Snowdon Theatre
Snowdon Theatre was a Streamline Moderne cinema in Montreal that later became a small shopping centre before being demolished in 2019.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Snowdon Theatre was a former cinema on Decarie Boulevard in Montreal's Snowdon neighbourhood. It opened in February 1937 as an elaborately designed movie theatre and operated for approximately 45 years. Its interior was created by Emmanuel Briffa, a prominent Canadian cinema designer associated with the Rialto Theatre and numerous other theatres across Canada. The building combined a Streamline Moderne exterior with an ornate Art Deco interior, making it a notable example of Montreal's pre-war cinema architecture. The theatre's programming and physical presentation changed over time. Its entrance façade was altered in 1950, when a new marquee was installed. During the late 1960s, the venue showed X-rated films, while in 1972 it presented Charlie Chaplin films for approximately a year. The cinema closed in May 1982 after decades of film exhibition and subsequently remained vacant for several years. In 1990, the former theatre was converted into a small shopping centre and office complex. The approximately 25,000-square-foot interior was divided into two levels and subdivided commercial units. The conversion was carried out by Rafid Louis and Emile Fattal. Although the redevelopment changed the original spatial arrangement, significant Art Deco wall and ceiling features remained on the second floor. A gymnastics centre operated in that space for several years, allowing portions of the theatre's decorative interior to survive after its cinema use ended. The retail and office conversion did not achieve lasting commercial success. By the late 1990s, much of the building was vacant again. Flexart Gymnastics, identified as the final tenant, was evicted in late 2013 because of safety concerns related to the roof. The structure then stood boarded up and increasingly deteriorated. In March 2016, a fire attributed to vandalism caused major roof damage, further reducing the prospects for preservation or adaptive reuse. Montreal, which owned the neglected property, offered it for sale in January 2016. A buyer was found in May 2017, and the transaction closed on February 3, 2018, for C$1.6 million. The sale required preservation of the exterior front façade and its sign. In April 2019, the theatre building was demolished, leaving the façade and attached marquee as a decorative frontage for a new condominium development. The retained frontage was substantially modified, and condominium construction behind it was completed by 2022. The site therefore preserves only a transformed fragment of the former cinema, while the original theatre and most of its interior are gone.
History
Snowdon Theatre opened in February 1937 on Decarie Boulevard in Montreal's Snowdon neighbourhood. It was designed as a purpose-built movie theatre in the Streamline Moderne style, with an unusually elaborate interior created by Emmanuel Briffa. Briffa was responsible for the interiors of the Rialto Theatre and many other Canadian cinemas, and his work gave Snowdon Theatre a richly ornamented Art Deco character. The venue served as a neighbourhood cinema for roughly 45 years. In 1950, the entrance façade was remodeled and fitted with a new marquee. The theatre's programming reflected changing exhibition practices and audience markets. In 1968 it showed X-rated films, and in 1972 it devoted approximately a year to screenings of Charlie Chaplin films. These programming changes took place within the same architecturally distinctive building, whose decorative interior remained one of its most notable characteristics. The cinema closed in May 1982. After the closure, the structure remained vacant until an adaptive-reuse project was undertaken in 1990. Rafid Louis and Emile Fattal rebuilt the approximately 25,000-square-foot interior, dividing the former auditorium and associated spaces between two floors and creating smaller retail and office units. The conversion preserved original Art Deco wall and ceiling decoration on the second floor. A gymnastics centre occupied part of that level for a number of years, giving the surviving interior elements a continuing public use even though the building was no longer a cinema. The commercial redevelopment struggled. By the late 1990s, the shopping centre and office spaces were largely vacant. Flexart Gymnastics became the final known tenant, but it was evicted in late 2013 because of concerns about the roof's safety. The building was then boarded up and left to deteriorate. In March 2016, a fire attributed to vandals began on the second floor and heavily damaged the roof. The City of Montreal, which owned the neglected property, placed it on the market in January 2016. In May 2017, the city found a buyer intending to remove the deteriorated building and pursue a commercial or residential development. The sale was completed on February 3, 2018, for C$1.6 million. A central condition was that the exterior front façade and sign be retained. The theatre was completely demolished in April 2019. The façade wall and attached marquee were left standing as a decorative frontage for newly constructed condominiums, although the retained exterior was heavily modified and no longer represented the original building in its entirety. By 2022, construction behind the façade had been completed. Snowdon Theatre therefore survives principally as a fragment of historic streetscape, while its cinema operation, original interior, and main structure have disappeared.
