Stories of Alberta: The Bailey Theatre in Camrose

Nestled among the historic brick storefronts and bustling local businesses on Camrose’s main street stands a theatre unlike any other. With its iconic Art Deco façade and intimate charm, The Bailey Theatre has been part of the Camrose story since 1911 and is the oldest theatre in western Canada today.

But this isn’t just an old building. It’s a heartbeat, a memory keeper, a place where history meets community and the past is always ready to take centre stage.

The story begins with Camille David, a rancher who moved to Camrose in the spring of 1909 and purchased a wine, liquor and cigar store on Main Street. But Camille’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t stop there. A year later, he began building The David Theatre right across the street and on February 23, 1911, Camille raised the curtains for its first-ever live performance.

The theatre quickly became a buzzing hub of entertainment and culture, hosting touring vaudeville acts, silent films, political rallies and even boxing matches. It was ahead of its time, with electric lights, an orchestra pit and dressing rooms beneath the stage. “We have an old photograph of 60 people on the stage,” says David Roth, Director of the Bailey Theatre Society. “It’s a small stage, but it’s seen a lot.”

In 1919, Stan Bailey purchased the theatre and added a 40-foot front lobby and a 120-seat balcony. Though it kept the David name for a few years, the building gradually became known as the Bailey Theatre — a name that would endure for generations.

The Bailey remained at the heart of Camrose’s cultural scene for decades. It hosted dances, live shows and community events, even throughout the Second World War. But after switching ownership again a handful of times and becoming a movie theatre, competition from modern multiplexes forced the Bailey to dim its lights in the mid-1990s.



That could’ve been the end, but instead, it was a new beginning.

2024/25 Bailey Theatre Society board members.

In 1999, a group of passionate community members formed the Bailey Theatre Society and bought the building from Landmark Cinemas for just one dollar. Armed with vision and volunteer spirit, they got to work restoring the space. “When it was renovated, one of the main objectives was that it be a major hub on Main Street,” says David. “When the project first started, Camrose’s downtown was struggling, so bringing the Bailey back as a vibrant activity on Main Street was really important.”

As renovations continued, so did the challenges. “Eventually the money ran out and the pigeons moved in,” says David. But luckily, residents in Camrose never forgot about the fond childhood memories at the Bailey and in 2006, Frank MacInnis, a benefactor who grew up in Camrose, donated $2.5 million to the cause and renovations soon continued.



That gift sparked a swell of support. With funding from the City of Camrose, provincial and federal governments, private donations and a mortgage from Vision Credit Union, the restoration was eventually completed. In 2011, 100 years after its original opening night, the Bailey Theatre reopened its doors.

“It really is a cultural hub in Camrose,” says Colleen Nelson, President of the Bailey Theatre Society. “It’s been that way since the very beginning.”

For both Colleen and David, the Bailey is more than a piece of history. It’s home.

Colleen remembers running down the street as a child with just enough allowance to catch a matinee and buy a snack. “It was a sense of independence and wonder,” she says. “My husband and I had our first date here when I was 15 and we’ve had our entire family here many times over the years.”

Today, the theatre hosts everything from folk and blues shows with the Rose City Roots Music Society to community arts programs, special events and downtown lunches at the onsite bistro. It’s the permanent home of the Camrose Arts Society and a vital piece of Main Street’s revitalization. 

It’s not just about the past. It’s about continuing to create memories and connection with the community. “The energy from my childhood is still alive in this theatre today,” says Colleen.