Imagine Cinemas Market Square
80 Front Street East,
Toronto,
ON
M5E 1T4
80 Front Street East,
Toronto,
ON
M5E 1T4
3 people
favorited this theater
Showing 13 comments
Cineplex first opened this six-screen cinema on September 30, 1983. Its opening films include “The Big Chill” (on two screens), “Angelo, My Love,” and “Hannah K” (on two screens). Noteworthy features included 70 mm film capability, Dolby Stereo sound, and a cafe. It closed on March 1, 2001, with its final films being “Down to Earth,” “Hannibal” (digital sound), “Saving Silverman,” “Snatch,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” “Traffic,” and “Chocolat.” Rainbow Cinemas re-opened it on June 18, 2003, with free second-run movies such as “The Pianist,” “Bowling for Columbine,” “Chicago,” “Far From Heaven,” “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers,” “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” and “Comedian.” It then officially reopened two days later with new first-run movies such as “Hulk,” “Alex & Emma,” “Hollywood Homidice,” “Winged Migration,” “The Pianist,” “Ice Cream, Chocolate & Other,” “Consolations,” “Kathryn’s Place,” “So Far Away & Blue,” “Nowhere in Africa,” and “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” In 2016, it was acquired by Imagine Cinemas, which added luxury recliner seats to every theatre.
First location in downtown Toronto to upgrade to all leather recliner seating.
Now operated by Imagine Cinemas.
https://imaginecinemas.com/cinema/market-square/
This opened on September 30th, 1983. Grand opening ad in photo section.
From what I understand from working two of the Rainbow locations, one of them being Market Square, was that a lot of the former Cineplex employees pre merger from as far back in the 80’s went to the Rainbow chain, maybe part of the preference as to taking over the former sights. Plus availble leases etc
robboehm , I thought there had been a listing also but I could be wrong.
I tried to snap a few other cinemas yesterday but there was too much traffic both vehicle and pedestrian.
I will try again early on a Sunday morning.
Tim, as far as I know it’s simply a coincidence that Rainbow ended up taking over a number of former Cineplex locations. The spaces became available and they managed to get a good deal on a lease.
Jon, I’ve always found it interesting that almost all Rainbow cinemas are former Cineplex Odeons and no former Famous Players. Did they have some kind of deal or something? Can think of a few Cineplex theatres that should have become Rainbow including Upper James in Hamilton, Sherway in Toronto and Huron Market Place in London.
When Cineplex closed up shop, almost everything was removed from the theatre. Rainbow made many improvements when they took over, but it’s still a far cry from the state of the art AMC Yonge and Dundas 24-plex located many blocks north of here. