Fans flood Fort Macleod for special sold-out Ghostbusters: Afterlife screening

Franchise aficionados, local celebrities and Fort Macleod, Alta., residents all descended on the historic Empress Theatre on Saturday night to celebrate the release of the new film in the cult-favourite Ghostbusters franchise.

The Ghostbusters franchise is well-known for its dedicated fanbase, and Saturday's screening brought them out in full force to clean up the southwest town complete with combat boots, utility belts and ecto-goggles.

A planned appearance by a massive inflatableStay-Puft Marshmallow Man (also knowas Mr. Stay-Puft) had to be nixed due to southern Alberta's infamous winds but that didn't quell fan excitement for the night's event.

"My wife helped me get tickets to the premiere, so we flew and spent a couple days over here," said Marcelo Ponce, who travelled up to Fort Macleod from Salt Lake City, Utah, and belongs to the Ghostbusters of Salt Lake fan club.

Ponce said he became a fan of the franchise as a child living in Chilewhen he saw the first movie. When he moved to the United States, he continued his fandom.

"It's every fan of Ghostbusters' dream to be able to see the new movie. We've been waiting for this for a long, long time," Ponce said. "They sold out pretty quick. So for me, it's like a dream come true."

Margaret Ann Bianco, theatre director of the Empress Theatre, said people from all around the world came to the screening.

"I think just to have Fort Macleod recognized that way that it will be, and certainly the Empress Theatre, we're just thrilled," she said.

Who ya gonna call?

Ghostbusters: Afterlife is the fourth film in the supernatural comedyfranchise, which began in 1984 with the Bill Murray-ledGhostbusters, ranked the 28th funniest American film of all time by the American Film Institute.

The latest film starsPaul Rudd, Carrie Coon and Finn Wolfhard.It was directed by Jason Reitman, the son ofIvan Reitman, who directed the original film and its 1989 sequel.

Rather than a ghost-catching business in New York City,Ghostbusters: Afterlifeis set30 years after the second moviein small town Oklahoma.

Fort Macleod as well as TurnerValley, Drumheller, Beiseker and Crossfield all played host to the production crew when filming took place in 2019. Familiar sights, like Fort Macleod's Empress Theatre and Drumheller's water tower, are all prominently featured in the film's trailer.

Sue Keenan, who was chief administrative officer of Fort Macleod while Ghostbusters shot in the community, said the production was a great opportunity for the community.

"The production team was fantastic, the businesses and residents were very co-operative. It was just a really fun experience for everybody," she said.

Saturday's screening quickly sold out after tickets went on sale, but drinks andfood were available to the public as part of the celebration under a tent that helped block the wind on a chilly Saturday night.

Proceeds from the event are intended to raise money for future renovations on the seats and floors in the historic theatre, which has operated since 1912.

Ghostbusting here at home

Other ghostbusting fangroups also made the trek to Saturday's screening, including local outfits.

Jacqueline Burt, secretary of the non-profit Alberta Ghostbusters, said the event was a long time coming.

"This is the culmination of a lot of hard work, and a lot of fan passion. To have this event in Alberta, it's something that we're very proud of," Burt said.

"To be on the ground floor for this is just a phenomenal, once-in-a-lifetime experience."

Burt said about a third of the members of Alberta Ghostbustersare women, adding that there's something different available for everyone who wants to participate.

"In Ghostbusters, you can be anybody," she said. "It's open to an entire fandom of people, it's not a specific group. And that's what I think makes it really special."

CBC Calgary has launched a Lethbridgebureau to helptell your stories from southern Alberta with reporter Joel Dryden. Story ideas and tips can be sent tojoel.dryden@cbc.ca.