The 17th Screening at the Monarch Theatre

Following the end of the 16 show premiere run at the Monarch Theatre last year - today, international students from the public school system were looking for something to do amid the ongoing provincial strike and came to the Monarch for a special screening of Your Cinema Needs You. For those unfamiliar, this was the documentary I directed about Canada's oldest, surviving, purpose-built movie theatre - the one and only, Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta. 

I have to confess I had nothing to do with arranging this. I got the heads up when my documentary was requested, so came down to grab a few pictures this afternoon. Talk about an unexpected throwback Thursday. With extensive renovation efforts still in full swing, I somehow feel this won't be the last time Your Cinema Needs You is screened here.

Synopsis of Your Cinema Needs You Documentary

When Your Cinema Needs You premiered at the Monarch Theatre in Medicine Hat, Alberta, in December 2023, it drew thousands of attendees over multiple sold-out screenings which set in motion a concerted effort to bring the aging cinema back to life. 

The feature length documentary, directed by Luke Fandrich, explores the extensive history of Canada’s oldest surviving purpose-built cinema, and its successful release brought international attention to a landmark that few outside of the small prairie city in which the theatre is located had heard about before. 

The Monarch Theatre opened in 1911. Over the decades, it underwent various ownership changes and survived multiple shifts in the film industry — from silent films to sound, from 35mm reels to digital projection. In 2023, after two years of inactivity, the non-profit Monarch 1911 Society acquired the building and talks about reopening the theatre began. Fandrich’s documentary, based on archival research, interviews with former employees and patrons, and newly uncovered historical materials, had already been teased as the ideal film to reopen the theatre with. According to local media reports, its release was strategically planned to align with the reopening of the theatre for public programming.

Initial screenings were held inside the Monarch itself. Demand exceeded expectations, prompting a series of extensions to the premiere run as new screenings were added. Former staff members and long-time patrons attended the premieres, contributing to the excitement surrounding the reopening. Coverage in the Medicine Hat News emphasized that the film brought attention to the theatre’s role in the community and to broader discussions about heritage preservation.

The film’s subject — the rise, decline, and renewal of a historic single-screen cinema — aligns with a wider pattern affecting similar venues across North America. Independent and heritage theatres have faced sustained financial pressure due to changes in movie distribution, competition from multiplexes, and the growth of home streaming. Fandrich’s film positions the Monarch as a case study in how such spaces can adapt and survive through community investment, volunteer support, and municipal partnerships.

Following its local debut, Your Cinema Needs You entered the international festival circuit. Over the course of 2024, it screened in more than 30 cities in 12 countries. It received 25 festival nominations and 14 awards, including eight for Best Documentary. At several film festivals, organizers noted parallels between their historic venues and the Monarch Theatre, underscoring the documentary’s relevance beyond its immediate geographic context.

The film also had measurable local effects. Increased attention led to a rise in volunteer inquiries and financial support for the theatre’s restoration work. Discussions about heritage preservation gained visibility in civic and cultural forums, with the film frequently cited in media coverage related to the Monarch’s revitalization. This aligns with Fandrich’s stated intent to produce a work that would document the theatre’s history while supporting its future.

In March 2025, the film premiered online through TELUS Originals, allowing national audiences to view it for free. This streaming release expanded the reach of the project and introduced the Monarch’s story to viewers across Canada. Fandrich stated in interviews that many people who had heard of the film but could not attend earlier screenings contacted him after its digital debut, sharing new stories about other independent cinemas across the country.

Critical reception focused on the documentary’s straightforward storytelling and emphasis on historical accuracy. The film uses archival footage, photographs, and first-person accounts to create a thread through over a century of experiences.

The documentary’s extended premiere run over several months helped to fuel early progress on the Monarch’s restoration. According to reports, exterior work continued through 2024 and 2025, with further upgrades planned to modernize technical systems while retaining the theatre’s historic architecture. The building’s heritage value, previously a matter of limited public awareness, became more widely discussed. The film contributed to this shift by centralizing the theatre’s timeline in a single narrative accessible to the public.

Your Cinema Needs You involved extensive research to showcase a history that had only been thinly documented. Fandrich identified gaps in the historical record and sought out surviving documentation and oral histories to clarify conflicting accounts of the theatre’s early years. For example, the Monarch Theatre’s claim as one of the oldest purpose-built cinemas in Canada required precise verification of operational timelines, closures, and ownership changes. 

The claim of the Monarch Theatre being the oldest surviving purpose-built cinema remains the standout definition promoted by Your Cinema Needs You. The Monarch was built for the sole purpose of screening movies when it opened in 1911 and was never a venue for vaudeville or live theatre - this is a key detail that sets it apart from the vast majority of theatres built at this time.

The documentary’s impact can be divided into several categories: awareness, engagement, preservation, and external recognition. Awareness was achieved through screenings, press coverage, and the online release. Engagement occurred through increased volunteerism and public attendance at events. Preservation was supported indirectly by stimulating interest in the theatre’s history and future. External recognition came through festival screenings and awards that drew attention to Medicine Hat and the Monarch Theatre on an international stage.

As of 2025, the Monarch 1911 Society continues restoration work on the theatre. Public interest remains sustained through events, heritage programming, and educational activities. The film continues to be referenced in ongoing updates surround the venue. 

While only one part in a collaborated effort to revive the Monarch Theatre, Your Cinema Needs You consolidated historical information, increased public visibility, and built momentum for the theatre's preservation in a way that is still fueling the discussion about the future of this landmark today. 

