CLARENCE IRVIN was the main theatre operator in Bloomington, Illinois and all of his houses were in partnership with Balaban and Katz and later ABC Paramount!
This theatre’s opening attraction in 1950 was “Fancy Pants” starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball, a Paramount Film. This theatre was a partnership between A. W. Shackleford and Sons and Famous Players Canadian Corporation.When I visited this theatre in 1990, I told Mr. Bob Shackleford his son that the theatre was extremely clean (immaculate) he told me his father wouldn’t have it any other way!!!
This theatre was operated jointly by A. W. Shackleford and Famous Players Canadian Corporation, through a company called Lethbridge Theatres Limited.They controlled ALL theatres in Lethbridge for many many years!
The Kam in Camrose was affiliated with Famous Players Canadian Corporation in the mid-sixties through Len Purnell and Sons Limited, Famous Players partners in Red Deer, Lacombe, etc.
The Ridge Theatre was built by independent theatre operators who later became operating partners with the Famous Players Canadian Corporation — it was listed as owned by the Vancouver Ridge Pool!
This theatre was operated by the original British Odeon Theatres of Canada as their grind house in opposition to the Twentieth Century Theatres DOWNTOWN THEATRE and the Famous Players ELGIN/YONGE theatre. All 3 of these theatres were “action” houses were the customers would arrive early and eat hot dogs!!!
I am an old-time employee of Famous Players and I want people to know that I think the Scotiabank formerly Paramount Theatre is really awesome. I have not observed shoddy film presentation on the many many times I have been there. I love the optical illusion that you are falling back on the escalator going up the 5 stories to the main floor. The sightlines and the seating are comfortable — and the screens are large. I am proud of Famous Players for building this megaplex!!!
Just visited this former AMC theatre a few weeks ago, now that it is under the direction of Cineplex-Odeon. Usually the chains are all alike but in this venue they STILL do not use real LACTANTIA butter like all the other Cineplex-Galaxy Theatres and I was really annoyed. Saw Hitchcock’s “REAR WINDOW” and it was a nice cinematic experience!!
The architectural firm for the Victory Theatre was Kaplan and Sprachman from Toronto. The Victory Theatre’s original name was supposed to be The Granada. But after the war it was decided that it should be named VICTORY because we won the war!
This theatre was a partnership situation between Mr. Mike Shea and the Shea family and Famous Players Canadian Corporation. I actually have a signed letter from Mr. Mike Shea advising that his doorman was on holidays and to please extend to him the courtesy of free movies should he so desire!!
In 1952 when Famous Players Canadian Corporation had it’s annual convention in Niagara Falls and screenings of course at the Seneca, the famed movie producer Mr. Cecil B DeMille was in attendance of course Mr. DeMille was a Paramount Pictures stalwart and Famous Players being 100% owned by Paramount. By this time Mr. DeMille required a rocking chair to sit in and this was provided for him!!
John Connors and later his wife, were the owners of this theatre while the business was operated jointly with this family and the Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
John Connors and later his wife, were the owners of this theatre while the business was operated jointly with this family and the Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
This theatre was built in 1939 by Mrs. Joshua Smith, a movie doyenne of Toronto, who was a Shakesperian actress, poet, film distributor and trade newspaper editor. This theatre was a partnership of B & F Theatres, an associated circuit of the Famous Players Canadian Corp. In the lobby of this theatre under carpet or whatever are footprints of some British movie stars that she was friends with!
Built in 1931 by John Saso and Sons, a local Barrie family at a cost of $100,000 in the midst of the depression. This was an atmospheric theatre with a special effects projector that would project clouds slowly swirling across the ceiling to make you feel you were outside. Stairways to the upstairs washrooms were constructed out of out lovely Italian travertine marble. This was a first class theatre all the way. The Sasos joined Famous Players Canadian Corporation as a partner-affiliate in the operation of this theatre from 1937 to 1960 when they retired, at which time Famous Players simply rented these premises! The Sasos were considered excellent theatre operators and I am proud to say that as this is the theatre where I started my showbusiness career in 1971!
This theatre was built by Nat Taylor’s Twentieth Century Theatres in 1964. Twentieth Century Theatres was a partner affiliate of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, but Nat Taylor had the management rights and the right to book these theatres!! Probably one of the first theatres to have an escalator to take you down to the main level of the theatres!!
I really liked the Odeon York 1 & 2. Saw many movies in the 70’s there including Close Encounters of the First Kind on national release which was big time to me. Knew a few of the managers. This first Manager of this theatre died tragically in accident way too young – I don’t even think he was 25!
This theatre was built by Twentieth Century Theatres in 1952 and Mr. Dudley Dumond was its first Manager. Twentieth Century Theatres (Twinex) were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation!!
This theatre was built by Twentieth Century Theatres in 1952 and Mr. Dudley Dumond was its first Manager. Twentieth Century Theatres (Twinex) were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation!!
This theatre was built by Twentieth Century Theatres in 1952 and Mr. Dudley Dumond was its first Manager. Twentieth Century Theatres (Twinex) were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation!!
CLARENCE IRVIN was the main theatre operator in Bloomington, Illinois and all of his houses were in partnership with Balaban and Katz and later ABC Paramount!
