A Calgary theatre with many careers
The GRAND opened on February 5, 1912, as the Sherman Grand Theatre, named for its first manager, Bill Sherman. Calgary had about 50,000 people at the time, and the theatre’s own history says it was hailed as the largest in the country. Big dreams for a small city.
Theatre historian Jeffrey Goffin describes it as the focal point of the local theatre scene for its first quarter-century or so. Then the movies arrived.
Forty-five screenings in nine days
Famous Players leased the building in 1926 and it was a full movie house by 1929.
Early 1942 is the moment to remember. The GRAND ran the British wartime feature 49th Parallel 45 times in nine days, from January 30 to February 9. The venue’s own account points out that with around 90,000 people living in the city, potentially more than half of Calgary went to see it. Half the city, one movie.
Back on stage
After the Jubilee Auditorium opened, attendance dwindled. Odeon bought the building in 1965 and split it into two 625-seat theatres. Theatre Junction reopened it in 2006 as Theatre Junction GRAND, and it’s been a stage again ever since.
Same building, several careers. Check what’s on this month, and if you want more Stephen Avenue screen history, the movie-fan walk down Stephen Avenue makes a good warm-up.
Quick answers
The GRAND opened on February 5, 1912, as the Sherman Grand Theatre, named for its first manager, Bill Sherman. Calgary had about 50,000 people at the time, and the theatre’s own history says it was hailed as the largest in the country.
In early 1942 The GRAND ran the British wartime feature 49th Parallel 45 times in nine days. With around 90,000 people living in Calgary, the venue’s own account points out that potentially more than half of the city went to see it.
Yes. Odeon bought the building in 1965 and split it into two 625 seat theatres. Theatre Junction reopened it in 2006 as Theatre Junction GRAND, and it has been a stage again ever since. Same building, several careers, and you can check what is on this month.
Sources: The GRAND (Theatre Junction), Theatre Research in Canada.
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