The Reo Cinema in Old Harbour debuted to a packed audience on its opening night with the feature film Annie Get Your Gun. The lively musical kept the crowd entertained, with peals of laughter echoing through the theatre. Patrons left delighted, marking the first show as a resounding success and setting the tone for the new entertainment hub in the community.

Published Tuesday January 23, 1951

Hundreds of first-nighters at New  Old Harbour Cinema

The new Reo Cinema, created in Old Harbour by Stanley Vaz, J., was officially opened on Wednesday night, January 17.

From 6 p.m., a large crowd assembled, and, when the ticket office opened to the public, there was a continuous stream of patrons until 8 o’clock. At that time,  G.C. Gunter, commissioner administering the affairs of the parish of St Catherine, accompanied by Ivan Vaz, declared the entertainment centre open.

Addressing the audience, Ivan Vaz explained, “The some 300 picture-goers seated here might want to know why I am up here speaking and not my brother, Mr Stanley Vaz, the owner. Well, some time back, there was an agreement entered into between us: Stanley would build the places and I would make the speeches.” He extended a warm welcome to all present on behalf of the staff and expressed the hope that all patrons would leave satisfied.

Gunter thanked the management for inviting him to the opening of the theatre. He highlighted the social service a theatre can provide to a community, beyond just generating profit.

The feature presentation for the evening, Annie Get Your Gun, kept the audience in peals of laughter throughout the show.
 
Among the first-nighters present were: Mrs Ivan Vaz: Hon A.S. Campbell.  M.L.C., Mr A.C.V. Graham, R.M. and Mrs Graham: Police Superintendent Mahon and Mrs Mahon:  L.H. Peck JP and Mrs Peck: Russell Graham and party: Mrs J. B. Higham; Colonel and Mrs Drury; Mr and Mrs Harold Broadhurst; Miss R. Richardson: Mr O. J. March: Mr Allan Lord: Mr Condell and family; teacher Nicholson and family: Clyde Verley and his mother: Rev Fr H.W. Ball: Misses Hope and Jene Strudwick: Mr. and Mrs Granville DeLeon: Mr and Mrs Cyril Crosswell: Mr and Mrs H.U. Baxter: Mr and Mrs M. Valentine and Miss Valentine.

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