For visitors and residents alike, the Rex Theatre is one of Slave Lake’s most recognizable landmarks — a window into the community’s past and an enduring gathering place in the present.

For generations, the theatre has given people a place to enjoy films, spend time with family and friends, and create lasting memories, while serving as a reminder of an era when small-town cinemas were at the heart of community life.

The Rex Theatre’s history dates back to 1949, when Slave Lake was still an unincorporated hamlet. That year, Roy Evans and his partner, Len Stiles, began showing movies in the Royal Canadian Legion hall, bringing cinema entertainment to a growing northern community.

After several years, the pair constructed the current Rex Theatre building in the mid-1950s, establishing what would become one of Slave Lake’s longest-running businesses.

Today, the theatre is operated by Khalil (Khali) Mouallem, whose family has become a familiar presence in the community through decades of local business involvement. Taking over the Rex, however, was never part of Khali’s original plan.

“As a tenant in the building at Carlos restaurant, we were approached in early 2022, when Roy Evans passed away, with the opportunity to purchase the property, which included the theatre,” he says.

“It was a huge risk after the COVID shutdowns and the major shift in how movies were released during the pandemic, when people began limiting outings and public spaces. While the prospect was intriguing, we really needed to think about it and initially declined.”

One of Khali’s biggest concerns was the changing film industry, with more movies going directly to streaming services and many theatrical releases enjoying only brief runs at the box office.
He had originally hoped to purchase another property, but was told the sale was a package deal that included the theatre.

“At that point, we decided to give it a shot because we had little to lose. Trade the rent for a mortgage and hope the theatre income and rental properties could make up the difference,” he says.

Although becoming a theatre owner wasn’t part of his long-term plans, Khali says movies have always played an important role in his life. Some of his earliest memories are of trips to the theatre with his father, sharing popcorn and watching action movies together. He recalls Twins, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, as one of the first films he saw on the big screen.

As he grew older, his tastes evolved. A college friend introduced him to the Star Wars franchise, sparking an appreciation for science fiction, while blockbuster releases like Avatar became events he eagerly anticipated.

Today, however, he says his favourite movies are the ones he can share with his wife and four daughters. An example would be Disney’s Moana, which is playing this weekend. The movie is a live-action adaptation of the 2016 film.

“While I still get super pumped for big blockbuster movies like The Odyssey and Spider-Man, my favourite movies are the ones my kids can watch,” he says.

For Khali, the value of the theatre has never been limited to what appears on the screen.

“It’s never really been about the movie. While, of course, there have been many that left me wowed and amazed, it’s always been about the experience of being with people I love and want to be around.”

That belief is one of the reasons he feels the Rex remains important to the community.

“In a town like Slave Lake, where we’re indoors for much of the year because of the weather, it’s nice to have something affordable that gets people out of the house,” he says.

Beyond regular movie screenings, the Rex hosts school year-end celebrations, Christmas parties and private events, giving families, students and community groups another reason to gather.

“I encourage people to give more movies a chance because it’s not always just about the movie,” he says. “It’s very hard not to enjoy getting out of the house and doing something with people we enjoy being around.”

Watching children file into the theatre for school events, excited to grab their treats before the lights dim, remains one of his favourite parts of owning the Rex.

“It’s always a lot of fun to see the kids pumped to get their treats and get to sit down and enjoy the show.”

William Hetherington
Lakeside Leader