History of the OSLT Building

The Roxy theatre has long been a landmark in Owen Sound. Through the work of the Owen Sound Little Theatre, the buildings current owners, it has become the centre for amateur theatrical productions and many stage performances. Here a brief history of the building.

The Roxy theatre was initially an opera house built in 1912, and known as The Grand Opera House. Its original appearance can be seen on the home page. The orientation of the theatre was the opposite to its present layout. Back then, the stage and fly gallery were located where the present day control booth is at the rear of the theatre.

In the 1920's, John Griffin purchased the opera house, renovated it, and renamed the new cinema "Griffin's Theatre. With further renovations in 1948, it became an Odeon theatre.

The Owen Sound Little Theatre bought the building in 1986 from Ontario Cedars Group, a company, which owned both theatres in Owen Sound at that time.

The last film to be shown (October 25, 1986) was "A Coalminer's Daughter", with the proceeds going to the hospital for a new scanner.

The first phase of renovation designed by Paul Dawson of Flesherton, and with General Contractor Laurie McConnell was completed October 28^th, 1987 at a cost of $400,000. Velma Mitges and Georgia Bunston were the presidents through these early years of The Roxy, and along with an enthusiastic membership, they saw the first phase through to completion.

The second phase, which saw major remodeling of the theatre, a new stage, sound and lighting system, new heating and air-conditioning system, workshop, make-up room, dressing rooms, control room, box-office and lobby along with storage area for costumes, props, paints, and an administrative office. All this took place in 1994 at a cost of $1.5 million dollars. A restaurant to the west of the theatre (called The Alps) was purchased by OSLT in 1994 to accommodate the box-office, a stairwell and part of the "green room". The second phase, designed by the architects MacDonald and Zuberec of St. Catherines, and contracted by Dwight Burley.

A gala opening of "The Man who Came to Dinner" marked the birth of the refurbished theatre October 28^th, 1994.

The foyer of the building has been installed with modern lighting and track mounting to display art shows and displays.