Snowdon Theatre

Snowdon theatre history

Snowdon Theatre history Mon, Jun 17, 2019 – A7 · The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada) · Newspapers.com

To be torn down except for the facade for a new condo project. Ad in photo section.

I, a Woman reopened a week later at the Fairview cinemas in Pointe Claire. another article Snowdon theatre Thu, Aug 15, 1968 – 3 · The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada) · Newspapers.com

Update for 2016-17: In late March 2016, vandals started a serious fire that caused major damage to the roof. The theater has been completely boarded and abandoned since.

In May 2017, the city tentatively sold the building to a condo developer, with a request they preserve the theater’s marquee sign and building facade. Nothing about saving the interior or art-deco was said (i.e. the part worth saving!). Of course there’s no guarantee any of it will be saved, it could just be outright demolished.

As of September 2017, the Snowdon theater still sits abandoned and deteriorating.

Update as of June 2014: All tenants of the building have been permanently evicted due to unsound roof conditions (leaking and rapidly deteriorating). The city of Montreal has bordered it up and refusing to carry out any repairs.

Likely it will suffer the same fate as other Montreal theaters bordered up and left to the elements. Disturbing as there is a literal treasure of art-deco on the walls and ceiling of the original theater still intact (for now).

Does anybody know what happened to Nello’s Pizza located a block down from the Snowdon Theatre??? ( approx. 1972 )

Thanks

In 1988-89 the building was gutted and restrucutred into a large space which occupies the now 2nd floor, and several smaller units on ground level. The building was owned privately and rented out the lower units to several different retailers including a hair salon, a photocopy store, a bar and a trading card store in the basement. The larger upper space (which is the only part to retain any remnants of the old Snowdon Theatre) was rented by the City of Montreal for a semi-private gymnastics club for kids. Tired of renting, in 2003 or 2004 the city finally bought the entire building from its private owners. The establishments still remain, and children from 3 to 16 years old still practice gymanstics below a gorgeous art deco ceiling. The walls are lined with angelic sculptures which indicate where the exits once lied beneath, the area where the screen was is still clearly visible and beatifully bordered, and the projection room is now an office which overlooks the entire space from high above. Flexart Gymnastics Club still operates in the old theatre and continues to command a “wow” from visitors upon entering. You can visit their website at www.flexart.ca for a current picture that gives you a good look from the balcony area (under the “birthday parties” link).

Here’s a photo I took of the Snowdon in 1989 or so. I believe it is now retail shops.
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