"We'll Always Have Paris!"

Rory J. Koopmans, B. Admin., Royal Alberta Museum-Emeritus Courtesy Wifi, Edmonton, Alberta

November VIth, MMXVII

Hon. Dave Eggen, B. Ed., MLA, Minister of Education, New Democratic, Edmonton-Calder

Dear Dave:

After LXXXI (81) glorious years, film students & others will say goodbye to an old friend as the Edmonton Film Society (EFS) shows its last film & the marquee goes dark here at the Glenora former Royal Alberta Museum site: "Casablanca", one of countless thousands of films that have been showcased through Monday at VIII (8) PM screenings for years. Partly due to an aging population & a lack of volunteers (due to the fact many seniors don't want to contribute or are too decrepit in health to do so in many cases), as well as skyrocketing costs with admission rates not following suit, it was time to let go. Sad because seniors are not going to pay $30. to $50. or more to park to see a $5. film at the new downtown location, too impractical. Plus they'd have to fight for Rogers Place event stalls with Oilers fans & for other events. Note: I offered up 4 people in their 30s, myself & 2 in their 20s to keep the film society going in 2014, so its a bit rich for them to claim they had no volunteers plus the museum was willing to let them stay. And the seniors many of whom have money didn't want to pay any more than $5. admission, not even say $6. with $5. being the same price I paid for the 35 plus years of Monday nights I attended with my mom & then later alone after she died!

For some seniors, this is their only night out of the week & the new museum is not friendly to those folks celebrating their "golden years." So as we say goodbye to Rick, Ilsa & overcome our shock, shock at finding that gambling is going on in this establishment, we mourn the loss of a truly great friend & the sadness in the building closure being forced on EFS members by Alberta Infrastructure & Culture when the Monday night screenings should be able to continue in perpetuity: especially as they add to Alberta's rich film culture.

"Here's Looking At You Kid!",

Rory

Source: The Edmonton Film Society & "Casablanca" C. MCMXLII, Warner Brothers Pictures Incorporated (TM) & First National Pictures (TM) Direct From The Warner Archive/Vault.