Mayfair Theatre - Integrated Project Dossier (2011)

The Mayfair Theatre, located on 1074 Bank Street in Ottawa, Ontario, was opened on December 5th 1932. This independent cinema is a landmark in Ottawa South and is one of the last two neighbourhood cinemas in Ottawa (the other is the Bytowne Cinema). The theatre was designed by architect, John P. MacLaren. Although the exterior of the May-fair is a simple brick structure, the interior resembles a Mediterranean Plaza; which is typical in the design of an atmospheric cinema. Austrian-born architect John Eberson (1875-1955) was the original architect of the Atmospheric Style who began designing theatres in the United States in the 1920s. John Eberson designed these atmospheric theatres to trans-port the theatre go-er to another time and place in order to distract them from the harsh life during the Great Depression. Common themes for atmospheric cinemas included Italian gardens, Persian courts, Spanish patios and Mediterranean plazas. The decorative features in the auditorium are designed by Belgian-born artist Rene S. DeVos. The atmospheric cinema has been untouched since its construction. The Spanish Colonial Revival Style was particularly popular in California during the 1920s and 1930s. It was this connection to the state (more specifically to Hollywood) that contributed to the popularity of the design. The Mayfair Theater is a three-story structure with a brick façade and is crowned with a centrally located, freestanding curvilinear Spanish Colonial Revival gable. The upper two stories of the façade is a simple and plain, windowless surface with limited decorative features. Minor patterns of brickwork and small square artificial cut-stone inlays define the corners of the facade. The first story of the building holds the entrance to the Theater from Bank Street as well as the storefront window of the previous barbershop (presently Quinn’s Bar). An illuminated two-story-high projecting vertical marquee written with “MAYFAIR” was attached to the building façade, but was removed at a later (unknown) date. The building’s brick exterior fits in well with the surrounding Glebe neighbourhood and streetscape. In contrast, the interior, which maintains almost all of its original character, is lavishly decorated in an eclectic manner that heavily incorporates Spanish Colonial Revival architectural features (which also are connected to what are known as the Mission and Mediterranean styles). The cinema was first owned by Fred Robertson and would continue to be owned by Robertson's family for over 20 years. In the 1980s the Mayfair Theater was a popular cinema known for its double features (a very profitable aspect for the theatre). Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau used to frequent the Mayfair Theater on a regular basis while living in Ottawa. This is the Integrated Project Dossier compiled by a group of undergrad students of the Architectural Conservation and Sustainability Program (Engineers and architects) at Carleton University for the CIVE3207 (ARCN4100) Historic Site Recording and Assessment course in 2011.

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