St., was built in 1927 (below) by the Kamloops Lodge #44 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. KAMLOOPS MUSEUM AND ARCHIVES PHOTO
September 22nd, 7:30pm-9:30pm No experience needed - casual clothes
St. Paul Cathedral
360 Nicola Street, Kamloops
For dancing info, call: Brent & Karen – 250-376-4692 or Bill & June – 250-374-0277
Buddha Jesus Mohammed Myrtle
JESSICA WALLACE/KTW
Q: The performing-arts centre might be built across from one of the first theatres in Kamloops. Is there any historical information about the old theatre? A: The Rex Hall — across the street from the old Kamloops Daily News building — hosted vaudeville in the roaring 1920s and cowboys in its later years, as Cactus Jack’s Saloon. The 9,000-squarefoot auditorium is one part of the building at 409 Seymour St., which was built in 1927 by the Kamloops Lodge #44 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks. The group, which still exists today, began in 1920 with a mandate to provide community service and leadership. It has since supported things like upgrades to Riverside Park and donated to organizations like the Kamloops Food Bank, but was also known for organizing social activities. According to the Kamloops Heritage Commission, the Elks’ lodge included club quarters, a billiard room, lounge, ban-
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quet hall, auditorium and seven residential suites on the top floor. It was the first building to be designed in the Spanish-American style architecture in Kamloops, prompting a trend in the city. Three years after the lodge was built, the auditorium became the Rex Theatre, which hosted dances, concerts and vaudeville dating back to the 1920s. At the time, it had the second-largest stage in the province and could house 1,000 audience members for travelling shows,
concerts, musicals and dances. The Elks eventually rented out the space — more recently to Cactus Jack’s before it moved to 130 Fifth Ave. — and,
almost a decade ago, Brad Alberts’ company Integrated Urban Equities Corp. bought the building from the Elks. The building has since been renovated and rented out. It is almost at full capacity, Alberts told KTW, and is home to The Yoga Loft, Pilates Tree, Akimbo Dance Studios as well as residential units. The 9,000-squarefoot main-floor space reopened as The Rex again last year. “In our opinion, it’s a significant building downtown, heritagewise,” Alberts said.
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Myrtle? Who’s Myrtle? She isn’t a prophet or a god, just a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church. You see, we draw upon many sources in our search for truth. Christianity. Islam. Buddhism. And most importantly, you. After all, you determine your own faith.
These days, the space is rented for events and to parttime user groups and can host about 400 people. But, as for how it compares to the proposed performing-arts centre, across the street? “It pails in comparison to that,” Alberts said. “It’s more a multifunctional space.” If the centre comes to fruition following the November referendum, Alberts envisions The Rex used in conjunction with it to create a “performing-arts neighbourhood.”
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You don’t have to convert or believe or memorize any creeds. Just join us Sunday mornings at 10 for worship, meditation, or discussion. The Unitarian Universalist Church. It’s a church for people who question. People just like you. And Myrtle. The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Kamloops September 13, 10:00am Celebrating Water in Our Lives. Valleyview Community Hall 2288 Park Drive For more information and upcoming schedule, please visit
www.uukam.bc.ca
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Autumn Kamloops Heritage Railway Events
BLAZERS TRAIN September 18, 2015
September 26, 2015 • 9am—6pm
October 3, 2015 • 11am, 1pm or 3pm
For more information on these events, visit us online: www.kamrail.com or call: 250-374-2141
749B Notre Dame Drive, Kamloops B.C. V2C 5N8 Telephone: 250-377-0157 kamloops@trueoutdoors.ca
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