Life Hotel in Manhattan, New York City

In the heart of Manhattan’s NoMad district, just a short walk from the Empire State Building, the Life Hotel blends New York City history with modern boutique style. Located at 19 West 31st Street, the hotel occupies the former headquarters of LIFE Magazine, where editors and artists once shaped one of America’s most iconic publications. Today, that same building hums with a different kind of energy, one that mixes nostalgia, creativity, and contemporary comfort.

The structure was originally built in 1895, designed by the renowned architecture firm Carrère and Hastings in a Beaux-Arts style that still radiates quiet grandeur. When LIFE Magazine moved out in 1936, the building’s purpose shifted over the years, but its story never faded. In 2017, it was brought back to life through an extensive restoration that uncovered original details like marble floors, cast-iron columns, and decorative moldings long hidden behind modern renovations. The transformation preserved the bones of the past while infusing it with the relaxed sophistication of a modern New York hotel.

Inside, the Life Hotel feels effortlessly stylish. Its 98 rooms balance mid-century design cues with modern amenities and accents like brass beds, vintage-style lighting, marble bathrooms, and sleek technology, including large HDTVs and high-speed WiFi. Some rooms even offer private terraces overlooking the Midtown skyline. The atmosphere is intimate but not precious, with a focus on warmth and authenticity rather than luxury for luxury’s sake. The hotel is also pet-friendly, offers filtered water stations on every floor, and maintains a 24-hour fitness center for travelers who want to keep their routines intact.

Surrounded by vibrant restaurants, boutique shops, and architectural landmarks, it offers quick access to Midtown’s business district and the downtown creative scene alike. Staying at the Life Hotel feels like inhabiting a piece of New York’s layered story—a place where history isn’t sealed behind glass, but alive in the details. For visitors who crave character as much as comfort, it’s a stay that embodies the city itself: restless, storied, and undeniably alive.

Synopsis of Clay, Creativity & the Comeback

Clay, Creativity & the Comeback, directed by Luke Fandrich, is a compelling documentary that tells the story of Medalta Potteries in Medicine Hat, Alberta, highlighting the power of creativity, resilience, and community action. 

Released in 2019, the film chronicles how a once-abandoned ceramics factory was revitalized through the dedication of passionate individuals, transforming it into a vibrant cultural and educational hub. While focused on a specific site, the documentary resonates broadly, illustrating how heritage preservation and collective effort can reshape communities.

Medalta Potteries was a cornerstone of Medicine Hat’s industrial identity, producing functional and decorative ceramics that reached markets across North America. However, by the 1950s, economic shifts and changes in manufacturing led to the factory’s decline. Buildings were left vacant, kilns grew cold, and the site faced the risk of disappearing entirely from public memory. 

Fandrich’s documentary about Medalta and the surrounding clay district captures this decline while emphasizing the crucial role of those who fought to preserve it. Individuals such as James Marshall and Jack Forbes dedicated years to advocacy, restoration, and fundraising, ultimately securing Medalta’s designation as a National Historic Site of Canada.

The film’s strength lies in its human storytelling. Through interviews with volunteers, historians, and artists, Fandrich paints an intimate portrait of the challenges, setbacks, and triumphs involved in saving Medalta. The documentary does more than recount historical facts; it conveys the emotional investment of those who recognized the factory’s cultural and historical significance. Viewers witness the determination required to preserve the past, along with the joy and satisfaction of seeing the site return to life.

Clay, Creativity & the Comeback has had a meaningful impact on both local and broader audiences. Locally, it has renewed interest in Medicine Hat’s industrial history and inspired community pride, showing that collective action can achieve remarkable outcomes. 

For educators, historians, and cultural enthusiasts, the documentary provides a resource for understanding how heritage preservation intersects with creativity and civic engagement. By highlighting workshops, exhibitions, and educational programs at Medalta, the film also emphasizes the ongoing role of art in connecting the past to the present.

Ultimately, Fandrich’s documentary is a celebration of resilience and the ambitions of a community to reimagine their heritage for a new generation. It demonstrates that even neglected spaces can be revitalized when people work together toward a shared vision. Beyond its historical focus, the film encourages audiences to recognize the value of cultural heritage, inspiring other communities to preserve and repurpose their own forgotten landmarks. 

Clay, Creativity & the Comeback ensures that Medalta Potteries is remembered not only as an industrial heritage site but as a living testament to the ceramic arts. The success of these efforts further emphasizes the importance of dynamic community spaces and the potential for renewal that emerges when dedicated artists rally around them.

Photographing the Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival

Over this past weekend I had the pleasure of utilizing my media pass and photographing the Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival in Medicine Hat, Alberta for the 4th year in a row. Featuring a variety of launches, flights, glows, and a handful of custom "googly eyed" memes, my content this year reached over 300K people on the Editing Luke socials in just the first 4 days of the festival. 

The Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival is a vibrant, free, and family-friendly event held annually in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Launched by Willy and Cindy Taillon in collaboration with the nonprofit Our Collective Journey, the festival aims to uplift spirits and promote mental wellness through the awe-inspiring spectacle of hot air balloons soaring over the city.

Scheduled on May 22–25, 2025, the festival featured nearly 30 balloons from around North America and involved morning and evening flights, weather permitting. A highlight was the mesmerizing Balloon Glow event at Kin Coulee Park on the Friday night, where tethered balloons illuminated the night sky creating a magical experience for the attendees.