©2017 The Past Whispers
All Rights Reserved
Who are you the past whispered? I wasn't sure. Born in Montreal to French - Irish parents and moved to America at age 4, I wasn't able to connect with my roots. The past whispered again and I began my search. The search for my elusive great-grandparents took me to County Cavan, Ireland, northern France and Belgium. The Past Whispers...
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Monday, October 9, 2017
Glen Taxi
Glen Taxi originated in the early 1950s and disappeared in the late 1970s. The company was named after the Glen Yard located west of Saint-Henri, on the edge of Notre-Dame- de-Grace. Listed in the Lovell directories from 1951 to 1978. Initially at 4635 West Sparks, and then at 5010 Notre-Dame West.
The company mainly served the Saint-Henri and Petite Bourgogne districts. Their telephone number was WE7-1441 (937-1441). The photo comes from a documentary filmshot for the NFB in 1962 by Hubert Aquin.
My cousin, Roger Mailhot drove for Glen Taxi back in the day.
©2017 The Past Whispers
All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Palace Theatre
Built as the Allen Theatre for movies in 1921 at what is now 698 Ste-Catherine, between McGill College Ave. and University St. Its architect, C. Howard Crane, designed other theatres in Canada and the U.S. Highly decorated interior with columns, marble stairways, crystal chandeliers and paintings. Redecorated by Emmanuel Briffa in 1928 when it became the Palace, with Greek-inspired statues, a central dome and tile mosaics. Showed the city’s first sound pictures. Gutted and subdivided into multiple cinemas in 1980. Most recently a hamburger restaurant.
©2017 The Past Whispers
All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, September 27, 2017
Saturday, September 23, 2017
Bennett’s Theatre
Opened in 1907 on the north side of Ste-Catherine at City Councillors St. It was the first theatre in Montreal built specifically for vaudeville, by Bennett’s Theatrical Enterprises Ltd. Renamed the Orpheum in 1910. From its beginnings, the theatre also showed moving pictures. It became a double-feature film house in the 1940s, then was home of the Théâtre du Nouveau Monde company before it moved into the old Gayety Theatre. Demolished in the 1960s.
©2017 The Past Whispers
All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Théâtre Français
Opened in 1884 on the south side of Ste-Catherine at St-Dominique St. Name changed to Billy Moore’s Lyceum, and Sara Bernhardt performed here in 1905. Loews chain in New York renovated the theatre in 1920 and renamed it Loews Court. Its name changed back to Français in 1924. In 1960, it began showing only French-language movies. Became Eros, a porno theatre, in 1970. Closed in 1981. Reopened as Club Metropolis in 1986.
On September 17, 2017 it reopened as a concert venue named M TELUS after a wireless provider.
©2017 The Past Whispers
All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, September 13, 2017
The Night of the Galleries - 2017
On September 16, 2017, discover the galleries of the Old Port of Quebec until Quartier Petit Champlain during the 13th edition of the Nuit des Galeries.
©2017 The Past Whispers
All Rights Reserved