BLANKSTEIN, Max Zev (1874-1931), architect of Winnipeg, Man., was born in Odessa, Russia on 23 August 1874 and was educated there and received his architectural training in his homeland. He emigrated to Canada in June 1904 and was among the first Jewish architects to register and to practise in Canada. Many of his clients were connected with the film and movie industry and they enabled Blankstein to complete important commissions such as Winnipeg's first 'atmospheric' theatre, the eclectically styled Uptown Theatre (1930-31). This distinctive design was inspired by the architecture of Moorish palaces and mosques. Blankstein died in Winnipeg on 31 December 1931 (obit. Winnipeg Free Press, 31 Dec. 1931, 1; obit. and photo portrait Winnipeg Tribune, 31 Dec. 1931, 2; R.A.I.C. Journal, ix, Feb 1932, 54; inf. C.N. Blankstein, Winnipeg). His two sons Cecil N. Blankstein and Morley Blankstein continued to practise in Winnipeg after 1950. A new publication entitled Max Blankstein, Architect by Murray Peterson was published by the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation in 2022. This book contains a detailed list of works by Max Blankstein on pages 119-125, including references to buildings designed by Blankstein which are still standing, altered or demolished.
Max Z. BLANKSTEIN (Institutional & Ecclesiastical works in Winnipeg)
ADAS YESHURUN SYNAGOGUE, McGregor Street, 1907; demol. 1955 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 97, illus. & descrip.)
HEBREW ASSOCIATION HALL, Selkirk Avenue, conversion of former Presbyterian Church into a theatre and meeting hall, 1908-09; still standing in 2022 and now called The Queen's Theatre (C.R., xxii, 7 Oct. 1908, 27, t.c.; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 65-66, illus. & descrip.)
HEBREW FREE SCHOOL, Flora Avenue at Charles Street, 1911-12; still standing in 2022 (Winnipeg Tribune, 8 May 1911, 9, descrip.; Winnipeg b.p. 1806, 1912; Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 8 June 1912, 11, illus. & descrip.; and 7 Dec. 1912, 13, illus.; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 92-94, illus. & descrip.)
MENNONITE BRETHREN CHURCH, Burrows Avenue at Andrews Street, basement constructed 1917, but church above grade not built; basement converted to retail space after 1930; still standing in 2022 (Winnipeg b.p. 376, 1917; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 98-99, illus. & descrip.)
HEBREW FREE SCHOOL, Magnus Avenue at Andrews Street, 1920; still standing in 2022 (Winnipeg Tribune, 27 July 1920, 2, t.c.; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 95-96, illus. & descrip.)
MOUNT CARMEL MEDICAL CLINIC, Selkirk Avenue, 1928; demol. 1982 (Winnipeg Tribune, 28 Sept. 1928, 26; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 100, illus. & descrip.)
Max Z. BLANKSTEIN (Commercial and Industrial works in Winnipeg)
GOMEZ STREET, retail store and residence for an unnamed client, 1907 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 113, illus. & descrip.)
MINUK'S HALL, Dufferin Avenue, a 3 storey commercial block, 1909; demol. c. 1967 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 114-15, illus. & descrip.)
THE DINER BLOCK, Henry Avenue, a one storey commercial block for Mrs. Rachel Diner, 1911; addition, 1914 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 116-17, illus. & descrip.)
H. & M. WEIDMAN & CO., Jarvis Avenue, a 3 storey warehouse, 1910; with 2 storey addition, 1919 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 107-08, illus. & descrip.)
GLESBY STABLE BLOCK, Aberdeen Avenue and King Street, 1910-11; demol. c. 2003 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 111, illus. & descrip.)
CONTINENTAL BLOCK, Main Street, a three storey commercial block for Herman Shapera, 1911 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 37, illus. & descrip.)
GOLDIN BROS. WHOLESALE GROCERS, Salter Street at Flora Avenue, 1911; still standing in 2022 but significantly altered (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 102-103, illus. & descrip.)
PALACE THEATRE, Selkirk Avenue, for Jacob Miles, 1912; facade rebuilt in 1927-28; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 43-45, illus. & descrip.)
STEIMAN BLOCK [later called The Merchants Hotel], Selkirk Avenue at Andrews Street, a three storey commercial block for Robert Steiman, 1913; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 29-31, illus. & descrip.)
ZIMMERMAN BLOCK, Main Street, a 3 storey commercial block, 1913; still standing in 2022 (Winnipeg b.p. 2401, 1913; City of Winnipeg, 1986-The Year Past, 39-40, illus.; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 32-36, illus. & descrip.)
WINNIPEG COLD STORAGE CO., Jarvis Avenue at Salter Street, a 4 storey warehouse for Checik, Gold & Kernahan, 1914; still standing in 2022 (Winnipeg b.p. 230, 1914; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 105-06, illus. & descrip.)
DUFFERIN AVENUE, at McGregor Street, bakery for Nathan Segal, 1915; demol. (Winnipeg b.p. 623, 1915)
HEMPHILL MOTOR SCHOOL BUILDING, Logan Avenue, 1916; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 110, illus. & descrip.)
SLOBINSKY BROS & SONS, Derby Street, warehouse, 1918 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 104, illus. & descrip.)
FILM EXCHANGE BUILDING, Hargrave Street at Ellice Avenue, a 5 storey commercial block, for Meyer Chechik, 1922-23; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xxxvi, 24 May 1922, 58; and xxxvii, 17 Jan. 1923, 53, illus. & descrip.; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 67-68, illus. & descrip.)
