Robillard Block facts for kids
The Robillard Building (also known as Édifice Robillard in French) was a very important building in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. It was located in Montreal's Chinatown at 974, Saint Laurent Boulevard. Sadly, on November 17, 2016, the building was completely destroyed by a fire. Even though it was a famous landmark, the Robillard Building did not have special protection as a heritage site, so it was not rebuilt. The land where it once stood was empty for several years. A new building, a condominium, was constructed on the site after 2022.
Contents
A Look Back at the Robillard Building
Building's Early Life
The Robillard Building was built in 1879. It had a beautiful design called Neo-Renaissance style, which was popular for grand buildings. In 1890, it was changed into a hotel, welcoming many guests.
Home to Early Entertainment
In 1891, the building became home to the Gaiety Museum and Theatorium. This was a popular place where people could see interesting and unusual items, like a museum of curiosities.
North America's First Movie Theater
A very exciting event happened at the Robillard Building in 1896. In May of that year, it became the Palace Theatre. Then, on June 27, 1896, something truly special occurred: the first movies ever shown in North America were played right there! This made the Palace Theatre the very first cinema on the continent.
The Magic of Moving Pictures
The cinema used a special projector system called the cinématographe. This amazing invention was created by the famous Lumiere brothers from France. The screen for these first movies was quite small, about the size of a towel! People watched short films showing everyday scenes, like a train arriving, a ship sailing, soldiers on horseback, and a wall being knocked down. These shows were presented by Louis Minier and his helper, Louis Pupier, and they continued for two months. By September 1896, the cinema started showing movies continuously, bringing the magic of moving pictures to many people.
