The storied history of how Marda Loop in Calgary got its name
Long before it was packed with cafes, boutiques, and services, Marda Loop was shaped by transit and entertainment.
Before Marda Loop and its surrounding communities were officially named, they were collectively known as South Calgary, which had a rich military history thanks to the Currie Barracks. The area was heavily populated by soldiers and their families.
At the time, South Calgary was located on the edge of the city, and to make commuting easier, the No. 7 streetcar was implemented to loop around South Calgary and back to the downtown core.
calgarytransit.com
After the opening of the Currie Barracks in 1933 and the start of the Second World War, the streetcar served thousands of soldiers in the area. After the war, Calgary saw a boom and started to become more populated with neighbourhoods like Altadore and Knob Hill popping up.
In 1952, Marc and Mada Jenkins opened a theatre in the area, called the Marda Theatre, derived from their first names. The theatre was located on the corner of 33rd Avenue SW and 20th Street SW.
Glenbow Library and Archives Collection
In 1964, the Jenkins sold the theatre, and it became the Odeon Theatre. For its grand re-opening, it screened The Sound of Music for a whopping 72 weeks.
The theatre became a local landmark, and some other businesses included Marda in their names, before the area was even officially known as Marda Loop.
The building was twinned in 1975, before the Odeon ultimately closed in 1988 and was demolished in 1989.
In 1985, the Building Revitalization Zone (BRZ), now Business Improvement Area (BIA), held a contest to see what the area should be called. Marda Loop was submitted by Irene Horne, coming from the historic streetcar loop and the Marda Theatre, which ultimately won the vote.
While both the theatre and the streetcar loop no longer exist, Marda Loop is a thriving community with tons of local businesses, cafes and gathering spots that continue to draw Calgarians together.