©2017 The Past Whispers
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Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Thursday, October 26, 2017
Imperial Theater
Imperial Theater
The Imperial Theatre opened on April 26, 1913 in downtown Montreal, Quebec. It had a seating capacity of 2,300.
In 1934, the Imperial Theatre was rented to Leo Ernest Ouimet and in 1936, RKO Radio Pictures sold the movie house to Consolidated Theatres.
In 1950, the Imperial Theatre was first renovated and was altered again for Cinerama in 1954.
In 1970, it was sold to Cinema International and was renamed the Cine Centre in 1974. The theater was twinned in 1975 and was renamed the Imperial Theatre in 1976.
In 1980, United Theatres (part of Famous Players) repurchased the Imperial and it was restored and reopened in 1981.
In 1986, the Imperial Theatre became the first cinema in Quebec to receive THX certification. It was donated to the Montreal Film Festival in 1995 by Famous Players.
The Cinema Imperial currently seats 819, and is still a true “Cinema Treasure”.
©2017 The Past Whispers
All Rights Reserved
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
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