28/6/1896: Canada's First Screenings

Cinema arrived in Canada on the 28^th June 1896, when a show of Lumiere films was screened in a former shooting gallery on rue de la Lagauchetiere in Montreal.   The Canadian premiere of Edison’s Vitascope didn’t take place until the following month, on the 21^st July 1896, when a show was presented in Ottawa’s West End Park by the Holland Brothers, who had exclusive exhibition rights in Canada.   The screening was part of a magic show, and the magician, John C. Green (AKA Belsaz) described the pictures on the screen to the enthralled audience., while music was supplied by the Governor-General’s Foot Guard Band.   One of the films shown at this inaugural screening of the Vitascope in Canada was the infamous The Kiss.   On the 31^st August, the first screening in Toronto took place at the re-opening of Robinson’s Musee Theatre at 91 Yonge Street. [ADD]

Further Reading:

1896

Canada: 1896

© 2009-2010 moviemoviesite.com