Change, as we all know, is a constant. That may be so, but we don’t have to like it. Thus, we record today the closure of the Hollywood Theatre, a Kitsilano cinematic institution dating back to the 1930s; the closure of what was a thriving neighbourhood Blockbuster video store; and the ‘passing’ of the West Side Bakery (which will stay open, but under new ownership … and we all know how that usually goes … which is to say, not well).
For anyone who has lived on Vancouver’s west side, the Hollywood Theatre has for generations acted as a mecca for cinema-goers, the theatre’s oddly-structured double-bills providing solace to the troubled soul, an opportunity to kibbitz with friends between the early 7:30 pm screening and the ‘late’ 9:40 pm screening, a bit of fun, and the unexpected.
David Fairleigh reportedly received $2.9 million for the sale of the theatre, the monies coming from an offshore Asian investor looking to redevelop the property (perhaps the entire north side of the block) for condominiums. Festival Cinemas’ Leonard Schein apparently offered a million less than the final sale price — looking to repair and run the theatre long into the future — but clearly his financial offer came in on the low end. The Vancouver International Film Festival also showed some interest in acquiring the old Hollywood Theatre, but the asking price was just too much.
Thus, a cinematic institution passes, as cinema lovers are now left to troll the soulless cineplexes which dot the suburban landscape. An era passes.
Update: There’s a late-breaking, but unconfirmed, report that Festival Cinemas’ Leonard Schein met with Vince Fairleigh this past Thursday evening, and made an offer to Vince to keep the Hollywood Theatre open for a period of five years, a ‘deal’ which would have Mr. Schein’s company assume responsibility for the payment of rent and business expenses associated with the operation of the Hollywood Theatre (the new owners had offered the Fairleighs the opportunity to keep the Hollywood open, at a monthly rental rate of $11,000, that offer refused), the deal on the table also offering a salary to Vince to continue to manage the theatre.
Clearly, the arrangement as outlined above is similar to the offer made to Corinne Lea of East Van’s The Rio. No word as to whether Vince Fairleigh will book the Hollywood’s double-bills, or whether Leonard Schein will step in to offer assistance on that front (unlikely, given the structure of the deal Mr. Schein has with the operators of both the Rio and Dunbar theatres).
Update 2, June 1st: The Hollywood is officially closed, the Fairleighs having turned over the keys late in the day on May 30th. At this point, a re-opening of The Hollywood Theatre appears unlikely.

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On a chill, blustery, cloudy and just a bit sunny late Sunday afternoon in the early spring of 2011, the winds blew, rain-soaked clouds hovered overhead, the North Shore mountains were snowcapped, wind surfers were out in force, lovers walked along the Spanish Banks beach path, and children frolicked in the sand under the watchful eye of their parents.