Palace Theatre

698 Rue Sainte Catherine O.,
Montreal, QC H3B

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This major movie palace in the center of Montreal opened on May 14, 1921 as the Palace Theatre. It was renamed Allen Theatre in 1922.

In 1980, the theatre was closed, gutted, and converted into a 6-screen multiplex before reopening in 1981. The Palace Theatre became a discount house in 1995.

In October 1999, a notice at the entrance was placed for approval for conversion into a parking garage. The theatre closed in January 2000 and then reopened as Centre Metafloria (a high-tech amusement park) in December 2000.

Centre Mirafloria closed in April 2002 after losing an estimated $15 million.

Contributed by Gerald A. DeLuca, Mike Rivest

Recent comments (view all 7 comments)

Gerald A. DeLuca on April 12, 2005 at 7:08 am

Here is a postcard from the 1940s or 1950s showing Rue Sainte Catherine with the Palace Theatre visible on the right.
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Gerald A. DeLuca on April 12, 2005 at 7:17 am

This old postcard shows several Rue Saint Catherine movie theatres including the Cinema de Paris, Palace, Capitol, Strand, Loew’s.

lostmemory on April 12, 2005 at 7:41 am

Timeline for the Allen/Palace theater from Montreal Movie Theatre History site:

The Allen opens on May 20, 1921
Spring 1922 the Allen is bought by Famous Players for $19,000 and renames it the Palace.
Sept 1 1928 The first Talking picture opens at the Palace.
1935 Renovated.
October 1953 The Palace shows the first wide-screen movie “The Robe” in CinemaScope. Prices were $.75 in the mornings, $1 for matinees and $1.50 evenings, the ad reads: “CinemaScope the modern miracle you see without glasses”.
July 1980 Closed and Renovated.
1981 Reopens with six modern cinemas.
1995 The Palace becomes a discount house.
Oct 1999 Notice at the entrance asking for approval for conversion into a parking Garage.
Jan 2000 Closes.