Constructed in 1946 by F.L. Dupont of St. Lazare at a cost of around $15,000, and opened in October of that year by a Birtle man simply named Mr. Hairsine. It was first known as the Starduct Theatre, but was renamed the Strand Theatre in 1954 when it was sold to Chuck Doerr.
Doerr operated the Strand until 1955 when it was sold to a husband-and-wife team of simply named Mr. and Mrs. Kowbel. In 1979, it was taken over by a family led by Bill, Marilyn, and Bob Holden.
The Avolie Theatre opened its doors on December 22, 1938 on site of the former Lawrence Hardware building, and was a replacement of the Province Theatre that got destroyed by a fire three months beforehand. It was first known as the New Theatre for its first two months of operation until a theater naming contest was held in February 1939.
That same month, it was renamed the Avolie Theatre after its name in the contest was chosen from more than 150 submissions, most likely coming from the original manager’s wife Olive. H.J. Stevenson of Prince George bought the Avolie in 1952 and renamed it the Roxy Theatre.
Correction: The Province Theatre was destroyed by a fire on September 10, 1938, but miraculously sparing its expensive projection equipment. The equipment was immediately moved to the then-new Avolie Theatre that opened three months later.
There are two Princess Theatres in Cowansville. The first Princess Theatre opened in 1926 on the second floor of the Cowansville Town Hall. The second Princess Theatre opened in January 1949 after its original location relocated to its own theater building.
The Park Theatre opened its doors on March 6, 1950 with Gene Kelly in “On The Town” (unknown if extras added). On grand opening, then-Mayor George Mathieson and Air Vice and the Chair of the Goderich Board of Trade Marshall Sully made special addresses before assisting local theater pioneer H.J. Sutherland in cutting the ribbon.
The Park Theatre’s opening in Goderich also caused several other theaters to close, including the nearby Capitol Theatre in 1955, Seaforth’s Regent Theatre in 1958, the Roxy Theatre in Clinton in 1959, and Exeter’s Lyric Theatre in 1963.
In 1998, a second screen was added. But unfortunately, the Park Theatre suffered major damage from an EF3 tornado that hit Goderich on August 21, 2011. Major renovations were made before reopening that November. COVID closed the theater in March 2020, and the theater sat abandoned for two years before reopening on April 27, 2022.
Closed by May 2021 judging by Google Maps. I cannot confirm if its still closed today. It most likely opened sometime in the early-1990s judging by the signage and Pepsi logos.
Actual opening date is June 14, 1951 with David Wayne in “Up Front” (I can’t confirm if any extras were added because the grand opening advertisement photo I found is in very low quality).
The Champlain Theatre opened its doors on July 27, 1949 with Fred MacMurray in “Family Honeymoon” (unknown if extras added) featuring RCA projection, and was first operated by Willowdale resident Max Consky. The husband-and-wife team of Roy and Shirley Parizeau operated the Champlain from 1960 until 1987, along with Conrad Belanger and Remi Gravelle who would fill in as spare projectionists.
Remi took over the Champlain as operator in 1971 after Roy fell ill. Four years later, original owner Max Consky died from illness at the age of 54 on February 15, 1975. Remi would later purchase the Champlain on March 11, 1994. It was renovated in 2004 after Tim Smith and Michel Royer purchased the Champlain. Smith and Royer only operated the theater for three years and was then taken over by another husband-and-wife team of Denis and Claudine Janveaux in November 2007.
As of 2026, the Champlain is still open on weekends, and its current function is first-run.
Built in 1921 by Enrico Pozzi. 20th Avenue’s original name is Victoria Street when it first opened.
And one of 14 surviving Jerry Lewis theaters operating to this very day.
Opened on February 26, 1966. Current function is first-run.
Constructed in 1946 by F.L. Dupont of St. Lazare at a cost of around $15,000, and opened in October of that year by a Birtle man simply named Mr. Hairsine. It was first known as the Starduct Theatre, but was renamed the Strand Theatre in 1954 when it was sold to Chuck Doerr.
