2015 4th St. S.W.

Built: 1936

Architect

Contractor

Original cost

Construction materials

Architectural style

Original Interior details

Historical highlights

The Tivoli Theatre was designed by the architectural firm of Green, Blankstein, Russell and Ham of Winnipeg. The firm was founded in 1932 by L. J.Green and Cecil N. Blankstein. They were joined in 1934 by G. Leslie Russell and Ralph C. Ham. All were graduates of the School of Architecture at the University of Manitoba. The firm helped bring modernist architecture to Manitoba and continues today under the name GBR Architects Ltd. Cecil Blankstein was the principal architect on the Tivoli and supervised construction.

Contractor:

Most of the construction was handled by Coulson Construction Company Limited of Calgary. Almost all of the contracts were awarded to local tradesmen and merchants: G. Sylvester Supplies provided the decorative black bricks which were laid by Ed Humphries; Pilkington Brothers supplied the glass blocks; carpentry was handled by A. L. McPhee with the lumber provided by Crown Lumber; Sharp's Theatre Supplies provided the seating, arc lamps and projectors.

Original cost: $35,000

Original owner: Odeon Theatres

Construction materials:

A steel structure, clad in white stucco, featured trim of streamlined fins, “vitrolite” orange and black tiles, glass blocks and wheat-sheaf medallions. The tower with its neon sign was a prominent landmark.

Architectural style:

Art Moderne. In the 1990s alterations were made in the Art Deco style.

Original interior details:

The lobby had a rose taupe carpet, green chesterfield, chrome mirror (all supplied by Eaton’s), and bar luxe lighting. There were 481 “deluxe” theatre seats with "rubber arms, 39 springs and a two-inch topping of hairlock covered with fabrikoid and upholstered backs finished with brocaded plush." Customers were given 34 inches of space, even though the requirement was only 32 inches. The floors were sloped to allow a better view from the back seats and the auditorium was fitted with the most up-to-date acoustic tile to allow for maximum enjoyment of the sound."

Historical highlights:

 
• The Tivoli opened October 7, 1936 with the film "Rose Marie", set in the Canadian Rockies, starring Jeanette MacDonald and Nelson Eddie. Tickets were 20¢ for the matinee, 25¢ for the evening show. A local paper reported, “Rose Marie" will form a perfect test for the new sound equipment and acoustic auditorium.""
  

• The theatre was one of the first suburban cinemas in the city.
  

• The manager was Allan E. Gold (1937).
  

• Some of the seats were equipped with aids for the "hard of hearing". "These sets are inconspicuous when in use and will be of immense benefit". Customers were encouraged to phone ahead to reserve these seats.
  

• The theatre had its own well 75 feet below the surface to accommodate the demands of the modern air conditioning system which was designed to provide the perfect humidity level.
  

• The first building in Calgary to incorporate glass bricks in construction. The bricks, "suitable to proper air-conditioned houses" had a "vacuum space between the double layers, allowing entry of light without affecting the temperature of the interior”.
  

• In the 1940s and 50s the Tivoli showed first-run British pictures and art films.
  

• Canadian Theatres took over the Tivoli in 1966 and in the 1970s it became "home of the erotic movie." According to the District Supervisor of the chain (6 May 1977 Herald) the Tivoli "is the biggest grossing theatre I have--bar none.""
  

• In 1980 it became city's first theatre to show exclusively Chinese language movies (with English sub-titles).
  

• The theatre closed in March 1990.
  

• In 1991 new owners Lionel and Mitch Ravvin had the sloped floors and theatre seats removed, converting the space into bays for a "specialty retail centre", Tivoli Shops.
  

• The Tivoli theatre was awarded a Community Heritage Plaque in 1992 by the Heritage Advisory Board.

Churches

Public Buildings

Commercial Buildings