1921 – Garrick Theatre. Garry Street, Winnipeg

The Garrick Theatre opened as a single screen cinema on March 14, 1921. It remained that way until May 16, 1968 it was twinned and largely rebuilt by architects Waismann Ross Blankstein Coop Gillmor Hanna.

“A Recently Completed “Movie” that is the Latest Word in Playhouse Design and Construction— Ramps Supplant Staircases
The new Garrick Theatre. Garry Street, Winnipeg, recently completed, is one of the most up-to-date moving- picture theatres yet constructed. It is so designed that the large audience provided for, is accommodated with absolutely no loss of space by irregularity of plan or unnecessary architectural features. It is rectangular in plan, 79 feet wide by 120 feet deep, accommodating an audience of 1300, including 100 in loge seats. The floor is inclined with a gradient of 2 in 11, which enables every one of the audience to obtain a clear and uninterrupted view of the screen.

A special feature of construction is the manner of ascent from the entrance to the auditorium which is by means of inclined aisles, one on each side of the auditorium ; there are no staircases, the aisles are sufficiently wide and of such easy grade as to permit of free access or exit without overcrowding or possibility of jambing in the case of a panic.

The ‘building was erected and is owned by well known local business men, and is under the very capable management of Mr. W. P. Wilson, one of the largest shareholders, and a man with extensive business experience of this particular class. The plans and specifications were prepared by Melton Bretts, also a shareholder in the company and who is now acting as the chief projectionist of the theatre.

All the materials used in the construction were obtained locally, as was also the labor employed throughout the whole work. A. A. Simpson, Winnipeg, was the general contractor and John Senior, superintendent of construction.

The walls are of sand-lime bricks, with Tyndall limestone dressings. The bricks were manufactured and supported on steel lattice girders 77 feet long, suplied by the Dominion Bridge Co.

The operating room is of steel and reinforced concrete, and is situated at the extreme end of the building, the distance from operating machine to screen being 110 feet. A luxuriously furnished lounge room, 14 ft. by 36 ft., is conveniently located near the entrance. The electric lighting was done by the Schumacher Gray Co., Winnipeg. It is of the indirect x-ray type, and is a distinctive feature of the interior, the entire illumination being concealed in specially built recessed corbels. Particular attention has been given to the ventilation and heating systems, with a view of ensuring comfort during any season of the year and at a minimum cost of operation.

The decoration is of a soft and pleasing tone throughout the whole building, and is of a style very appropriate for the kind of building. All decorations were executed by the Taylor Decorating Co., Winnipeg.”
Engineering and Contract Record, July 20, 1921

Share!

More!