Too bad. The neighbourhood has started regenerating itself into an off-hours kind of place with foot traffic-intensive, "work-live-play" spaces - studios, galleries, cafes. It will be interesting to see if WRHA building helps move that 'grassroots' expansion along or deaden it by dropping a huge office building into it.
Excellent pics Mr C.........And I'm thrilled to hear the two landmark signs are being saved! BTW Mr C, did you ever find that picture of North Main that had the gap between the Starland and Regent filled? I would love to know what stood between them!
This whole thing makes me very sad. I am esspecially a fan of the buildings at Logan and Main. Such a bloody shame. I'm afraid to think of the Winnipeg that will be left to the next generation. <sarcasm>Great job leaders of today!</sarcasm>
Rats Mr C!! Your 1976 photo still has the gap between the two theatres! Whatever it was must have been torn down a long long time ago! The hunt continues! Thanks so much for taking the time to "fill the gap".
Here's some interesting shots of the Rex - now and then. Looked pretty fab !<br> <br> The full history can be read in the city historic buildings report at: <a href=http://www.winnipeg.ca/ppd/historic/pdf-consv/Main646-long.pdf>http://www.winnipeg.ca/ppd/historic/pdf-consv/Main646-long.pdf</a> <br> In short: Built in 1912 The Rex was the original name, then The Regent in 1923 and in 1978 it became the Epic. I remember that's when it was a XXX theatre. I lived on Burrows in the 80's and I can remember as a kid taking the bus home passing it by. Looking at the interior, man, what a porn theatre it must have been. I would have been getting off starting at the ceiling and walls ! (I assume the barn in front of the screen was from a last performance not a porno !)<br> <br> Interestingly, a false front was added in 1938. The old one was said to be one of the most splendid in the city. Presumably a lot of upkeep, especially when theatres and cinemas would have been hit hard during the Depression. It was also damaged in the 1950 flood. <br> <br>
Wow!! I was not at all concerned about the Epic/Rex/Regent, but to read that and see that interior pic makes me change my mind. I had assumed bothe Starland and Regent were live theatres, had no idea the Regent was built as a movie theatre, and one of the last surviving originals as well. Now I'm twice as disappointed!! One small quibble, your top post says built in 1912, last post says 1929. Can I assume the 1912 date is correct? Not faulting you at all, apologies if ya think I am!