SEPIA SATURDAY (98)

Alan's prompt this week is taking us to the theater. 

That is a theme for which I had to research on the web 

as I have no family pictures to cover this theme. 

It doesn't mean my mind is not full of memories though... 

Searching the web, 

I came across some familiar and not-so familiar places in the city. 

Let's look around!! 

Theaters!! 

Now something we totally take for granted, 

it was once a marvelous place where one could dream. 

From the silent movies in the early days of cinema, 

to the news reels to keep informed; 

from the arrival of talkies to technicolor, 

from western to scifi, 

we all enjoyed at some point getting lost for a couple of hours in this world. 

Some theaters had their heyday and evolved gracefully; 

some became seedy places where certain people liked to meet in the dark... 

some went bankrupt due to the arrival of the cineplexes. 

Some were doomed and visited by the wrecking ball, 

while others found another mission:

live performances!! 

Let's take a walk!!

I've never been to the Rialto 

but looking at it, 

it looks like a great place with splendid architectural details.

Live performances are on the menu here.

It even inspired someone.

The Outremont theater, 

once a repertoire cinema in my youth, 

which I often visited, 

seeing movies from eastern Europe 

like this movie mentioning the beginning the solidarity movement in Poland 

that made Lech a familiar figure in the news... 

and other fun stuff. 

It was eventually closed... 

but after much protest, 

the theater was revived to offer live performances. 

Hurray!!

The York theater, 

where I remember seeing the first version of the Lord of the Rings, 

mixing animation and live action. 

But I also remember seeing there 

my first [and only] cockroach walking on the top of the seat 

in front of me and my friend... 

The damn thing was as big as my fist!!! 

(shudders!!) 

Never went back there afterward, 

understandably... 

It has since been closed for many years 

and was eventually torn down.

The Imperial theater, 

a favorite of mine, 

where I think I saw the Star Trek movies, 

and my most lasting memory, 

Latcho Drom, 

a masterpiece movie about the history of Romany across Asia, Middle East and Europe. 

I had the VHS cassette but it was never released as a DVD or Bluray, 

sadly... 

My cassette died a few years ago. 

Still... 

Loews, 

another favorite of mine, 

especially when I worked downtown at Eaton's. 

I would finish my day's work and cross the street 

to catch the latest movie, 

on a weekly basis. 

I miss those days when I was able to sit in a chair for two full hours. 

My back problems have changed all that. 

Now, 

I rely on Blurays... 

Oh well!! 

The names of Clayburn or Dreyfuss come to mind. 

Travolta and his Saturday Night Fever; 

Spielberg, Lucas, Scorcese, etc... 

I even remember meeting friends there, 

on a VERY snowy Xmas evening... 

Movies were a passion of mine!! 

Still are...

The Corona Theater, 

another unknown destination to me, 

but given this pic, 

I might have to change this. 

Another venue for live performance.

The Ouimetoscope!! 

A fascinating history and great memories here for me 

as I remember it as a repertoire theater.

The Empress theater, 

unknown to me, 

but still an impressive facade.

Its future is uncertain...

The Seville theater, 

another venue that went down under the wrecking ball to make room for condos... 

You can still follow the link to read its history.

This was a mishmash I wrote rapidly 

before leaving for work on Friday morning. 

I hope you won't hold a grudge... 

I never aimed at a Pulitzer, 

you know... 

I'm a visual, 

not a writer. 

Montreal had such a great heritage in its theaters. 

Nice to see some of it survived.

But you can enjoy other contributions by better writers on 

SEPIA SATURDAY. 

:)~ 

HUGZ