On December 5, 1932, in the middle of the Great Depression, a new movie theatre opened on Bank Street in Old Ottawa South. More than 90 years later, the Mayfair is still showing films, and it’s one of the oldest surviving independent cinemas in Canada.
The building was designed by Ottawa architect John P. MacLaren in the Spanish Revival style, as an “atmospheric” theatre meant to make you feel like you were sitting in a courtyard under the sky. It cost $47,000 to build. The first film was The Blue Danube.
Today the Mayfair is an independent repertory cinema. It shows a mix of independent films, second-run releases and classics, plus events like silent films with live music. It’s also known for regular screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and for having shown The Room more times than almost anywhere, audience participation included.
For people who live in Old Ottawa South, it’s the kind of place that makes Bank Street feel like a village main street: you can walk to a movie, then walk to dinner and home again.
The Mayfair is at 1074 Bank Street. Check its website for the current schedule.
Sources: Mayfair Theatre, Ottawa, the Old Ottawa South Community Association history project and the Ottawa Business Journal.
Photo: Ejk81, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.