Rose Ouellette (La Poune) became the first female theater director in North America (1929 to 1936).
“The Théâtre Cartier was built in 1929 by Joseph Raoul Gariépy, architect-designer of the Théâtre Rialto, in collaboration with renowned decorator Emmanuel Briffa. Popular theater, vaudeville and burlesque (y) are practiced.
In 1955, the Théâtre Cartier was transformed into a plumbing supply warehouse, and performances ceased. Acquired by Alberto Teodori in 1960, it became a dance hall for teenagers, a nightclub, the Casino Cartier, and then a discotheque, the Dôme Cartier.
Under the new name of Théâtre Dôme, it was leased in the 1970s to Dawson College’s Performing Arts Department, then abandoned in the early 2000s”. Source: Memento – Héritage Montréal
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Fabienne Colas becomes Montreal’s first black woman promoter and president of an independent theater (2024)
In 2024, a refreshing wind of change is blowing through the Théâtre, renamed Théâtre Colas, in honor of its promoter Fabienne Colas, a pioneer of diversity on screen and in the arts for 20 years, in Quebec, Canada and internationally. Find out more HERE (David, you’ll be redirected to the link that explains the name).
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HISTORY OF NEIGHBORHOOD CINEMAS IN MONTREAL
From the beginning of the last century until the 1980s, every Montreal neighborhood had its own cinema. Over time, these cinemas continued to evolve to meet the changing expectations of moviegoers. However, the arrival of large multiplex chains and new broadcasting technologies has turned the global cinema landscape on its head. Despite this, in recent years there has been a strong resurgence of interest in local cinemas, as well as in local screening and creation venues, which are anchored in their communities and become cultural centers reinforcing a sense of belonging.
