Old Photographs of Sainte-Catherine Street (1920-1972)

September 4, 2025 Dalia Nardolillo History, The City

Sainte-Catherine Street is one of Montréal’s busiest and most popular streets, stretching over 11 kilometres through the city. It’s a top destination for shopping, with everything from well-known department stores to trendy boutiques and cafés. The street is always buzzing with energy, attracting both locals and tourists.

It’s also a centre for arts and entertainment. Sainte-Catherine runs through the Quartier des Spectacles, where festivals, concerts, and public art take over the street throughout the year. Cultural spots like Place des Arts and the Musée d’art contemporain are just steps away, making it a great place to explore Montréal’s creative side.

Different parts of the street offer different vibes. The west end features historic buildings and big-name stores, while the east end—especially in the Gay Village—is known for its colour and community spirit. Sainte-Catherine Street shows off Montréal’s unique mix of style, culture, and fun.

1920 – Photograph of Fire Station No. 10.
1925 – Photograph looking east, taken at the intersection of Bleury Street.
1930 – Photograph taken on Stanley Street at the intersection, looking north.
1936 – Photograph of Morgan’s department store (now La Baie – 587, between Union and Aylmer Streets).
1936 – Photograph of Eaton’s department store (at the corner of University Street).
1936 – Photograph of Simpson’s department store (between Metcalfe and Mansfield Streets). To the left of the image is a partial view of the Hungarian Tokay Restaurant.
1936 – Photograph of the Keefer Building (1440 Sainte-Catherine Street West).
1936 – Photograph of the Ambassador Garage (2134 Sainte-Catherine Street West), owned by McColl-Frontenac Oil Co.
1936 – Photograph of the City and District Savings Bank of Montreal (777 Sainte-Catherine Street West, at the corner of McGill College Avenue).
1940 – Photograph taken looking east from the intersection of Mercalfe Street. In the center of the snowy street, tram number 1313 runs west.
1950 – A photograph at night. The neon lights of many illuminated businesses can be seen, including the Loews Cinema, the Maroon Club, the Capitol, and the Strand.
1950 – Photograph of the intersection between Sainte-Catherine and Peel streets in the evening.
1960 – Photograph of the businesses on Sainte-Catherine Street West between Metcalfe and Peel Streets in the evening. Highlights include Dobridge, Bata, People’s Jewelers, and National Trust.
1965 – Exterior view of Sainte-Catherine Street at the intersection of Drummond Street.
1966 – Photograph of the businesses on Sainte-Catherine Street West opposite 1244.
1966 – Photograph of the Marie-Claire boutique and the Bank of Nova Scotia (Scotiabank), located at 1115 and 1101 Sainte-Catherine Street West, in the evening.
1967 – Morgan’s department store and the Palace Cinema, where the film You Only Live Twice is playing, can be seen.
1967 – Signs for several businesses can be seen, including the Loew’s Cinema, the Ville-Marie, Strand, and Dunn’s restaurants, and several posters for Expo 67.
970 – Photograph of the Arthurs Furs fur store, located at the corner of Stanley Street.
1972 – Photographs at night. The sign for the Cinéma Palace can be seen, displaying, among other things, the film The Poseidon Adventure (1972).

Find more photos from the Montréal archives on their website.

 

About Dalia Nardolillo 21 Articles
Dalia, a photojournalist hailing from Montreal, is deeply passionate about documenting events and sharing stories about people's lives. She is on track to graduate from Concordia University with a degree in journalism and a minor in art history. Currently, Dalia holds the position of Editor-in-Chief at her school's newspaper, The Concordian. Following graduation, she aims to secure a full-time reporting job at a major news outlet.

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