KIRKLAND LAKE - In Kirkland Lake, there is a cultural gem that is being revitalized.
Opened in March 1939, the LaSalle Theatre was built in the classic Streamline Moderne Art Deco design style in the gold mining community’s downtown. It is one of only six surviving theatres in Canada in this architectural style.
Painstaking efforts are underway by a local charitable group to restore the historic venue on Government Road to its original opening night lustre.
Michael Rawley, the theatre’s managing artistic director, explained that the original owners, holders of four such venues in town, began running Vaudeville acts in the beginning.
"So our theatre has always been a movie theatre/vaudeville house with a live theatre component."
When the Second World War broke out in September 1939, only months after its opening, the venue was closed.
“For the duration of the war, it was rented out to a four-square gospel tabernacle,” said Rawley. “After the war, it returned to being a movie theatre, live theatre house and ran on and off ... since then."
In Rawley’s view, the LaSalle has never had its day in the sun.
He became involved through Allan Powell, a drama school classmate, who purchased the theatre in May 2013.
“At a school gathering in August 2012, Mr. Powell announced that he was thinking of buying a theatre,” Rawley said. “I approached him and said if you are going to do this, we should talk.”
After a number of discussions, Rawley proffered if Powell were to purchase the theatre, he would come and help. “The rest, as they say, is history.”
Set up as a charity in 2013, dubbed Save the LaSalle, the theatre is administered by a volunteer board of directors. Only Rawley is on staff, along with four concession counter employees.
Rawley said they are blessed that everything inside is still original, just very rundown and in need of some attention.
“This theatre is unique,” Rawley explained. “It was built in 1939 and is a true Art Deco. It is in rough shape and to lose it is so awful.”
Over the years, Rawley said their heating problems have been solved with new furnaces, along with upgrades to the electrical system, and the addition of a state-of-the-art digital movie projector and $100,000 sound system.
After a major administrative shakeup last August, he said they are still reconfiguring the organization, with a business plan on the way.
“The goal is to make it the jewel of northeastern Ontario, and a community arts centre for everyone in Kirkland Lake and the surrounding catchment area."
In May, the LaSalle finished second in the National Trust of Canada’s Next Great Save Contest, which came with a prize of $10,000.
“The 100 Women Care Kirkland Lake and Area group matched the prize with a donation of $12,500 so we are able to get the repairs necessary done to the roof,” Rawley said. “This will further stabilize the building.”
Over the years, the theatre converted from a rep-style cinema to showing first-run movies as of September 2023, which has proved to be quite successful.
“We are also now able to use the stage in the auditorium whereas, for the first few years, I created theatre in the historic lobby,” Rawley said.
Since the creation of Save the LaSalle campaign in 2013, Rawley has hosted over 30 live theatrical productions at the venue.
“This also includes nine seasons of Shakespeare in the Park. Our 10th anniversary production: the remounting of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, is coming this July,” Rawley said. “We have given opportunities to local talent from ages three to 85."
During this time, Rawley has mentored a dozen students through high school co-ops and eight have gone on to postsecondary drama programs at the university level.
Rawley said the LaSalle means a lot to the Kirkland Lake community.
“The outpouring of support and the coming together of the community during the Next Great Save Contest really opened our eyes to the importance of the LaSalle Theatre to this community,” Rawley said.
“To be honest, up until then, we were slogging along, and not thinking anybody really cared. Boy, were we wrong. The support and coming together with the community for this contest was thrilling and humbling, and also very moving.”
Rawley said with their programming, they are on their way to self-sufficiency.
“We rely on government funding. We rely on donations. We are a not-for-profit operation. As a charity, our hands are out all the time. That is what will sustain us in the long run along with our programming,” said Rawley.
They are dependent on the generosity and largesse of the public, along with government funding, to support programming, for building upkeep, and, possibly, selling the theatre naming rights.
“We are constantly seeking funds for repairs, operational, feasibility study, and complete restoration,” Rawley added. “That is the essence of a charity. Let me also be very clear in saying that no one is profiting from this endeavour.”
“After 11 years, we are here and we are not going anywhere. Of course, like everyone else, we struggle along, especially since the pandemic,” Rawley said.
“But the important thing is we have survived and we continue to move forward and we continue to progress.”
