About Us
In the heart of Medicine Hat’s bustling downtown, the Monarch Theatre stands as a timeless testament to the golden age of cinema. Built in 1911, it proudly holds the title of Canada’s oldest purpose-built movie theatre, a beacon of innovation and community spirit.
For over a century, the Monarch has been a cherished venue where generations have gathered to be captivated by the magic of the silver screen. From the enchanting silent films accompanied by live orchestras to the groundbreaking ‘talkies,’ vibrant color films, and the expansive vistas of Cinemascope, the Monarch has evolved with the times, embracing the latest in digital film technology.
The 1990s brought the rise of large-scale multiplexes, casting a shadow over the Monarch’s popularity and leading to its temporary closure in 2007. Yet, the spirit of the community never wavered. In 2009, the City of Medicine Hat, alongside dedicated citizens, rallied to save this historic gem. The City Centre Development Agency acquired the theatre, and the Friends of the Monarch Society was born, dedicated to preserving and celebrating this unique cultural treasure.
In September 2016, the Monarch Theatre was honored as a Municipal Historic Resource, a testament to its enduring significance. The story didn’t end there. In November 2023, the Monarch 1911 Society, formed by Rotarians from the Saamis and Medicine Hat Rotary Clubs, took up the mantle, raising funds to purchase and restore the theatre. Their mission is clear: to breathe new life into this beloved landmark, ensuring it continues to inspire and entertain for generations to come.
The Monarch Theatre is more than just a building; it’s a symbol of resilience, community, and the timeless allure of cinema. As it prepares to reopen its doors, it invites us all to step back in time and be part of its storied legacy.
Events
NOVEMBER
12
Girls Night Out, Medicine Hat
NOVEMBER
14
Mighty Ducks
NOVEMBER
15
How to Lose a Guy in 10 days
NOVEMBER
16
Cool Runnings
NOVEMBER
21
Home Alone (Downtown Midnight Madness)
NOVEMBER
23
Christmas Hoedown
NOVEMBER
28
Die Hard
NOVEMBER
30
The Santa Clause
DECEMBER
4
Good Lovelies Christmas Concert
DECEMBER
5
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
DECEMBER
6
The Holiday
DECEMBER
7
Arthur Christmas
DECEMBER
19
Love Actually
DECEMBER
20
It’s a Wonderful Life
DECEMBER
21
The Grinch (2018) – Monarch’s 114th Birthday
Our Story
1911
Constructed in Beaux-Arts-style
1912
Beaux-Arts-style “Monarch” vertical sign attached on the north (front façade) most easterly side between the theatre building and the commercial storefront building (now east bay of the Monarch Theatre)
1930
Original movie screen replaced
1935
Front façade of west structural bay renovated to Streamline Moderne-style including the marquee
1956
Readograph neon “Monarch” vertical sign installed on north (front) façade above the marquee Pre-1984: Circular windows infilled on rear façade
1940-1941
Theatre expanded into rear of east structural bay and front façade of east structural bay renovated to match Streamline Moderne-style of west structural bay Circa 1950s: Donnacona panels installed
1986
New projection and sound equipment (Xevon lighting, Kelmar Amps and Altec speakers, new 14’x28’ screen) installed
1986
Seating reconfigured and reduced to 500 seats
1993
Mac’s Cigar Shop closed in October and moved to 3rd Street SE
1995
Mac’s Cigar Store exterior storefront features (door, windows, and tiles) removed and stucco’s in mid-1995.
1993
New movie screens installed by King Cinema
1999
Plywood sheets glued to sanded hardwood floors and new seats installed – seating reduced from 500 to 410
1999
Art Deco (square) sconces removed, and the Façade painted, and marquee refurbished and paintedatre walls covered with burlap curtains
Circa 2010
Readograph neon “Monarch” vertical sign removed from the north (front) façade
2014
New digital projection equipment installed
2023
Purchased by the Monarch 1911 Society - a group of Rotarians from the Medicine Hat and Saamis Rotary Clubs.
2024
Modern vertical “Monarch” sign removed with façade rehabilitation/restoration
2024
North (front) façade rehabilitation of the parapet, stucco finish and restoration
Restoration
Contractors & Donations ...
Monetary Donations ...
