LaserboyTO is absolutely correct about the refusal of Famous Players to retrofit some of their older theatres for handicapped. It would have been cost prohibitive and these theatres were at the end of their commercial lives. They had built the Paramount just a few blocks to the south but what did the handicapped do— they went and protested and actually sued Famous Players over the uptown. The decision was made just to close these old theatres and that decision was the correct one! I worked for Famous Players 11 years and actually worked at the Uptown for a while!!
This theatre was purpose built by Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The Famous Players booking department referred to this as one of their “up country” locations in British Columbia!!!
Famous Players would have to had to spend a fortune to make this theatre wheelchair accessible — and about the same time they were ordered to upgrade the Uptown, the Eglinton and the Plaza 1 & 2 — Famous Players chose wisely to close these theatres rather than spend any more money on them!!
The Grover originally called the East Danforth was again one of the many many B & F neighbourhood theatres in Toronto. B & F theatres were controlled by Famous Players and usually played 2 or 3rd run double features!!
Peter Sorok has owned and operated the Mt. Pleasant and the Regent for a number of years. The Belsize was originally a partnership between Famous Players and an individual who also owned The Park Theatre on North Yonge!!
The Parliament Theatre was built by Bloom and Fine Theatres (B & F) around 1928 just prior to them becoming associated with Famous Players Canadian Corporation! Sam Bloom and Sam Fine were the owners!!
This theatre was a B & F Theatre (Bloom & Fine). Sam Bloom and Sam Fine were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. There were 3 three theatres pooled together — The Eastwood, the Prince of Wales, and one more. The operating company was called Danforth Woodbine Theatre Operating. W. A. Summerville was the owner of the Prince of Wales and vice-president of Famous Players. These theatres were joined together to prevent competition and maximize the profits!!
Mort Margolius was the Manager at this theatre during the war. During the war Queen Julianna of the Netherlands watched movies here. This theatre closed in the late 60’s. Closed circuit hockey broadcasts on a big screen EDIDOPHOR were tried out at this theatre!!
I visited this theatre many times when United Artists was operating it. Lovely COMFORTABLE auditoriums, extremely clean floors (tiles) under the seats — far nicer than any Carmike dump!
Built and operated by Famous Players Canadian Corporation and their excellent management. The display ad might appeared in the Twentieth Century section of the newspaper, but it was 100% Famous Players operation. The last manager of this theatre was Phil Traynor on leave from the Imperial while being turned into the Imperial Six!!!
The Hollywood Theatre was built as a unit of Premier Operating Company, a Famous Players affiliate. In the late 50’s when Shea’s Theatre was torn down to make way for the new city hall, Famous Players desperately wanted the Hollywood so in 1959 Famous Players traded all the Kitchener/Waterloo theatres to Premier Operating in order to get exclusive control of The Hollywood.
This was just an old Twinex Theatre (Twentieth Century Theatres) that Famous Players closed as fast as they could. Twentieth Century Theatres were an operating partner of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. This was NEVER an important theatre!
Within a few months of this place opening, we could see by the figures that this place just wasn’t going to make it. When they consider building theatres they do projections but if the projections are enhanced just to get the “go ahead” answer then failure later must be dealt with!!
LaserboyTO is absolutely correct about the refusal of Famous Players to retrofit some of their older theatres for handicapped. It would have been cost prohibitive and these theatres were at the end of their commercial lives. They had built the Paramount just a few blocks to the south but what did the handicapped do— they went and protested and actually sued Famous Players over the uptown. The decision was made just to close these old theatres and that decision was the correct one! I worked for Famous Players 11 years and actually worked at the Uptown for a while!!
This theatre was purpose built by Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The Famous Players booking department referred to this as one of their “up country” locations in British Columbia!!!
Was this theatre owned and operated by the BASIL BROTHERS???
Famous Players would have to had to spend a fortune to make this theatre wheelchair accessible — and about the same time they were ordered to upgrade the Uptown, the Eglinton and the Plaza 1 & 2 — Famous Players chose wisely to close these theatres rather than spend any more money on them!!
This theatre was built and owned for many years by the Giacomini family.
The Grover originally called the East Danforth was again one of the many many B & F neighbourhood theatres in Toronto. B & F theatres were controlled by Famous Players and usually played 2 or 3rd run double features!!
Peter Sorok has owned and operated the Mt. Pleasant and the Regent for a number of years. The Belsize was originally a partnership between Famous Players and an individual who also owned The Park Theatre on North Yonge!!
The Parliament Theatre was built by Bloom and Fine Theatres (B & F) around 1928 just prior to them becoming associated with Famous Players Canadian Corporation! Sam Bloom and Sam Fine were the owners!!
Carmike Theaters are not nice and are run on a shoestring budget.
This theatre was a B & F Theatre (Bloom & Fine). Sam Bloom and Sam Fine were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. There were 3 three theatres pooled together — The Eastwood, the Prince of Wales, and one more. The operating company was called Danforth Woodbine Theatre Operating. W. A. Summerville was the owner of the Prince of Wales and vice-president of Famous Players. These theatres were joined together to prevent competition and maximize the profits!!
Mort Margolius was the Manager at this theatre during the war. During the war Queen Julianna of the Netherlands watched movies here. This theatre closed in the late 60’s. Closed circuit hockey broadcasts on a big screen EDIDOPHOR were tried out at this theatre!!
I visited this theatre many times when United Artists was operating it. Lovely COMFORTABLE auditoriums, extremely clean floors (tiles) under the seats — far nicer than any Carmike dump!
This theatre was a partnership arrangement with Famous Players Canadian Corporation!
The Capitol Theatre in Wallaceburg, Ontario was a Premier Theatre owned jointly by the Allen Family and Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
The Capitol Theatre in Wallaceburg, Ontario was a Premier Theatre owned jointly by the Allen Family and Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
This theatre wasn’t up to much!!
Built and operated by Famous Players Canadian Corporation and their excellent management. The display ad might appeared in the Twentieth Century section of the newspaper, but it was 100% Famous Players operation. The last manager of this theatre was Phil Traynor on leave from the Imperial while being turned into the Imperial Six!!!
Back in the 60’s — the theatre owners DID NOT clean the theatres that is why they could schedule manymore showings than today!!
This was an atmospheric Famous Players Theatre. There are not too many atmospheric theatres on the west coast.
This was one of the old ABC Plitt Theatres that Cineplex took over with the purchase of Plitt Theatres!!!
Is Bill Cardinell still doing the DIGITAL PROJECTION at the Guelph Drive-In??
The Hollywood Theatre was built as a unit of Premier Operating Company, a Famous Players affiliate. In the late 50’s when Shea’s Theatre was torn down to make way for the new city hall, Famous Players desperately wanted the Hollywood so in 1959 Famous Players traded all the Kitchener/Waterloo theatres to Premier Operating in order to get exclusive control of The Hollywood.
This was just an old Twinex Theatre (Twentieth Century Theatres) that Famous Players closed as fast as they could. Twentieth Century Theatres were an operating partner of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. This was NEVER an important theatre!
Will Horwitz was an operating partner of Interstate Amusements a Paramount affiliate!
Within a few months of this place opening, we could see by the figures that this place just wasn’t going to make it. When they consider building theatres they do projections but if the projections are enhanced just to get the “go ahead” answer then failure later must be dealt with!!