It is not too much to say that the new Ridge theatre, 16th and Arbutus, is the result of a half century of research and inventiveness by the world's foremost designers and architects in cinema art.
Situated in the Arbutus Village, a name coined by newspapermen when David and Walter Macfarlane set out to provide a "civic centre" for the new Arbutus Ridge home development, the Ridge has 842 comfortable seats, beautiful design and decoration, a "crying room" for mothers with difficult babies, and a projection room with every conceivable device for for showing good pictures well.
PARKING AREAS
People who attend will appreciate the extensive arrangements made for parking, and shoppers in the group of modern stores of the Village will make good use of these facilities. Three paved lots, each a block long, are provided, and wide sidewalks, bright lights and attractive stores make this area an attractive adjunct to the Arbutus district of all new homes.
Hundreds of imported plants beautify the shopping area and the theatre foyer. The Ridge theatre itself, in the opinion of the owners, has no counterpart in any of Canada's suburban areas.
GIGANTIC MURAL
Hundreds of feed of mirror, exotic lighted plant arbors, most spacious deep foam-rubber seats and luxurious carpets, a gigantic mural of an arbutus tree, are included.
Pastel soft leather powder room with mirrors and lunges . . . the new babies' and children's crying room on the colorful mezzanine floor. All the foyer and concourse and theatre interior scintillates with orchid white indirect lighting, and cunningly hidden spots.
The smooth white stairway in chrome and bleached mahogany set off with entire wall towering sparkling mirror.
In the brilliantly designed auditorium the very best in newest equipment is installed. The Riddge has had the new Gaumont-Kalee "President" projection equipment installed. These projectors, two of them, are a masterpiece of theatre development. The sensationally new "activated nylon" screen is the only one of its kind in Canada, and is only now being installed in some of the leading showhouses in America.
Many hours were spent by the engineers perfecting the sound equipment, and the acoustics are perfect.
A handsomely appointed candy bar is located on the foyer, done in mirror, leather, chrome, and gold tinted cedar and mahogany woods.
Feature published in the Vancouver Sun Wednesday, April 12, 1950
Grand opening Thursday, April 13, 1950
