Lethbridge living March/April 2017 | Page 46

The Majestic Theatre

living

SCAPES

Photo : P19740030000-006
The Majestic Theatre
COURTESY OF THE GALT MUSEUM & ARCHIVES TRISH PURKIS , ARCHIVES ASSISTANT
FOR THOSE WHO enjoyed live performances of music , drama , or comic operas , the Majestic Theatre was the place to go .
In the early 1900s , the Majestic was the largest city theatre south of Bompas Street , today ’ s Fifth Avenue , and was located between Round and Crabb Streets , today ’ s Fifth and Sixth Streets .
It was not a movie house , but was used for live stage productions presented by large touring road shows and theatrical performances .
The Majestic was built in 1908 as the Griffiths Theatre by Sam Griffiths and housed a stage that held up to 75 players . It had the capacity to hold an audience of 800 patrons , many seated in the balcony that overlooked the stage . The décor was opulent with gargoyles in the corners of the ceiling and velvet curtains behind the theatre boxes .
The theatre ’ s name was changed to the Majestic after the Brown Amusement Company leased it in 1910 . It continued as a performance venue into the 1920s , and in 1932 it was closed as audiences were shifting from live performances to movies .
The building was renovated into office spaces and became home to the Lethbridge Furriers , located on the top floor , and to Brown ’ s Music Store and R . Sinton Tailors on the ground floor . Six years later , the building was sold to Palm Dairy , but a fire destroyed the operation . In 1981 , the historic building which once housed live performances was demolished .
46 LETHBRIDGELIVING . COM MAR-APR 2017