Cinema Imperial

Montreal, Quebec

1432 Rue de Bleury

, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2J1 Canada

(map)

514.848.7187

Status:	Open
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Italian Renaissance

Function:	Movies
Seats:	819
Chain:	Independent

Architect:	Albert E. Westover
Firm:	Unknown

Exterior view of the Cinema Imperial (Imperial Theatre)

Photo courtesy of Mike Rivest

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".

Related Websites

Cinema Imperial, Montreal (Official)

Contributed by Chad Irish

YOUR COMMENTS

This theatre designed by Albert E. Westover is currently closed for additional restoration (Oct 2003).
A history of this theatre can be found at:
http://www.ffm-montreal.org/en_impe_hist.html

posted by edward on Oct 13, 2003 at 8:32am

I remember visiting this marvelous theatre a number of times in the late 1970s and early 1980s when it was used as one of the venues for Serge Losique's Montreal World Film Festival.

posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Jul 21, 2004 at 5:11pm

Here is a photo I took of the Imperial in 1989.

posted by Gerald A. DeLuca on Apr 13, 2005 at 8:40am

A view of the proscenium and screen:
http://flickr.com/photos/p-a/36972106/in/pool-filmfests/
The rear orchestra stalls gangway:
http://flickr.com/photos/p-a/36972120/in/pool-filmfests/

posted by KenRoe on Jan 22, 2006 at 1:37pm

This is a December 2007 exterior view and here is an interior view.

posted by Lost Memory on Dec 27, 2007 at 4:07pm

English website and French website. Looks like the function should be movies. 819 seats.

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 8, 2009 at 10:25am

Another photo can be seen here.

posted by Lost Memory on Apr 8, 2009 at 6:21pm

Auditorium:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/truusbobjantoo/2139238035/in/photostream/
Lobby mural:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/truusbobjantoo/2140021842/in/photostream/

posted by CWalczak on Sep 15, 2009 at 9:20pm

Here is a 1984 photo.

posted by Lost Memory on Oct 12, 2009 at 2:33pm

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