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The Imperial Theatre
in Ottawa was built in 1914, and featured both
a balcony seating over 200, and loges, or box seats, for over
100 patrons.
In 1938 the venue was popular enough to be fined twenty dollars
for overcrowding and people standing in the aisles.
Ten years later, however, the theatre had to reduce the seating
capacity to meet the requirements for a one-man projection booth,
as they could no longer afford to employ two men. The theatre
closed in 1955, and eventually became a concert hall, Barrymore’s. |
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![Photo: Imperial Theatre, Ottawa, rear of auditorium, [ca 1938]](../pics/rg_56_11_0_179_4_270.jpg)
Click
to see a larger image (110K)
Imperial Theatre, Ottawa, rear of auditorium, [ca 1938]
Theatre photographs
Reference Code: RG 56-11-0-179-4
Archives of Ontario, I0012530 |
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The Imperial, and other Ottawa theatres ran afoul
of the Lord’s Day Act in 1950. The Chairman of the Motion
Picture Censorship and Theatres Inspection Branch wrote to Ottawa
theatre owners on April 21, stating.....
“the theatres
in your city have been used [on Sundays] more than any others
in Ontario and in most cases you have ignored our arrangement
with the Lord’s Day Alliance of Canada. You are all
familiar with the requirements. They are quite simple. You
write me for certain forms which are to be completed twenty-one
days prior to any performance, and they must be completed
in full…From this date should any of your theatres
be opened on Sunday for any event, without the necessary
forms being completed, I shall ask the Provincial Secretary
to deal with the matter”
RG 56-9-0-50-1 |
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Click
to see a larger image (111K)
Imperial Theatre, Ottawa, entrance, 1947
Theatre photographs
Reference Code: RG 56-11-0-179-2
Archives of Ontario, I0012528
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![Photo: Imperial Theatre, Ottawa, exterior, [ca 1938]](../pics/rg_56_11_0_179_5_270.jpg)
![Photo: Imperial Theatre, Ottawa, entrance, [ca. 1940]](../pics/rg_56_11_0_179_3_270.jpg)
