Maybe itB次元官网网址檚 the veil of darkness that leaves people leery.

Whatever the reason, the possibility of selling alcohol at Victoria movie theatres doesnB次元官网网址檛 sit as easily as it does with sports arenas such as the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.

In B.C., movie house owners won the right to apply for liquor licences in April, after a high-profile and contentious public consultation. But while the provincial governmentB次元官网网址檚 concerns have been adequately assuaged by a set of restrictions, the as-yet untested idea still elicits some fears at the local government level.

This provincial issue has landed here for the first time, as the Roxy Theatre seeks the nod from city council.

B次元官网网址�        B次元官网网址�         B次元官网网址�

In 2010, the little theatre in Quadra Village made headlines when owner Michael Sharpe tried B次元官网网址� and failed B次元官网网址� to sell the property with development potential. Fans were quick to defend their 63-year-old B次元官网网址渋rreplaceable landmark,B次元官网网址� and reporters waxed eloquent about the value of these disappearing icons.

Even back then, before it was legal, Victorians mused about the possibility of selling booze as a way to reinvigorate the theatre.

B次元官网网址淚 guess I can see how someone might want to have a few beers while at a (for example) martial-arts triple feature,B次元官网网址� wrote B次元官网网址楢mor de CosmosB次元官网网址� on Vibrant Victoria, adding a smirking emoticon.

These days, the Roxy mostly shows second-run films at reduced prices.

But it also screens cultish and other classics, such as the upcoming Rocky Horror Picture Show. The theatreB次元官网网址檚 website even invites patrons to write to management with suggestions for what theyB次元官网网址檇 like to see.

These are hard times for many small movie theatres.

ThatB次元官网网址檚 in part because they often canB次元官网网址檛 afford to make the transition to digital technology, said Donovan Aikman, programmer for the Victoria Film Festival, which salvaged the Vic Theatre after it closed in 2008.

B次元官网网址淒igital projectors are not a small investment B次元官网网址� (and) there is a lot less film product that can come into a theatre on 35 millimetre,B次元官网网址� he said.

This is the problem facing SidneyB次元官网网址檚 well-loved, but struggling Star Cinema. ItB次元官网网址檚 looking to its patrons to secure its financial future. Seat sponsorships by individuals and businesses have so far raised just over half of the $200,000 needed to upgrade its technology.

Liquor sales could prove another way forward for small theatres. But is it a good idea?

B次元官网网址淭ime will tell,B次元官网网址� said Aikman. B次元官网网址淔or me as a patron, it sounds like a nice idea.B次元官网网址�

But, he qualifies, it depends on how licences are implemented locally.  B次元官网网址淚t could work really well in one area, and not so well in another.B次元官网网址�

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This is the decision facing Victoria city council, whose input influences the evaluation of the application by the province.

B次元官网网址淚 know the owner and respect the owner,B次元官网网址� said Mayor Dean Fortin at last weekB次元官网网址檚 governance and priorities committee meeting.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 worried a bit about late-night movies and alcohol and only 19 and over (permitted). That really has the potential in the wrong ownerB次元官网网址檚 hands to be a community nightmare.B次元官网网址�

Added Coun. Geoff Young: B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 inclined to be a little bit cautious. The main impact would be people emerging from the theatre, walking through the neighbourhood speaking loudly.B次元官网网址�

Council was also left with many questions about the business model.

B次元官网网址淲hat provisions would there be for all-ages movie nights?B次元官网网址� asked Coun. Ben Isitt.

B次元官网网址淚 would like to understand how itB次元官网网址檚 been vetted in Vancouver,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Chris Coleman, referring to the Rio Theatre, which is now licensed to serve alcohol during movie screenings.

At staffB次元官网网址檚 recommendation, council voted to move the application to public hearing, but with one tweak: liquor service should end at 11 p.m. rather than the proposed  last call of 1 a.m. on weekends and midnight on weekdays.

Sharpe did not attend the meeting to answer questions, and did not respond to requests by the B次元官网网址 for an interview.

The details:

B次元官网网址� The Roxy Theatre, at 2657 Quadra St., has applied for a primary liquor licence, commencing one hour before the screening of a film and ending at 11 p.m. at the latest. Only ticket-holding patrons would be served and the facility would not allow minors during screenings where alcohol is served.

B次元官网网址� In April, the province changed legislation to allow movie theatres and live-event theatres to apply for a licence to serve alcohol during the screening of a film. To date, nine live-event theatres have been granted licences, such as the Rio Theatre in Vancouver, and three more applications are pending.

B次元官网网址� Movie theatres have been slower to apply. So far, the province has only received two applications, but has yet to grant any.

rholmen@vicnews.com