This theatre’s opening attraction in 1950 was “Fancy Pants” starring Bob Hope and Lucille Ball, a Paramount Film. This theatre was a partnership between A. W. Shackleford and Sons and Famous Players Canadian Corporation.When I visited this theatre in 1990, I told Mr. Bob Shackleford his son that the theatre was extremely clean (immaculate) he told me his father wouldn’t have it any other way!!!
This theatre was operated by Famous Players Canadian Corporation for decades very successfully!!
This theatre was operated jointl by Mr.K.M.Leach and Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
This theatre was operated jointly by A. W. Shackleford and Famous Players Canadian Corporation, through a company called Lethbridge Theatres Limited.They controlled ALL theatres in Lethbridge for many many years!
The Kam in Camrose was affiliated with Famous Players Canadian Corporation in the mid-sixties through Len Purnell and Sons Limited, Famous Players partners in Red Deer, Lacombe, etc.
I believe this theatre was written up in the book called “American Theatres of Today”!!
This theatre was built by Leonard Schein and eventually it became a partnership situation of Famous Players Canadian Corporation!!
The Ridge Theatre was built by independent theatre operators who later became operating partners with the Famous Players Canadian Corporation — it was listed as owned by the Vancouver Ridge Pool!
This theatre was operated by the original British Odeon Theatres of Canada as their grind house in opposition to the Twentieth Century Theatres DOWNTOWN THEATRE and the Famous Players ELGIN/YONGE theatre. All 3 of these theatres were “action” houses were the customers would arrive early and eat hot dogs!!!
I am an old-time employee of Famous Players and I want people to know that I think the Scotiabank formerly Paramount Theatre is really awesome. I have not observed shoddy film presentation on the many many times I have been there. I love the optical illusion that you are falling back on the escalator going up the 5 stories to the main floor. The sightlines and the seating are comfortable — and the screens are large. I am proud of Famous Players for building this megaplex!!!
Just visited this former AMC theatre a few weeks ago, now that it is under the direction of Cineplex-Odeon. Usually the chains are all alike but in this venue they STILL do not use real LACTANTIA butter like all the other Cineplex-Galaxy Theatres and I was really annoyed. Saw Hitchcock’s “REAR WINDOW” and it was a nice cinematic experience!!
The architectural firm for the Victory Theatre was Kaplan and Sprachman from Toronto. The Victory Theatre’s original name was supposed to be The Granada. But after the war it was decided that it should be named VICTORY because we won the war!
I totally agreed with Mark Hite’s comments. Mark is a member of Theatre Historical Society for years!
This theatre was a partnership situation between Mr. Mike Shea and the Shea family and Famous Players Canadian Corporation. I actually have a signed letter from Mr. Mike Shea advising that his doorman was on holidays and to please extend to him the courtesy of free movies should he so desire!!
In 1952 when Famous Players Canadian Corporation had it’s annual convention in Niagara Falls and screenings of course at the Seneca, the famed movie producer Mr. Cecil B DeMille was in attendance of course Mr. DeMille was a Paramount Pictures stalwart and Famous Players being 100% owned by Paramount. By this time Mr. DeMille required a rocking chair to sit in and this was provided for him!!
John Connors and later his wife, were the owners of this theatre while the business was operated jointly with this family and the Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
John Connors and later his wife, were the owners of this theatre while the business was operated jointly with this family and the Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
This theatre was built in 1939 by Mrs. Joshua Smith, a movie doyenne of Toronto, who was a Shakesperian actress, poet, film distributor and trade newspaper editor. This theatre was a partnership of B & F Theatres, an associated circuit of the Famous Players Canadian Corp. In the lobby of this theatre under carpet or whatever are footprints of some British movie stars that she was friends with!
Built in 1931 by John Saso and Sons, a local Barrie family at a cost of $100,000 in the midst of the depression. This was an atmospheric theatre with a special effects projector that would project clouds slowly swirling across the ceiling to make you feel you were outside. Stairways to the upstairs washrooms were constructed out of out lovely Italian travertine marble. This was a first class theatre all the way. The Sasos joined Famous Players Canadian Corporation as a partner-affiliate in the operation of this theatre from 1937 to 1960 when they retired, at which time Famous Players simply rented these premises! The Sasos were considered excellent theatre operators and I am proud to say that as this is the theatre where I started my showbusiness career in 1971!
This theatre was built by Nat Taylor’s Twentieth Century Theatres in 1964. Twentieth Century Theatres was a partner affiliate of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, but Nat Taylor had the management rights and the right to book these theatres!! Probably one of the first theatres to have an escalator to take you down to the main level of the theatres!!
I really liked the Odeon York 1 & 2. Saw many movies in the 70’s there including Close Encounters of the First Kind on national release which was big time to me. Knew a few of the managers. This first Manager of this theatre died tragically in accident way too young – I don’t even think he was 25!
This theatre was built by Twentieth Century Theatres in 1952 and Mr. Dudley Dumond was its first Manager. Twentieth Century Theatres (Twinex) were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation!!
This theatre was built by Twentieth Century Theatres in 1952 and Mr. Dudley Dumond was its first Manager. Twentieth Century Theatres (Twinex) were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation!!
This theatre was built by Twentieth Century Theatres in 1952 and Mr. Dudley Dumond was its first Manager. Twentieth Century Theatres (Twinex) were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation!!