Calgary buildings change names all the time. The bricks stay put and the signs keep getting swapped, so here are a few that have worn more than one.
The King Eddy, once the King Edward Hotel
Start at 9 Avenue SE. According to kingeddy.ca, the King Edward Hotel was established in 1905 and was Calgary’s second oldest hotel. It closed in 2004, when it was the longest-operating bar and hotel in the city. The National Music Centre acquired the building in 2008, and the venue reopened in July 2018 as the King Eddy, a restaurant, bar and music venue. Locals just say “the Eddy.” Studio Bell says the building was rebuilt with the Calgary Municipal Land Corporation to honour its original design. A hotel got a second life and a shorter name.
The GRAND, once the Sherman GRAND
Now head downtown. The GRAND’s own history page says the theatre opened on February 5, 1912 as the Sherman GRAND Theatre, named after its first manager, Bill Sherman. After Sherman was fired in the summer of 1914, the name was dropped and it became The Grand Theatre. Later came the Showcase Grand Cinema, then Theatre Junction GRAND, and today it’s The GRAND again. Five names, one room. The same page says that in 1937 J.B. Barron’s renovations wrapped up with a reopening on September 3, led by a 35-piece orchestra under Giuseppe Creatore.
The Palace, also known as the Allen
Keep walking to 219 8 Avenue SW. The City of Calgary’s downtown heritage walking tour brochure lists it as the Palace (Allen) Theatre, built in 1921 and Stop 34 on the tour. Barney Allen and his sons founded the Allen theatre circuit, and the brochure calls the Palace the sole intact survivor of Calgary’s early theatres. Two names, one survivor.
Why this is fun
The same brochure notes that the Calgary Tower was known as the Husky Tower until 1971.
Grab that brochure, pick three stops, and look up their old names before you go.
Keep going with Calgary Buildings With More Careers Than Most Actors or Six rooms, four names and one very busy arts centre, whichever calls to you. Or try The Building That Rebuilt a Blues Hotel for a change of pace.
Quick answers
The King Eddy was once the King Edward Hotel. According to kingeddy.ca, the hotel was established in 1905 and was Calgary’s second oldest hotel. It closed in 2004, the National Music Centre acquired it in 2008, and it reopened in July 2018 as the King Eddy.
The GRAND opened on February 5, 1912 as the Sherman GRAND Theatre, named after its first manager, Bill Sherman. It later became The Grand Theatre, the Showcase Grand Cinema and Theatre Junction GRAND. Today it is The GRAND again, with five names in total.
The Palace is also known as the Allen. The City of Calgary’s downtown heritage walking tour brochure lists it as the Palace (Allen) Theatre, built in 1921 and Stop 34 on the tour. The brochure calls it the sole intact survivor of Calgary’s early theatres.
Sources: kingeddy.ca, thegrandyyc.ca and the City of Calgary heritage walking tour brochure.
Related reading from us: Calgary’s Downtown Lunch Hour Once Came With a Play and Calgary’s Art Underground Has Its Own Map.