- 2022
Condominium construction completed behind façade
[1]The new condominium development behind the retained frontage is reported as complete.
- 2019
Main structure demolished
[1]The theatre is demolished, leaving a modified façade and marquee attached to a condominium development.
- 2018
Property sale completed
[1]The city completes the sale for C$1.6 million, with a requirement to preserve the front façade and sign.
- 2016
Vandalism-related fire
[1]A fire causes heavy roof damage while the building is abandoned.
- 2013
Last tenant evicted
[1]Flexart Gymnastics leaves after eviction related to roof safety concerns.
- 1990
Adaptive reuse as shopping centre
[1]The former cinema is converted into a small shopping and office centre, with parts of the Art Deco interior retained.
- 1982
Cinema closes
[1]After about 45 years of film exhibition, the theatre closes in May and becomes vacant.
- 1972
Chaplin film season
[1]The theatre screens Charlie Chaplin films for approximately a year.
- 1968
X-rated programming introduced
[1]The cinema shows X-rated films as part of its changing programming history.
- 1950
Entrance façade remodeled
[1]The entrance is altered and a new marquee is added.
Products and positioning
Originally positioned as a neighbourhood movie theatre with an elaborate Streamline Moderne and Art Deco design, Snowdon Theatre later functioned as a small adaptive-reuse commercial property rather than an operating cinema.
Movie theatre · 1937
Cinema exhibition
The theatre's primary function from its opening in 1937 until its closure in 1982 was the exhibition of films for Montreal audiences. Its programme history included standard movie screenings, X-rated films in 1968, and a year of Charlie Chaplin presentations in 1972.
Adaptive-reuse commercial property · 1990
Shopping centre and office spaces
Beginning in 1990, the former cinema was subdivided into a small shopping centre and office complex. The approximately 25,000-square-foot building was split across two floors, although this commercial use was not ultimately successful and much of the property was vacant by the late 1990s.
Recreational facility
Gymnastics centre
A gymnastics centre operated on the former theatre's second floor for a number of years. This use retained access to portions of the original Art Deco walls and ceiling before the final tenant, Flexart Gymnastics, was evicted in 2013 because of roof-related safety concerns.
Brand decisions
2019
Demolition with façade retentionOtherBackground
The structure had been vacant, damaged by fire, and considered unsuitable for continued use after years of deterioration.
Action taken
The main building was demolished in April, while the front façade and attached marquee were left in place for the new condominium project.
Aftermath
Only a substantially altered fragment of the former theatre remained visible after the redevelopment.
2018
Sale to a redevelopment buyerM&ABackground
Montreal owned the neglected and deteriorating property and had placed it up for sale in January 2016.
Action taken
The sale closed on February 3, 2018, for C$1.6 million, subject to preserving the exterior front façade and sign.
Aftermath
The buyer proceeded with a redevelopment that replaced the theatre with condominiums while retaining a heavily modified façade as a decorative frontage.
Property sale price. C$1.6 million (Sale completed February 3, 2018)
1990
Conversion from cinema to commercial centreStrategyBackground
After the cinema had been vacant since its 1982 closure, the building was redeveloped for a different commercial use.
Action taken
The interior was rebuilt into two floors with subdivided retail and office units, while selected Art Deco decorative elements were preserved.
Aftermath
The shopping and office concept did not achieve lasting occupancy, and the building was mostly vacant again by the late 1990s.
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