One family, a very big cinema chain
The Palace Theatre on Stephen Avenue came from a family with an enormous business behind it.
Bernard Allen and his sons Jay and Jule ran what Parks Canada describes as the biggest cinema chain in Canada in the early twentieth century, and one of the largest anywhere. Famous Players bought the Allen chain in 1923.
A rare survivor
The Palace is one of only four of the Allen movie theatres still standing in the country. That makes a lunch-hour stroll feel a bit grander, and the Alberta Register of Historic Places entry is a good read if you’d like the details.
It was designed by the well-known American theatre architect C. Howard Crane. Not a bad pedigree for a building you can walk past on a coffee run.
Next time you’re downtown, look up. Then keep going and see what else our movie-fan walk down Stephen Avenue turns up, or read how the Allen family gave Calgary a movie palace in the first place.
Quick answers
Bernard Allen and his sons Jay and Jule, the Allen family, were behind the Palace Theatre on Stephen Avenue. Parks Canada describes their business as the biggest cinema chain in Canada in the early twentieth century, and one of the largest anywhere. Famous Players bought the Allen chain in 1923.
The well known American theatre architect C. Howard Crane designed the Palace Theatre. It stands on Stephen Avenue in downtown Calgary, and its Alberta Register of Historic Places entry is a good read if you would like more details about the building and its history.
The Palace is one of only four of the Allen movie theatres still standing in the country. That makes it a rare survivor from what Parks Canada describes as the biggest cinema chain in Canada in the early twentieth century, and one of the largest anywhere.
Sources: Parks Canada, Alberta Register of Historic Places.
If this one hooked you, we think The Garneau Theatre Edmonton Is an Art Deco Cinema From 1940 and How Railway Films and Byron Harmon Sold the Rockies are a good next read.
