I’ve been walking by the Russian Community Center on 4th Avenue for years and always wondered if it ever gets used for anything other than the odd wrestling match and how long until it gets leveled and redeveloped.
After doing a little research online I’ve uncovered it’s colorful past. Before 2114 West 4th became the Russian Community Center, it was known as the Kitsilano Theater. Kits Theater was home to Afterthought, Vancouver’s major psychedelic ballroom. Apparently much of the Vancouver’s psychedelic music scene rooted in Kitsilano in ’66, mushrooming in ’67 at Afterthought.
Back in the day an artist named Bob Masse made all the advertising handbills for concerts in the hood. The Steve Miller Band is just one of many famous bands that played in Kits – check the others out on Bob’s website.
Last modified: April 12, 2008
Go to russiancentrevancouver.org and you will see that the Russian Community Centre is alive and well. In fact there are many things going on in this old theatre bulding. Check the website and you will see that there is a big Easter Concert coming up on the first Sunday of April.