Brantford’s historic theatre marks 40 years since its restoration
In December of 1919, architect Thomas W. Lamb constructed and opened the Temple Theatre in Brantford, Ont. The original design was to promote and experience vaudeville (a live anthology performance consisting of anywhere from 10 to 15 short performances showcasing singers, dancers, comedians, magicians, acrobats and more), as well as silent films. This was the beginning of the entertainment scene in Brantford; however, vaudeville would die off shortly after, with the rise of motion pictures, commercial radio and most notably the Great Depression of the late 1920s.
In 1929, theatre chain Famous Players bought the venue and renamed it the Capitol Theatre in 1930-31. The staff promptly wired it to play “talkies” (the first films that featured auditory dialogue) and operated exclusively as a downtown movie house for over 50 years. As film theatres grew into the multi-screen cinemas we see today, attendance at the single-film theatre plummeted. The final film played at the Capitol Theatre was “One Crazy Summer” and closed in August of 1986.
Through donations and financial help of the Sanderson family, the property was purchased by the City of Brantford that same year with a goal to go back to the history of the building and reopen as a space for live theatre entertainment. The building was purchased for C$425,000 but required undergoing structural repairs and a complete aesthetic overhaul of the inside.
The Sanderson family was deeply intertwined with the City of Brantford; they operated as low-profile, high-income donors who helped finance community infrastructure, local arts groups and even healthcare incentives around the Brantford community. To pay homage to the incredible donations the Sanderson family made, the building was renamed the “Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts” in December of 1989.
Today their legacy continues through the Sanderson Centre Foundation, using private and community donations to fund restoration projects and update equipment used in the theatre.
Oct. 2, 2026 marks the 40th anniversary of the Sanderson Centre, celebrating the restoration and reopening of the theatre by inviting the community to explore behind-the-scenes tours, refreshments and an opportunity for the community to explore and learn more about four decades of entertainment and community support free of charge.
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