Lido Theatre (Canada)

Last updated
Lido Theatre
Lido Theatre (Canada)
Address220 Edwards Ave,
The Pas, Manitoba
Coordinates 53°49′28″N101°15′09″W / 53.8245°N 101.2524°W / 53.8245; -101.2524
OwnerNorCan Arts & Heritage Inc.
Type atmospheric theatre
Opened
  • 1929;95 years ago (1929)
  • 1930 (to the public)
Building details
General information
Architectural style Art Deco
Construction started1928
Design and construction
Architect(s)Max Zev Blankstein

The Lido Theatre is an atmospheric theatre in The Pas, Manitoba.

Contents

Opening in 1929, it has remained in operation in its original form since its inception, making it one of Canada's oldest and most unique atmospheric theaters still in operation. [1] It was also the first theatre in western Canada designed specifically for movies with sound. [2]

History

Early history

The Lido Theatre was built in The Pas by contractor John George Hartmier for Auguste "Irish" Rivalin and The Northern Theatre Co. Ltd., a company that Rivilin and his wife Louisa formed a year prior. [2] [3]

The Lido was designed by architect Max Zev Blankstein, who designed several theatres in Winnipeg including the Uptown Theatre (later Academy Bowling Lanes). [4]

It opened in late 1929 as the first theatre in western Canada designed specifically for movies with sound. [2] Primarily designed as a movie theatre, the auditorium was secondarily designed to accommodate the travelling stage performances of the era and was occasionally used to host live productions. [3]

It has remained in operation in its original form since its inception, making it one of Canada's oldest and most unique atmospheric theaters still in operation. [1] According to the Lido's website, the only modern fixtures are the surround-sound speakers. [3]

The storied property opened to the public in early 1930. [3]

Shortly after opening, the Great Depression began to take hold. After more loans from Irish and Louisa to keep the doors open. However, since Irish could not justify loaning the operation any more money, the partners of Northern Theatre Co. had the choice of either closing the theatre down or selling their portions of the company. They decided to keep it open and to sell their portions to Irish, the majority investor and largest creditor. [3]

In the 1940s, Irish's son Paul Rivalin—after his service in the Air Force of World War II—began operating the Lido with the support of his wife Margaret. The couple would formally purchase the Lido from Irish and Louisa in the 1960s. [3]

In the mid-1960s, the lobby was renovated by the engineering department of the T. Eaton Company out of Toronto in order to permanently incorporate a concession area for selling treats. (The renovation would remove two rental units on either side of the lobby. [3]

1970s-1990s

In the early 1970s, Paul and Margaret's son August "Gus" Rivalin was made the manager of the theatre, managing the business as a partner before purchasing the business from his parents in 1974. During this time, Gus upgraded to the newest automated 35mm projection equipment. [3]

In 1983, Gus began a home video rental business, called "The Lido Video", in the theatre's lobby. To expand The Lido Video, Gus purchased the building next door, which was once the Bank of Toronto and later the Dominion Bank of Canada. The Lido Video business was expanded into 3 locations over the next 17 years. [3]

In 1997, Gus' video store business opened the largest video store in Manitoba outside of Winnipeg: Saturn Video in Flin Flon. [3]

2000s-2020s

Gus’ son August II purchased the properties from his father in late 2003. From 2003 to 2019, the Lido upgraded to state-of-the-art digital sound and projection equipment. [3]

In early 2020, The Lido went under renovations, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the theatre has been closed since. [5] In 2023, The Lido was at risk of closing for good. [6]

The theatre was destroyed by fire on Monday, April 8, 2024.

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References

  1. 1 2 Rivalin, Paul. "Lido Theatre in The Pas, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org. Retrieved March 4, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Historic Sites of Manitoba: Lido Theatre (220 Edwards Avenue, The Pas)". www.mhs.mb.ca. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "History". Lido Theatre 1929. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  4. ↑ "Landmarks: Significant Heritage Buildings of The Pas." Heritage Manitoba. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
  5. ↑ "Lido Theater Go Fund Me". 102.9 CJAR. April 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-08.
  6. ↑ "The Lido Theatre in The Pas is at risk of closing for good. The owner explains what can be done to save it." CBC Radio. April 12, 2023. Retrieved 2023-10-07.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/lido-theatre-fire-destroy-pas-manitoba-1.7167888

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