Government of Canada Recognizes the National Historic Importance of the Metropolitan Theatre
News Release
January 15, 2018 Winnipeg, Manitoba Parks Canada Agency
Today, Robert-Falcon Ouellette, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, commemorated the national historic significance of the Metropolitan Theatre with the unveiling of an Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC) plaque. A special ceremony was held at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre, which is the present-day venue name of the theatre, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
The Government of Canada is committed to connecting Canadians to the significant people, places, and events that contributed to our country’s rich diverse heritage. Officially opened in 1920, the Metropolitan Theatre was one of the first great movie “palaces” in Canada, so-called because it could accommodate over 2,000 people and was adorned with striking exterior details and opulent interior décor. It is considered to be one of the best surviving works of C. Howard Crane, a prominent American theatre architect of the early 20th century.
The Metropolitan Theatre was originally called the Allen Theatre, after the Allen brothers, who were responsible for its construction. Between 1906 and 1923, the Allen brothers were Canada’s leading movie theatre operators and film distributors. It was renamed the Metropolitan Theatre when the American cinema chain, Famous Players, took over the theatre in 1923. After being purchased in 2007 by a local family-owned company, Canad Inns, the theatre was rejuvenated to its original grandeur and has been transformed into a multi-purpose entertainment venue.
Parks Canada invites Canadians to discover and be inspired by the stories of the people, places, and events that shaped the Canada of today. We encourage you to learn more about our country’s history, and discover truly Canadian places and stories with Parks Canada.
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Quotes
“I am pleased that the Metropolitan Theatre, a Winnipeg landmark, is now commemorated as a national historic site. The theatre is a great representation of the cultural impact of the movie theatre in the 1920s. I encourage all Canadians to learn more about this beautiful place and its important role in our country’s history.”
Robert-Falcon Ouellette,
Member of Parliament for Winnipeg Centre
Quick Facts
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After nearly 70 years of operation as a movie theatre, the Metropolitan Theatre closed in 1987. In 1991, it was declared a National Historic Site of Canada. It was carefully restored and re-opened in 2012 as an entertainment venue, and is currently known as The Metropolitan Entertainment Centre or The MET.
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In the early 1920s, when live orchestras provided music to accompany the pictures, the Metropolitan Theatre had two distinct orchestras supplemented by a huge Wurlitzer theatre organ, with a capability of wide-ranging sound effects.
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Decorated plasterwork on the auditorium’s ceiling and walls was designed by Emmanuel Briffa, an exceptional cinema decorator who created sixty movie theatre interiors between the 1920s and 1955 and was designated a national historic person of Canada in 2007.
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Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people, and events that have marked Canada’s history.
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Contacts
Jodi Duhard
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Parks Canada, Manitoba Field Unit
145 McDermot Avenue,
Winnipeg, Manitoba
204-984-1758
jodi.duhard@pc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca
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