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When Downtown Calgary's oldest theatre was built, the city only had a population of 50,000 people. A surviving testament to Calgary's rapid growth prior to the First World War, influential businessman and politician Sir James Alexander Lougheed would construct a major commercial building that later became a hub for political organizations and business enterprises.
The Lougheed Block was built in 1912 and designed by L.R. Wardrop as a multi-use commercial building. One of the first structures in the province to use reinforced concrete, the building was a pioneer in its day. It housed retail storefronts, offices, residences, and perhaps most famously, The Grand Theatre. The venue was the biggest theatre in the Pacific Northwest at its time, boasting the biggest stage in the country, and hosted a number of iconic performers, including Fred Astaire and Ethel Barrymore. The 1,350-seat theatre was equipped with hot and cold running water and electric lighting in the 15 dressing rooms, a modern convenience that made it a state-of-the-art facility. It was originally named the Sherman Grand after its inaugural manager, though his firing in 1914 led to its renaming to The Grand Theatre.
Not only was it a prominent home for businesses and culture, but political life as well. Within its brick exterior walls echoed lively debates and rallies held by both the Liberal and Conservative parties. Staunch advocate for women's suffrage Nellie McClung, along with Prime Minster Robert Borden and Premier William Aberhart, were some of the notable political figures to address audiences here.
When the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium opened in 1957, The Grand Theatre shifted its interior programming to show movies. After nearly 50 years in operation as a movie house, the building was threatened with demolition. The Theatre Junction Society stepped in and raised $12 million to purchase the venue in 2005, transforming it into the Theatre Junction GRAND, a refurbished home for an array of theatre, music and performances.
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