page_title: Metropolitan Theatre (Winnipeg)
section_title: Background
hierarchical_section_title: Metropolitan Theatre (Winnipeg) / Background
caption_attribution_description: English: An architectural sketch of the original Allen Theatre Building at the time of its opening in 1919, now the "Met" (Metropolitan Theatre). Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
context_page_description: The Metropolitan Theatre is a Canadian theatre in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba, designed by American architect C. Howard Crane. It is located at 281 Donald Street, across from Bell MTS Place and north of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church. It was originally known as Allen Theatre, after its owners the Allen brothers, who built a chain of cinemas throughout Canada in the early 20th century. After its acquisition by Famous Players in 1923, it was renamed the Metropolitan Theatre. It is now known as the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre or Met Entertainment Centre, or simply "The Met".
  The theatre was renovated in 1948 and was shuttered in November 1987. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1991 and was sold to Canad Inns in 2006, which with other investors was to convert the building for use as a rock and roll museum. Those plans were scuttled, but by 2011 work was undertaken to renovate the building to reflect its original design. The renovated building was opened in November 2012 featuring a restaurant, lounge, and special events facilities.
context_section_description: The Allen family of Brantford, Ontario, consisting of brothers Jay J. Allen and Jules Allen and their father Bernard Allen, was in the midst of creating the largest cinema chain in Canada in the early 20th century.
  The theatre was one of 45 in the chain owned by the brothers. Designed by C. Howard Crane, who designed all theatres in the Allen brothers chain, the 24,000-square-foot (2,200 m²) neoclassical building was constructed in 1919 and named the Allen Theatre. Crane was employed by Elmer George Kichler and Associates, but opened an office in Windsor, Ontario, to attend to the numerous projects he worked on in Canada.
  It was opened with a formal ceremony on 2 January 1920. The Allen's had expected to open on Christmas Day 1919, but the organ had not yet been installed and some of the interior finishes had not yet been applied. The first film it screened was Upstairs and Down.
caption: Illustration of the Allen Theatre at its opening in 1919
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