Doerr operated the Strand until 1955 when it was sold to a husband-and-wife team of simply named Mr. and Mrs. Kowbel. In 1979, it was taken over by a family led by Bill, Marilyn, and Bob Holden.
Designed by Parks Architectural Division, built by George Brewerton.
The Avolie Theatre opened its doors on December 22, 1938 on site of the former Lawrence Hardware building, and was a replacement of the Province Theatre that got destroyed by a fire three months beforehand. It was first known as the New Theatre for its first two months of operation until a theater naming contest was held in February 1939.
That same month, it was renamed the Avolie Theatre after its name in the contest was chosen from more than 150 submissions, most likely coming from the original manager’s wife Olive. H.J. Stevenson of Prince George bought the Avolie in 1952 and renamed it the Roxy Theatre.
Correction: The Province Theatre was destroyed by a fire on September 10, 1938, but miraculously sparing its expensive projection equipment. The equipment was immediately moved to the then-new Avolie Theatre that opened three months later.
There are two Princess Theatres in Cowansville. The first Princess Theatre opened in 1926 on the second floor of the Cowansville Town Hall. The second Princess Theatre opened in January 1949 after its original location relocated to its own theater building.
The Park Theatre opened its doors on March 6, 1950 with Gene Kelly in “On The Town” (unknown if extras added). On grand opening, then-Mayor George Mathieson and Air Vice and the Chair of the Goderich Board of Trade Marshall Sully made special addresses before assisting local theater pioneer H.J. Sutherland in cutting the ribbon.
The Park Theatre’s opening in Goderich also caused several other theaters to close, including the nearby Capitol Theatre in 1955, Seaforth’s Regent Theatre in 1958, the Roxy Theatre in Clinton in 1959, and Exeter’s Lyric Theatre in 1963.
In 1998, a second screen was added. But unfortunately, the Park Theatre suffered major damage from an EF3 tornado that hit Goderich on August 21, 2011. Major renovations were made before reopening that November. COVID closed the theater in March 2020, and the theater sat abandoned for two years before reopening on April 27, 2022.
Opened in 1922.
Closed in 1996 and reopened in 1999.
Opened on April 6, 1914.
Renamed the O'Brien Theatre in 1929, and was last renovated in 2000.
Closed by May 2021 judging by Google Maps. I cannot confirm if its still closed today. It most likely opened sometime in the early-1990s judging by the signage and Pepsi logos.
Magic Lantern Theatres took over the Capitol in 1984, and most likely twinned that same year.
Opened on March 4, 1937 with Deanna Durbin in “Three Smart Girls” along with a few unnamed shorts.
Opened in 1947.
Opened on January 1, 1947.
Actual opening date is June 14, 1951 with David Wayne in “Up Front” (I can’t confirm if any extras were added because the grand opening advertisement photo I found is in very low quality).
The Champlain Theatre opened its doors on July 27, 1949 with Fred MacMurray in “Family Honeymoon” (unknown if extras added) featuring RCA projection, and was first operated by Willowdale resident Max Consky. The husband-and-wife team of Roy and Shirley Parizeau operated the Champlain from 1960 until 1987, along with Conrad Belanger and Remi Gravelle who would fill in as spare projectionists.
Remi took over the Champlain as operator in 1971 after Roy fell ill. Four years later, original owner Max Consky died from illness at the age of 54 on February 15, 1975. Remi would later purchase the Champlain on March 11, 1994. It was renovated in 2004 after Tim Smith and Michel Royer purchased the Champlain. Smith and Royer only operated the theater for three years and was then taken over by another husband-and-wife team of Denis and Claudine Janveaux in November 2007.
As of 2026, the Champlain is still open on weekends, and its current function is first-run.
Its website confirms that the Clarenville Cinema most likely opened in 1990.
Opened in the early-1960s.
I cannot confirm if the Ritz is short-lived. As of 1956, the Roxy was the only colored theater in Lakeland.
This page is a duplicate.
Shortly after the Torrance Drive-In closed, the theater made a special appearance in a Sprite theatrical commercial that same year.