Fernie’s well known historic theatre, the Vogue, is undergoing a facelift.

The major change will see more than 300 brand new high-back luxury seats installed this week. We caught up with owner Sean Staplin hard at work on the installation , and he was really excited about the improvements.

“I can’t wait for people to try them,” he says about the new seating. “These seats are even more skookum than I thought they would be – they really make a huge difference.”

The seats, similar to those seen in larger high-end movie theatres in urban centers, provide a comfortable vantage point for movie-going, offering great support, tons of leg-room and of course, the all-important cup-holder. Moviegoers will be able to experience the recent improvements this coming weekend, April 25th.

This is the latest chapter in almost a century of changes undergone at the historic Vogue Theatre. The building was born as the Grand Theatre in 1909, and offered live performances and an alternative to the local drinking establishments at the time. In 1947 the theatre reopened as the Vogue, and the building has undergone several renovations since. An interesting history on the building and on nightlife in Fernie was compiled by the Fernie and District Historical Society, and the display is located in the front lobby.

For owner Staplin, the new renovations represent the latest step in planned improvements to the historic building. He plans on holding a more formal opening after further renovations in autumn.