Andréanne Brouillette, special collaboration
DRUMMOND HISTORY SOCIETY. During the 1920s and 1930s, Drummondville’s population grew significantly with the establishment of several textile mills in the area. One of the effects of this increase is the development of art and culture, such as cinema. Along with the Rialto Theatre, the Royal Theater and the Bijou Theatre, the Drummond Theater quickly surpassed its predecessors to become the city’s most popular cinema.
Construction of the Drummond Theater began in 1936 to plans by Montreal architect Raoul Gariépy. After some construction delays, owners DA Burpee and Maurice West of Burpee & West Enterprises announce in local newspapers the long-awaited opening of the new Lindsay Street Theater, scheduled for January 19, 1937.
Hervé Gauthier in his work uniform in front of the Drummond Theatre, 1940. (Photo Drummond Historical Society, Regional Collection; IC-8.1A4.)
On the first night, hundreds of moviegoers come to see the American film Born to Dance, starring Eleanor Powell. Welcomed by the white façade decorated with linear black and red patterns and the massive canopy, spectators enter the building’s two waiting rooms to wait. Behind the large wooden doors is a huge projection room, equipped with a ventilation and heating system, 738 comfortable seats and a large stage that allows all kinds of shows to be staged. In addition to its facilities designed to offer customers optimal comfort, the Drummond Theater is equipped with a state-of-the-art sound and projection system. These systems offer customers an immersive experience and give them an edge over their competitors. Falling victim to its popularity, the establishment attracted well-known city figures to its inauguration, including mayor Eugène Pelletier and lawyer Joseph Marier. In order to secure a seat, some cinemagoers even showed up almost an hour before the screening and still many could not get a seat.
After a sensational start, the Drummond Theater aims to continue to please its customers, presenting films every day and giving preference to French language productions three days a week. Despite this busy schedule, this does not prevent this space from offering a varied program and hosting several dance, song and music performances on stage, as well as events such as beauty pageants and boxing matches. The Drummond Theater also hosts a circus with wild animals, including an elephant, and several performers, including acrobats and tightrope walkers, in its first year of existence.
Full house at the Théâtre Drummond, 1965. Drummond Historical Society, Pierre Dozois Fund; P184-023253.
In March 1937, the opening of the Capitol Theatre, down Lindsay Street, sparked fierce competition. In addition to comparable projection and sound technology, the newcomer offers its visitors even more comfort by equipping its building with air conditioning. Adding to the health problems of one of its owners, the Drummond came under the same administration as the Capitol in 1938.
Over time the owners prospered and the Drummond Theater underwent various improvements including the installation of new seats, a fresh coat of paint in 1962 and a new window front in 1965 to suit the tastes of the time.
Despite satisfactory traffic, the Drummond Theater officially closed on May 30, 1985 under the management of the Cinévic company. The latter is carrying out a reorganization aimed at better serving the population by reducing the number of their addresses. Finally, the building at 457 Lindsay Street was demolished in 2001 to make way for a residential and commercial building.
A crowd in front of the Drummond Theatre, 1968. Drummond Historical Society, Pierre Dozois Fund; P184-012730.