Beanfield Theatre facts for kids
The Beanfield Theatre (also known as Théâtre Beanfield) is a famous building in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. You can find it at 2490 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest in a neighborhood called Little Burgundy.
This theatre is special because it still looks much like it did when it was first built. It's one of the old movie theatres in Montreal that has kept its original style, both outside and inside. Today, it's mostly used for concerts and other live shows.
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The Theatre's Long History
The Beanfield Theatre has a very interesting past, going back over 100 years! It started as a place to watch movies and has changed names and owners many times.
Early Days as the Family Theatre
The theatre was built in 1912. Back then, it was called the Family Theatre. It was designed for showing silent films, which were movies without sound. Two architects, Joseph-Cajetan Dufort and Louis-Joseph-Théophile Décary, created the building. The Duchess Amusement Company owned the theatre for its first 11 years.
Becoming the Corona Theatre
In 1923, the theatre was sold to a new company called United Amusements Corporation. This is when it got its new name, Théâtre Corona. Changes were made to the building by architect Daniel John Crighton and decorator Emmanuel Briffa. In 1938, the old glass and metal sign outside was replaced with a new one made of cast-iron.
A Time of Change and Rebirth
The city of Montreal bought the theatre in 1967. For a while, it was rented out and used for storage. In the 1980s, it became a filming spot for movies by directors like André Forcier and Jean Beaudin. It even opened briefly in 1987 for special theatre and art shows.
In October 1997, a nonprofit group called "Institut des arts de la scène" took over. They worked hard to fix up the theatre, and it reopened in 1998. The outside of the building was also restored in 2004. In March 2007, a small electrical fire caused about C$50,000 worth of damage inside.
Modern Era and New Names
In December 2012, Virgin Mobile and Evenko bought the theatre together. Evenko became the manager of the property. At this time, the theatre's name changed to Virgin Mobile Corona Theatre. A few years later, it went back to being called Théâtre Corona.
In June 2023, the theatre got a new sponsor, an internet company called Beanfield. This led to its current name, the Beanfield Theatre / Théâtre Beanfield.
See also
In Spanish: Teatro Corona para niños