Volunteer
Book Now
Christmas Hoedown
November 23, 2025
Join Scott Woods and his talented band for this uplifting 2-hour live family-friendly show, featuring lots of your favourite Christmas carols, fun fiddle tunes, as well as Traditional Country and Gospel songs. Scott will keep you entertained with his keen wit, his prowess on the fiddle, and of course his trick fiddling. His sister, Kendra Woods Norris, will play twin fiddle, add sweet harmonies and levity to every show. Enjoy impressive guitar solos by ‘The Telecaster Master’ Steve Piticco, and 21-year old Leo Stock, (also known as ‘Spaghetti Legs”) will demonstrate sensational step dancing. Special guests will be vocalist Nadine Boles, and her husband, Gary, playing the bass.
ticket admission
GET TICKETS!
where
Monarch Theatre
Doors open
1:30PM
showtime
2:00PM
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
November 15, 2025
An advertising executive and ladies' man, to win a big campaign, bets that he can make a woman fall in love with him in 10 days.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
where
Monarch Theatre
Doors open
6:15PM
showtime
7:00PM
Halloween
October 30, 2025
Laurie Strode confronts her long-time foe, Michael Myers, the masked figure who has haunted her since she narrowly escaped his killing spree on Halloween night four decades ago.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
where
Monarch Theatre
Doors open
6:30PM
showtime
7:00PM
The Phoenix Band
November 7, 2025
ticket admission
$20 Early Bird Tickets (Call Band Members)
$25 (Cash only, pay at the door)
where
Monarch Theatre
Doors open
6:00PM
showtime
7:00PM
Good Lovelies Christmas Concert
December 4, 2025
Good Lovelies’ much-loved Christmas tour is coming to Alberta this December, bringing holiday classics, wintery favourites and a sprinkle of the band’s originals that you’ve come to love.
ticket admission
GET TICKETS!
where
Monarch Theatre
Doors open
6:30PM
showtime
7:30PM
Saving Private Ryan
November 8, 2025
Following the Normandy Landings, a group of U.S. soldiers go behind enemy lines to retrieve a paratrooper whose comrades have been killed in action.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
6:15PM
SHOW STARTS
7:00PM
where
Monarch Theatre
Frozen
November 9, 2025
Fearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
1:15PM
EVENT Starts
2:00PM
The Mighty Ducks
November 14, 2025
A self-centered Minnesota lawyer is sentenced to community service coaching a rag tag youth hockey team.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
6:15PM
showtime
7:00AM
Girls Night Out, Medicine Hat
November 12, 2025
From the team at Fun & Faith—creators of The DATENIGHT Tour—comes an exciting new event: Girls Night Out – You Glow Girls!
This fun-filled, 2.5-hour experience features:
Comedian Timmy Boyle – bringing laughter and joy to the night
A live game show – interactive and full of surprises
Author & Speaker Tess Scott “Listen Sister, Finding Hope in the FREAKSHOW of Life” sharing wisdom, encouragement, and faith
This fun-filled, 2.5-hour experience features:
Comedian Timmy Boyle – bringing laughter and joy to the night
A live game show – interactive and full of surprises
Author & Speaker Tess Scott “Listen Sister, Finding Hope in the FREAKSHOW of Life” sharing wisdom, encouragement, and faith
Doors open
6:00PM
showtime
7:00PM
Beetlejuice
October 24, 2025
The spirits of a deceased couple are harassed by an unbearable family that has moved into their home, and hire a malicious spirit to drive them out.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
6:30PM
showtime
7:00PM
Home Alone
November 21, 2025
An eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
6:15PM
showtime
7:00PM
Cool Runnings
November 16, 2025
When a Jamaican sprinter is disqualified from the Olympic Games, he enlists the help of a dishonored coach to start the first Jamaican Bobsled Team.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
1:15PM
showtime
2:00PM
Die Hard
November 28, 2025
A New York City cop, John McClane, tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas Eve party at the Nakatomi Plaza Skyscraper in Los Angeles, California.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
6:15PM
showtime
7:00PM
The Santa Clause
November 30, 2025
When a man inadvertently makes Santa fall off his roof on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
1:15PM
showtime
2:00PM
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
December 5, 2025
The Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
6:15PM
showtime
7:00PM
The Holiday
December 6, 2025
Amanda lives in LA and is a movie trailer editor. Iris lives in Surrey and is a journalist. The two decide to swap houses for two weeks at Christmas - both trying to forget their troubled love lives, until love finds them anyways.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
6:15PM
showtime
7:00PM
Arthur Christmas
December 7, 2025
Santa's clumsy son Arthur sets out on a mission with Grandsanta to give out a misplaced present to a young girl in less than two hours on Christmas Day.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
1:15PM
showtime
2:00PM
Love Actually
December 19, 2025
Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
6:30PM
showtime
7:00PM
It's a Wonderful Life
December 20, 2025
Follows the lives of eight very dAn angel is sent from Heaven to help a desperately frustrated businessman see the value of his own life.ifferent couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
6:15PM
showtime
7:00PM
The Grinch
December 21, 2025
A grumpy Grinch plots to ruin Christmas for the village of Whoville.
ticket admission
$5 (Cash only, pay at the door)
Doors open
1:15PM
showtime
2:00PM
Project Unlonely
November 8, 2025
Community Mingle following the film.
ticket admission
Admission is free
🍿: Concessions: Any 2 items for $5
Be among the first 100 guests to receive a $5 concession coupon!
Be among the first 100 guests to receive a $5 concession coupon!
Doors open
1:30PM
showtime
2:00PM