[3] The theatre opened on February 5, 1912 with "The Passing of the Third Floor Back" starring Johnston Forbes-Robertson[4] and attracted other well-known performers such as Sarah Bernhardt, Fred Astaire, Ethel Barrymore, the Marx Brothers, George Burns, Arthur Rubinstein, and Paul Robeson, among others.

Both the Liberal and Conservative Parties held rallies at the theatre as did Nellie McClung of the "Famous Five," Prime Minister Robert Borden, and Premier William Aberhart.

The original Grand Theatre was fashioned with 1,350 seats (810 on the main floor and 540 in the upper gallery) and boasted the largest stage in Canada when it first opened.

[5] The Grand was considered modern for its time as all 15 of the dressing rooms below the stage had hot and cold running water as well as electric lighting.

[11] However, despite these efforts, in November 2000, the Calgary Planning Commission gave the green light for the building to be demolished and a twenty-two-story office tower to be built on the site.

[12] On March 22, 2004, Calgary City Council recommended that the efforts be made to ensure that the Grand Theatre continue to provide performance space.