- Exterior view of the Princess Theatre, Windsor’s newest theatre, located on Sandwich street east. It has an attractive front that make a big improvement in the appearance of the street.
I don’t know much about this theatre, in fact this picture is the first and only reference I’ve ever seen to the Princess Theatre. It must have been right downtown, this picture dates from 1912.
That looks like the same building where Fast Eddy’s was, on Riverside Dr W, just west of Ouellette Ave ………?
The May 4, 1912 edition (Pg. 8) of “The Windsor Evening Record” states:
“Another Theatre Here
The premises on Sandwich Street next to Durdan’s formerly occupied by Rose & Lane, are undergoing extensive alterations at present and a moving picture theatre will be opened up soon. It will be known as the Princess Theatre and will have an attractive front. Those interested in the new enterprise are Frank Poli, the contractor, and Messrs. Zakoor & Alice.”
Ads in other editions of this paper describe the address as: 33, 35, 37 Sandwich Street East. Sometimes it is just referred to as 33 Sandwich Street East.
Perhaps the former occupants of the building named in the May 4 article will shed light on the actual location.
Judging by a couple of photos as well as a copy of the 1919 Windsor City Directory, the Princess was located between the Davis Building and the hotel at the corner of Goyeau (IM Aug 31/ ’12). Looking at the roofline in the above image, the Princess must have been at the eastern end of the 33-35-37 series of addresses, perhaps amalgamated later to simply 33 Sandwich St E. In 1919, 37 Sandwich E was the address of Baum & Brody Furniture, which would have featured a very open interior space. I had never heard of the Princess until now. The history of theatres and cinemas in Windsor seems like a subject rich for mining. Hmm…
VERNON’S CITY OF WINDSOR, SANDWICH, WALKERVILLE AND FORD Directory for 1919/20 lists the following theatres:
Empire, 13 Pitt w
Family (Walkerville)
Favorite, 73 Ouellette av
Griffin s (Ford)
Home, 279 Wyandotte e
Star. 155 Wyandotte e
Windsor, 20,22 Pitt e
I can’t find a Princess Theatre, though.
But you’re right, the history of theatres and cinemas in Windsor DOES seem like a subject rich for mining.
btw, that directory is here, if anyone’s interested: https://ia600401.us.archive.org/25/items/vernonswindsor00vernuoft/vernonswindsor00vernuoft.pdf