Fire guts historic Montreal building that housed Canada’s first cinema

Authorities first received reports of the fire just after 11 a.m. and by early afternoon, half the four-storey building had collapsed, said Yvon Daunais, head of operations for the city’s fire department.

Daunais said the building was already considered dangerous and certain floors were missing, meaning firefighters could not enter the building due to the risk of collapse.

Fire also spread to an adjacent building, causing damage.

According to a city-run historical centre, the Robillard building was a 300-seat variety and vaudeville venue called the Palace Theatre.

In June 1896, Louis Minier used a room in the Robillard to project the first indoor moving picture film in Canada, using the famous Lumiere brothers’ cinematographe.

The first outdoor projection was tried a few weeks earlier, on a wall of a hotel next door.

According to the city, the Robillard was used for projections from 1896-97, making it the first cinema in Canada.

Minier was an official dealer for the famous Lumiere brothers, who are credited with inventing the early motion picture camera, called the cinematographe, first used in 1895.

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Fire guts historic Montreal building that housed Canada’s first cinema

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