In the Rio on Broadway's opening ads from 1938, the owners of the theatre near Commercial Drive boasted union construction labour, free parking, and chairs with “the utmost in luxurious ease”. When local hopeful Mukesh Goyal reopens the 1660 East Broadway Rio theatre on May 5 (Friday), he promises to set the 458-seat cinema apart, too, 68 years later.

“This will be very glitzy. It's reminiscent of the golden era of the single-screen theatre,” Goyal told the Straight, mentioning that a 5.5-metre red neon and incandescent sign will adorn the entrance. “There will be no preshow advertising; it will be a personal experience, and we're not going to use the training wage. Everyone starts at $9 an hour.”

Real-estate investor Goyal, who grew up at East 65th Avenue and Fraser Street, said he misses movie-night socializing. He said he originally bid on the Pantages Theatre on Hastings Street but was outmanoeuvred by another investor. At the Rio on Broadway, he's committed to offering first-run movies relatively cheap: $8 for adults, $5 for seniors and children, and $7 for youth. Tuesdays, seats are $5 each for everyone.

“Every person I came across, I asked, 'What do you not like about going to the movies?' They said the admission prices....I remember in Grade 11 and 12, Tuesday was movie night because the admission was half-price. But that's diminished because of high pricing.”

Goyal said he's been helped tremendously by other single-screen owners in town, including Dave Fairleigh of the Hollywood Theatre and Leonard Schein of the Park, the Ridge, and the Fifth Avenue.