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February 25th 1908. The Winter Fair Building Tenth and Victoria Avenue opens.
2/25/2010 at 7:49 AM
When first constructed it was called “The Auditorium” and many suggestions abound as to how the formal Opening Ceremonies by Mayor Clement should take place.
The new structure contained fifteen hundred seats, which Board officials finally agreed could include an Operatic performance. The Winnipeg Opera Company was contacted, and invited to present “The Chimes of Normandy”.
The presentation featured fifty vocals, complete Orchestra, elaborate costumes and special lighting effects on Tuesday and performed on Wednesday, and Thursday February 25th and 26th.
During the same week, Stewards decided their Organization would in future be known as the “Provincial Winter Fair and Livestock Association”.
On April 11th, and May 28th, inaugural horse and cattle sales were held. At a preceding annual Board meeting, one Director stressed that the premises wherein they were seated was entirely agricultural, and not in any way an Opera House, his words were ignored by the rest of the board Members.
Preparations for months culminated in mid June with an “Aid for the Y.M.C.A. Wheat city carnival. The Auditorium was filled with an indoor Circus, a children’s happy land: concerts, sports events, “International” booths, and a baby show packed the facility daily.
Winnipeg theatre magnate Mr. C. P. Walker brought crowd-pleasing attractions that promised to “end for good some of the ramshackle, barn storming annuals that had been tolerated in the past.
Source: Daly house Museum Archives.