Festival Theatre

801 Sargent Avenue,
Winnipeg, MB R3E 2S1

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Western Theaters Ltd.

Architects: Max Zev Blankstein

Functions: Daycare Center

Previous Names: Rose Theatre, Towne Theatre, Venus Theatre

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Festival Theatre

This two-story red brick theatre building on Sargent Avenue in Winnipeg, measuring 50ft x 102ft, was designed by local architect Max Zav Blankstein and built in 1926. Excavation was contracted to James Murray Reid, and the building itself was built by the construction firm of W.A, Irish & Company for theatre operator Nathan Rothstein at a cost of $50,000.

Named the Rose Theatre for one of Rothstein’s daughters, the building originally featured two retail spaces on either side of a central entranceway. The theatre had a seating capacity of 662-seats. It officially opened on December 9, 1926. It was operated as part of the Allied Amusements Ltd. chain and continued to be operated by them until June 1936 when it was amalgamated into the Western Theaters Ltd. chain.

The Rose Theatre was subsequently renamed Towne Theatre in 1964, Venus Theatre in 1974 and finally Festival Theatre in 1979. Closing date is unknown.

The former theatre is now the Wild Strawberry, which is a daycare center for school age children.

Contributed by Jordan Makichuk

Recent comments (view all 2 comments)

odeon
odeon on May 27, 2012 at 1:04 pm

From the Google street view, it appears that the theatre wasn’t demolished but was renovated into the space it is today.

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 30, 2012 at 6:40 pm

A list of buildings designed by architect Max Zev Blankstein includes the Rose Theatre on Sargent Avenue, but gives the year he designed the project as 1916.

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