Life at the Empire Capitol 6 lately has been as action-packed as some of the movies playing there.
The exterior of the Blanshard Street multiplex -- surrounded by scaffolding dotted with bright lights since September -- has been looking more like a movie set than a cinema as crews work on restoration of its glass dome.
"It's been pretty exciting around here," manager John Turcotte said. He has had to have computers and desks in his upstairs office covered at times as workers painstakingly replace hundreds of panes of glass. It's part of a plan by Empire Theatres, which bought the theatre in 2005, to make the multiplex a more competitive entertainment destination.
"It's been a long process," Turcotte said, adding work should be completed by Christmas.
Crews are tackling the delicate task of replacing every pane in the 1,800-seat six-plex's dome, as well as its smaller dome and street-level glass. The dome has taken a lot of weather abuse since the old Capitol's $4-million upgrade in 1981, and it looked unkempt. Failed panes and broken seals had allowed moisture in.
The profile will look different, since modern safety features dictate a wider space between panes, Turcotte said.
He wouldn't say how much the renovations would cost but joked that he will have "the most expensive window in the company."
The upgrades dispel rumours that have been around sine the 1970s, that the multiplex would be sold or turned into a condo tower.
"We're here to stay," Turcotte said. "Moviegoing is still pretty inexpensive compared to a lot of things."