BUDNYK BLOCK, Selkirk Avenue at McGregor Avenue, a 2 storey commercial block for Onufrey Budnick, designed 1920; built 1924, with addition, 1929; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 26-28, illus. & descrip.)
PARKVIEW THEATRE, Portage Avenue near Parkview Street, for J. A. Kaplan, 1923-24; demol. (C.R., xxxviii, 30 Jan. 1924, 53; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 64, descrip.)
MINDELL BLOCK, Main Street, for Louis Mindell, 1925; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 24-25, illus. & descrip.)
CROSSTOWN GARAGE, Salter Street, 1925; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 112, illus. & descrip.)
ROSE THEATRE, Sargent Avenue at Arlington Street, for Nathan Rothstein, 1926; closed in 1964; building still standing in 2022 (Winnipeg b.p. 2842, 1916)
TIVOLI THEATRE, Maryland Street, for Raymond Kershaw, 1927; closed 1959 and converted to retail store; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 50-52, illus. & descrip.)
ROXY THEATRE, Henderson Highway near Bowman Avenue, 1929; closed 1960 and converted to bowling alley; building still standing in 2021 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 56-57, illus. & descrip.)
UPTOWN THEATRE, Academy Road at Ash Street, 1930-31; interior demol. 1960; converted to residential use in 2021; still standing in 2023 and now called Uptown Lofts (Manitoba Free Press [Winnipeg], 31 May 1930, 28; Winnipeg Tribune, 23 Dec. 1931, 6, extensive descrip. and illus.; C.R., xlvi, 6 Jan. 1932, 20; City of Winnipeg, 1985-The Year Past, 21-2, illus.; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 46-49, illus. & descrip.)
Max Z. BLANKSTEIN (Residential works in Winnipeg)
AIKINS COURT APARTMENTS, Aikins Street at Pritchard Avenue, 1907; still standing in 2022 (Winnipeg b.p. 1986, 20 Aug. 1907)
BRANDON COURT APARTMENTS, Brandon Avenue near Osborne Street, 1912; major addition, 1913; still standing in 2022 (Winnipeg b.p. 3235, 22 Aug. 1912; b.p. 1695, 31 May 1913)
KINGSWAY AVENUE, residence for William McMartin, 1912 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 71, illus. & descrip.)
WEATHERDON AVENUE, near Pembina Street, apartment block for C. Lewis, 1913 (Winnipeg b.p. 1695, 1913)
JESSIE APARTMENTS, Jessie Avenue at Daly Street, for Cohen & Shackleton, 1914 (Winnipeg b.p. 137, 20 Feb. 1914; Winnipeg Tribune, 23 Feb. 1914, 6, descrip.; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 84-87, illus. & descrip.)
RUBIN APARTMENTS, Osborne Street at Morley Avenue, 1914 (Winnipeg b.p. 351, 20 March 1914; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 80-82, illus. & descrip.)
EUROPEAN APARTMENTS, Manitoba Avenue at McGregor Street, 1914 (Winnipeg b.p. 839, 1914; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 88-90, illus. & descrip.)
DINER APARTMENTS, Henry Avenue at Marthas Street, 1914, but not built (Winnipeg b.p. dated 14 April 1914)
NORTH PANAMA APARTMENTS, Machray Avenue at Charles Street, 1914 (Winnipeg b.p. 1355, 1914; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 83, illus. & descrip.)
REDWOOD APARTMENTS, College Avenue at Charles Street, 1914 (Winnipeg Telegram, 16 May 1914, 24)
MACHRAY AVENUE, near Mortimer Place, residence for Max Blankstein architect, 1922 (Winnipeg b.p. 1497, 1922; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 1922, illus. & descrip.)
GARFIELD STREET SOUTH, residence for Morris Kim, 1927 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 74-75, illus. & descrip.)
WAVERLEY STREET, residence for Henry Morton, 1930 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 73, illus. & descrip.)
CATHEDRAL AVENUE, residence for Jacob Miles, 1930 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 76, illus. & descrip.)
MACHRAY AVENUE, residence for Daniel Smith, 1931 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 77, illus. & descrip.)
ELSEWHERE (works in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta)
WADENA, SASK., Wadena Hotel, 1st Street N.E., 1913; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 125, list of works)
NEEPAWA, MAN., Roxy Theatre, Hamilton Street, 1919; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 125, list of works)
LETHBRIDGE, ALTA., Empire Theatre, 5th Street South, 1928 (C.R., xlii, 24 Oct. 1928, 49)
YORKTON, SASK., RoxyTheatre, Broadway Street East, 1928; demol. 1964 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 58-59, illus. & descrip.)
SASKATOON, SASK., Roxy Theatre, 20th Street West, for N. Rothstein, 1929; still standing in 2022 (C.R., xliii, 18 Sept. 1929, 51; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 53-55, illus. & descrip.)
REGINA, SASK., Broadway Theatre, Broad Street at Eleventh Avenue, 1929; theatre closed 1981; and later demol. (Morning Leader [Regina], 31 Dec. 1929, 15, illus. & detailed descrip.; M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 62-63, illus. & descrip.)
THE PAS, MAN., Lido Theatre, Edwards Avenue, 1929; still standing in 2022 (M. Peterson, Max Blankstein, Architect, 2022, 60-61, illus. & descrip.)