The Origins of the Theatre:

Originally the Pleasant Street Cemetery extended to underneath what is current location of the Sagebrush Theatre. In 1939, after a flood exposed and upturned tombstones. The City had decided to move the caskets and hand carved headstones to their current location across the street  (between 8th and 10th avenue). After World War II an increasing amount of classes were being offered in portables on the high school grounds while other classes spaces around town such as Columbo Hall and McGowan field. Two referendums were held before the planning of a new school building was passed. 

Kamloops Highschool (what is now SKSS) opened its doors in September 1952. At this time, the auditorium was still under construction. It officially opened its doors in 1953. At the time the theatre did not include the area where the present-day stage and back stage are. The layout was also flipped so the stage was at the back of the audience. Until 1953 school musical productions were offered at the Elks Hall on Seymour Street. 

In 1970 planning and movement began on what is now the Sagebrush Theatre. By 1978 the theatre expanded and flipped to the layout that you know today. Much of the drive and a portion of the funding behind the expansion came from former WCTC Artistic Director Frank Glassen and the WCTC Board of Directors. 

(Fun Fact: Frank Glassen was a former drama student of WCTC founding artistic director Tom Kerr)

*Source: Gordon Lloyd and Walter Harder.

The History of Albert:

The Sagebrush Theatre is home to Albert, our resident guardian. His seat, Z24 is, permanently reserved for him. When the seating area was renovated his seat was moved to overtop of the house right vomitorium.

Who is Albert?:

• It is thought that Albert is Arnold Mallott, who was the first man to be hung in Kamloops (November 1886).
• Kamloops Museum and Archives has an article noting Arnold Mallott being a 23-year-old bartender from the O’Keefe Saloon in the Eagles Pass. He was charged with killing a man who was presumed to be stealing from his bar. After 14 months - he was sentenced.
• In 1939, after a flood exposed and upturned tombstones at what is currently the location of The Sagebrush Theatre, the coffin of Arnold Mallott was misplaced. The location actually used to house a further extension of the grave yards which still remain there to this day between 8th and 10th avenue. The City had decided to move the caskets and hand carved headstones to their current location across the street and in the process misplaced one. Or so the story goes.

Reports of encounters:

• There have been countless reports of his seat lowering as a show begins as if someone is sitting in the seat, and it returning to the upward position at the end of the show. Some discount this phenomenon as being due to the space heating up from the presence of an audience.
• Accounts of knocking or reports of movements behind walls and under the seating that cannot be accessed.
• Lights being reprogrammed
• Audio levels rising and lowering without anyone touching the controls.
• Voices/warnings

Personal Accounts:

• An employee who was on a catwalk had neglected to clip in their safety harness. They heard a voice tell them to secure the harness. They did so and almost immediately after a light fell and sent them flying off the catwalk. They dangled 8metres above the seats. They would have been severely injured if they had not been clipped in.
• Various janitors have claimed that while vacuuming their cord(with plenty of slack) kept coming unplugged. One in particular tried a different vacuum and varying which outlets they used. The occurrences didn't let up. 
• An employee recounted spotting someone onstage from the cross aisle. As soon as they called out to them, they vanished. 
• A sound technician made fun of Albert and those that believed in him. During a show the technician lost control of the console. They did not regain control until they apologized to Albert.
• A production member forgot their wallet in the theatre. They disarmed the building, ran in to grab it, and on their way back to the stage door they found a chair in their way. This was the same way they had entered 30seconds prior. 
  

Other spirits?

• From the corner of 9^th and Munro you can see the windows to the upstairs rehearsal room. There are reports of seeing a man or children in the windows while the building is vacant and alarmed. Other times staff have ran up immediately to investigate and found the completely room/building empty.
• A little girl has been heard singing through program sound despite the microphone being off.