It’s the end of an era. Hollywood is calling it quits on making film. Everything is entering the digital age.
    “After over a hundred years, film is coming to an end,” said Napier Theatre owner Jeff Larson, who prides himself in having one of the few remaining film theatres in Alberta.
    Hollywood studios recently decreed they would be severely cutting back the number of film prints they would be making. The announcement essentially forces theatres across North America, including Drumheller’s Napier Theatre, to make the switch to digital projectors.
    It is expected the Napier will have a new digital projector ready in time for the summer blockbuster season.
    “May is when they start releasing all the big blockbusters, like Iron Man 3, which we want to have opening week,” said Larson.
    However, despite the change, Larson will keep his film projectors and collection of film reels. The projection booth will continue to house the projectors that Larson has lovingly laboured over for years and have shown thousands of movies will remain.
    “This building is 60 years old and the projectors have been here the whole time. We are keeping our film equipment intact, so we will still be able to run film. Our projectors can also run 70 millimetre film and, as far as I know, we are the only theatre in Alberta and one of the few in Canada that can do that,” said Larson.

Napier Theatre owners Kathy (left) and Jeff Larson are making the switch to digital this spring, although for the two film buffs, the change signals the end of an era of film. For a hundred years, film prints have been used to show movies across North America.

    The change, according to Larson, is so studios can save some money.
    However, the switch to digital does offer some new opportunities for the Napier.
    “It does give us an opportunity to do new things. You can plug a satellite dish or even a game console into it if people wanted to have an afternoon playing games on the big screen,” said Larson.
    “All the Hollywood studios are changing over. It’s basically to cut costs. Your average film prints costs about $2,000 to make. Multiply that by thousands in just North America, and add shipping and storage costs, it adds up,” said Larson. “Unfortunately, they’re not passing the savings on to people, like us, who own the movie theatres.”
    A new digital projector can cost roughly $50,000.
    For those watching movies at the Napier, there should be no difference to quality,
    “I still like watching film over digital. On film, unless you’re watching something that has never been run before, you’ll see imperfections like dust or scratches. With digital, it’s different, because it’s so clean and clear. But, the average person probably won’t see the difference,” said Larson.
    Over the past five years, film prints have slowly been phased out of production. The result has been fewer prints for theatres to share. Often times this means small community theatres have to wait weeks before getting a copy of a new movie.
    For the time being, residents are welcome to come to the Napier, enjoy a movie and popcorn, and have an authentic movie experience. Larson, always proud of his vintage projectors, is also happy to show them off to those interested.
    “We just want people to keep coming to the shows. With community support, we can keep bringing in first-run shows,” said Larson.

   Whether you know him from his career as a teacher, his service to the Legion or from seeing him cruising through town in all kinds of weather on his bicycle, most agree that Bill Eremko is deserving of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee medal.

 Eremko received the medal from the Honourable Donald Ethell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, at a ceremony at the McDougall Centre in Calgary on Monday, January 21.
    “It is an honour,” said the humble Eremko, adding that while he doesn’t like the attention he is proud to receive the medal. “A lot of people do a lot more than I do really.
    Eremko was born and raised in the valley. He had a long career teaching at Greentree School. Eremko has been a member of the Drumheller Legion since 1995, about the same time he retired from teaching.  He has served on the executive and has worked as historian.  He was part of the committee to help with the relocation and restoration of the Drumheller Cenotaph
    “That as a huge project for us, along with the town,” said Eremko.
    The Cenotaph was rededicated last summer in its new location at the Badlands Community Facility.
    Some of his other service includes serving as Secretary for Rural Crime Watch, and participates in Healing pathways at the Knox United Church.
    He is an avid cyclist, and he also likes to share that with others. Locally he collects unwanted bikes and bike parts and takes them to Cal Cycle to be shipped to third world countries.

William (Bill) Eremko, right, poses for a picture with the Honourable Donald Ethell, after receiving the Queen’s Jubilee Medal in a ceremony in Calgary last Monday evening. Lieutenant Governor Donald Ethell was on hand to present the recipients with their medals.

Local Sea Cadet receives Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Medal

    A RCSCC Furious Sea Cadet has received the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and he may be the youngest in Drumheller to receive the award.
    Petty Officer Second Class Spencer Aulenback, 15, is a Grade 10 student at St. Anthony’s School. The Honourable Donald Ethell, Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, presented him the medal.
    “It was a very big honour, I was very surprised I got it,” said a humble Spencer. “I thought there was so many others who are also deserving, but I was very happy to get it.”
    He has been active with the Sea Cadets, including summer camp training. He was nominated by the staff and officers of Sea Cadets for his volunteer service and his friendly demeanor. Currently there are 16 members of the Sea Cadets in Drumheller.
    Spencer received his medal at a ceremony at the Galt Museum in Lethbridge on Thursday, January 24.
    Last Week Drumheller-Stettler MLA Rick Strankman congratulated Spencer for his accomplishment.

PO2 Spencer Aulenback, right, of the RSCSS Furious Sea Cadets in Drumheller was presented the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Honourable Lt. Governor Donald Ethell at a ceremony at the Galt Museum in Lethbridge.