They stated that the Revue Cinema, while not a profit maker, was in the best financial shape of the three cinema they operated under the Festival banner. They reiterated, however, that they, personally, could no longer operate the building as a cinema and that, perhaps, the Revue needed an infusion of new blood, or at least a new business model. It was clear that they had tried their best in maintaining their late father’s labour of love but declining ticket sales and existing debt had made it too onerous a task.

Chris McQuillan stated that two credible parties had made preliminary enquiries about operating the Revue as a cinema under lease from the owners, although neither of these discussions were close to concluding. One party was a community member with experience in managing rep theatres and the other an existing discount movie chain.

The owners were also open to the idea of working with the community if it was decided to go the route of setting up a non-profit cooperative to manage the building as a cinema. In response to a question from NorthRonces.com about how the public could be sure that they will not sell the building for another purpose, Chris McQuillan clearly stated that if the community could guarantee cinema-going activity in the Revue the owners would guarantee that the building would not be sold for another purpose. (next page…)