 | This article needs to be updated. (March 2024) |
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Princess_Theatre_Edmonton_Exterior_1915.jpg) Princess Theatre in 1915, shortly after opening | |
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| Address | 10337 Whyte Avenue Edmonton Canada |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 53°31′04″N 113°29′47″W / 53.5178°N 113.4964°W |
| Designation | Provincial Historic Resource[1] |
| Capacity | Princess: 422; Princess II: 100 |
| Construction | |
| Years active | 1915–1958, 1971–2022 |
| Architect | Wilson and Herrald, Edmonton Alberta |
| Website | |
| www | |
The Princess Theatre is a two-screen art-house cinema located at 10337 Whyte Avenue in Edmonton's historic Old Strathcona neighbourhood. The building was designed by prominent Edmonton architects Wilson and Herrald, a firm responsible for the design of many other Edmonton heritage sites.[2] It became Edmonton's oldest surviving theatre after the demolition of the Gem Theatre in 2006.[3] The building currently houses the main 400-seat theatre as well as the 100-seat Princess II, located in the basement.[4]
It was originally known as the McKernan Block, after John W. McKernan, the building's original financier, owner, and manager.[5]
The building and the theatre within has changed ownership several times, and its fortunes have largely depended on the state of the Canadian theatre industry at the time. It spent a dozen years as a retail space from 1958 to 1970,[6] and six years from 1970 to 1976 mainly exhibiting mainstream pornographic films.[7] The Princess was operated successfully as a repertory theatre from 1978 to late 1996,[7] after which it became a first run theatre.[8] Until 2016, the Princess was operated as a first run theatre by Edmonton's native Magic Lantern Theatres.[8] Since January 2016 the cinema has been operated by Plaza Entertainment.