ARTH3810 2019F Class Projects (Publication) Main Menu The Tent Room at Rideau Hall Kyle Kreutner, Page 1 of 6 The Webley Shacks: Unconventional Furniture Use in the Context of Ceaseless Surveillance Jose Bawagan Imperial Theater By Munawar Mobin Keagan F - CSTM Sound History Introduction The Mayfair Theatre Simran S. An Investigation of Hospital Interiors Effect on Patients 144 Loretta Avenue North, Aidan MacNaull Aidan MacNaull 144 Loretta Avenue North West Block - Canada's New House of Commons by Devon Rudyk Rideau Street Chapel: The Effects of Relocation on the Experience of an Interior by Ty Follis The Church of St. Andrew's Ottawa David Bastien-Allard Making the Past Present: Union Station Restoration – A Political Facelift? by Vivian Astroff Delegation of the Ismali Imamat The National Arts Centre: Reflecting on its Past and Present Saint Paul University - A Shift in Values Reem Siage Film in Ottawa: The Mayfair theatre by Giovanna Maria Sang CGM -An Investigation of Hospital Interiors Effect on Patients The Chateau Laurier By Jessica El-Ghazal Reusable Space: The Senate of Canada Building by Syenne Holder National Gallery of Canada - Seeing the Colonnade Through a Semiological Lens by Ricky Tong Ricky THE OTTAWA STATION Ehidiamen Iyamabo, HomePage

Pandora's Box

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On October 5th 1970, the same balcony that once housed the wealthy Ottawa citizens watching films like Phantom of the Opera, was the location of an arrest of five women, “four of the girls were charged with being nude in a public place and a fifth with demonstrating and obscene performance” (http://scalar.usc.edu/works/imperial-theater/media/mobinbob-avery-article)



Interestingly enough, Bob Avery’s article goes on to discuss how the five women were not found not guilty in their charges as the Judge Williams ruled out the case, making the Imperial Theater grounds one more location that impacted the complicated idea of obscenity in the eyes of the law at that time. (http://scalar.usc.edu/works/imperial-theater/media/mobinbob-avery-article). Ironically enough, Pandora’s box, despite its raunchy attitude and popularity, still followed along with Ottawa’s reputation as a sleepy capital city, by having closing show by midnight, a move which the owner Bob Werba had said did not cost him any loss in profits (Miguelez, 119). However, in his article, Brian Gary notes assistant manager John Findlay saying that there were plans to move the strip bar to another location and replace it with a discotheque and restaurant known as “barrymores” (http://scalar.usc.edu/works/imperial-theater/media/mobinbrian-gory). Although Findlay notes the reason as low profits, the competition from other establishments that stayed open past midnight combined with lawsuits might have been the primary reason for the closure (Miguelez, 119).
In the lower half, that had wide doors which once shown bright with the promise of 1940s cinema, moved in a burger shop and arcade called “Frank N’ Fries” which became popular in its own merit.  As would be necessary for any retailer business, the owners restructured the entire lower façade to fit in glass windows that would allow for potential customers to peer in and perhaps be attracted by the blinking lights of the coin operated games and the smell of greasy fries and burgers wafting through the door now and then.



This shows that the building, despite its changes continued to serve Ottawa citizens in an impressive manner. Thus, by the 1970s, it is obvious that the Imperial Theater’s walls had incessant impact on the Ottawa social sphere in terms of entertainment; an impact which short after, would develop on a much larger scale.
 

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