08/04/2026
🎬🍿 Before Netflix... before VHS... before even television found its way into most living rooms... there was the neighbourhood movie theatre.
On August 4, 1937, the Oak Theatre opened its doors near the corner of Kingsway and Marlborough Avenue. Although many people remember it as a Vancouver theatre, it actually sat just across the city boundary in Burnaby, making it a favourite destination for families from both communities.
With seating for approximately 755 people, the Oak was one of the larger neighbourhood theatres of its day. Built in the popular Art Deco/Moderne style, it reflected the optimism of the late 1930s with its clean lines, modern design, and bright marquee inviting moviegoers inside.
What makes its opening especially remarkable is when it happened. Canada was still struggling through the Great Depression. Money was tight for many families, yet a trip to the movies remained one of the most affordable ways to forget your worries for a couple of hours. For just a few cents, audiences could enjoy a full afternoon or evening of entertainment.
And it wasn't just one movie.
A typical visit often included:
🎞️ A newsreel showing world events.
😂 A cartoon featuring characters like Mickey Mouse, Popeye, or Betty Boop.
🤠 A cliffhanger serial that kept everyone coming back week after week.
🎥 A feature film starring some of Hollywood's biggest names.
The Oak Theatre quickly became much more than a cinema. It was where children spent Saturday afternoons with friends, where teenagers went on first dates, where families escaped rainy Vancouver evenings, and where neighbours caught up before the lights dimmed.
One feature that set the Oak apart was its own parking lot. That may not sound unusual today, but as automobile ownership increased after the Second World War, having dedicated parking made the theatre even more convenient and helped it remain popular.
One of the most fascinating pieces of its history is that moving pictures still exist of the theatre itself. Historic film captured the Oak under construction, opening day in 1937, and even workers clearing snow from its parking lot after Vancouver's memorable winter of 1939. Those few minutes of film offer a rare look at everyday life almost 90 years ago.
Like hundreds of neighbourhood theatres across North America, the Oak eventually faced a new challenge—television. As more families gathered around TV sets in the 1950s, attendance at local cinemas declined. After entertaining audiences for 26 years, the Oak Theatre closed in 1963 and was later demolished.
Today, the building is gone, but the memories remain.
Sometimes antiques aren't just the things we collect—they're the memories they unlock. Maybe it was your first movie with your parents, your first date, or spending your allowance on popcorn that seemed impossibly expensive even back then. 🍿❤️
Do you remember the Oak Theatre, or another neighbourhood cinema that made movie night feel magical? We'd love to hear your story.
📍 Nana's Antiques
17633 57th Ave, Surrey
📞 604.575.4897
We can not guarantee this will be in stock when you come in as our inventory changes daily.
