Empire celebrates 10th Anniversary with a walk in the clouds

On June 16, a free screening of the Oscar nominated 1942 “Captain of the Clouds” will be held at the North Bay Capital Centre as part of the Empire Living Centre/Empire Terrace Suites’ 10th Anniversary celebrations.

“Captain of the Clouds” was the first Hollywood production to be filmed entirely in Canada and also marked James Cagney’s first film in to be lensed in Technicolor. More importantly, much of the film was shot in and around North Bay.

“We have planned a number of exciting events throughout the summer, and this screening of ‘Captain of the Clouds’, which was filmed here in North Bay, seemed like an perfect fit,” Empire Living Centre/Terrace Suites General Manager Renee Madigan explained.

This year is the 80th anniversary of the start of construction on the Empire Hotel, and the 10th anniversary of the grand opening of the Empire Living Centre. A number of events have been planned to celebrate these milestones including the Doors Open Historical Sites Tour that took place on May 12, and this weekend’s screening at the Capitol Centre.

In 1997, the Empire Hotel was renovated and reopened as the Empire Living Centre, a sophisticated assisted living residence for seniors. In 2004, construction was completed on Empire Terrace Suites, an environment for carefree independent senior living. Now, eighty years after the ground was first broken on the site, the Empire Living Centre is celebrating its 10th anniversary as the only community for seniors that offers two lifestyles in one Empire.

“We have an exciting event planned and are looking forward to presenting this film to the public as part of our tenth anniversary celebrations,” Madigan said.

The free screening will take place at 2pm on Saturday, June 16, at the Capitol Centre and will feature displays of memorabilia and photographs taken during the filming of the picture and a discussion with guests, Rudy Mauro (who attended the premier of the movie) and Ab Joesph (his wife was in the movie) who was present in 1942 for the filming of the movie.