Monarch Theatre

The Monarch Theatre is an icon of Medicine Hat’s entertainment history and a two-storey Streamline Moderne-style building connected to buildings of similar scale and vintage, distinguished by its boxed massing, smooth stucco surfaces, and vertical towers flanking a recessed entry. Originally designed in the elegant Beaux Arts style by William T. Williams as a motion picture theatre and amusement house, it was the first of its kind in Canada. The 560-seat theatre opened on December 21, 1911, with a Mutt and Jeff film. In 1935, the front elevation was converted to its current style, and in 1941 the auditorium was renovated and expanded into the adjacent billiards room and cigar shop, increasing seating capacity to 670. The theatre is valued for its Streamline Moderne-style exterior elements, elegant Art Deco interior features, and as an example of community-driven historic preservation. After a temporary closure in 2007, the City Centre Development Agency purchased it in 2009 through the collective effort of the City of Medicine Hat and concerned citizens. That same year, the Friends of the Monarch Society was formed to conserve, interpret, and promote this unique historic resource. The City of Medicine Hat designated the Monarch Theatre as a Municipal Historic Resource on September 6, 2015.

Alberta · Canada