York Theatre (Montreal)
Encyclopedia
The York Theatre was an Art deco
cinema
and mixed-use complex in Montreal
, opened in 1938 and demolished in 2001 for the construction of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex of Concordia University.
The York was designed by architects Perry, Luke and Little, with an interior design by Emmanuel Briffa
. Briffa, who had overseen interior designs of over 100 cinemas in Canada, commissioned mural
s by artist Kenneth Hensley Holmden for the project. These murals were badly damaged by a fire in 1989. Three of eight murals were removed and restored by the university, and are now incorporated into its new building.
Concordia purchased the complex in 1998, deciding that it was too badly deteriorated to save. It was demolished in 2001.
The building had included residential and commercial space, in addition to the cinema. It was built with a capacity of 1,200 theatre goers for the United Amusement Corporation.
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
cinema
Movie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
and mixed-use complex in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, opened in 1938 and demolished in 2001 for the construction of the Engineering, Computer Science and Visual Arts Integrated Complex of Concordia University.
The York was designed by architects Perry, Luke and Little, with an interior design by Emmanuel Briffa
Emmanuel Briffa
Emmanuel Briffa was a Canadian theatre decorator whose career in North America spanned thirty years, starting in 1912.Devoted almost entirely to theatre decoration since immigrating to North America from Malta in 1912, Briffa spent several years working in the United States prior to moving to...
. Briffa, who had overseen interior designs of over 100 cinemas in Canada, commissioned mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s by artist Kenneth Hensley Holmden for the project. These murals were badly damaged by a fire in 1989. Three of eight murals were removed and restored by the university, and are now incorporated into its new building.
Concordia purchased the complex in 1998, deciding that it was too badly deteriorated to save. It was demolished in 2001.
The building had included residential and commercial space, in addition to the cinema. It was built with a capacity of 1,200 theatre goers for the United Amusement Corporation.