Portage Avenue: Dreams of Castles in the Sky chronicles how those dreams evolved and triumphed. It follows the visions of ambitious Winnipeggers — like William Boyd and John Duncan McArthur, who built early landmarks along Portage Avenue and at Portage and Main. Join this guided tour to hear the story of downtown’s heyday and the building of majestic architectural gems: the Boyd Building, the Bank of Nova Scotia, the Paris Building, the Curry Building and Birks.
Take a walk back in time on famous Portage Avenue to see the shopping frenzy fuelled by Eaton’s Department Store, which, in 1905 cinched the avenue’s downtown dominance. Recall the favourite movie houses — The Lyceum, the Rialto, the famous Capitol Theatre entrance, and the Gaiety Theatre across from The Bay — and the turn-of-the-century and latter day celebrations and parades.
Re-live the stories of people who worked in the elegant offices, the exquisite meals served at prestigious restaurants like Child’s and Moores, and the devastation of the great Time Building fire in 1954. Hear the dreams for a revitalized Portage Avenue — a new, dynamic intersection that will be filled once again with people and attractions.
Available on VHS only