Ituna Theatre in ‘safe hands’ with local buyers, says former owner

The legacy of the historic Ituna Theatre will live on, according to the former owner.

Ajmal Usman, who has owned the theatre for the past four years, said he sold the business to a group of local residents in Ituna who were determined to keep the well-loved cinema alive.

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“It was their effort to save the theater, and I wish to keep it in the position of a theater,” said Usman.

“The people in that community are loving. I have no words to explain them. They are nice people, and I had a great relationship with them.”

An auction was held this past Friday for the theatre, but Usman said only one person signed up and offered a price below the reserve.

He said he ended up agreeing on a price lower than the reserve auction price with the group of local residents who wanted to renovate the historic building to turn it into a community-owned arts co-operative.

“I reduced the price for them because they were motivated. They were willing to save the theatre,” Usman said.

“They want entertainment there, because during the winter this is the only entertainment place for them.”

He said he’s happy and comfortable with the arrangement, noting that his primary concern was to ensure the business would still operate as a theatre in order to entertain the community.

Usman said he made the decision to sell the theatre for a few reasons, primarily because he lives in Regina and it was difficult to drive there in the winter.

“Three years ago, when I was returning from Ituna to Regina, I hit a deer and my car was completely damaged,” he said.

“The people who were going out to Ituna stopped over there, and I have no words to say about their sympathy, about their co-operation. I have so much respect for them in my heart.”

Usman said the generosity he saw from the community is why he wanted to ensure the Ituna Theatre would continue to screen movies well into the future.

“I am happy it is going into safe hands, and they will be able to run it properly,” added Usman.

Usman said he’ll cherish the memories he made in the theatre for the rest of his life, especially because he has been a movie lover ever since he was a young boy.

“The excitement of the little kids and everybody made memorable memories, and I cannot express in words because that’s quite a different feeling,” said Usman.

“When I had a chance to see kids coming from the school, they are excited like I was when I visited the movie theater when I was young.”

Usman said he plans to visit the theatre frequently in the summer, as it will always hold a special place in his heart.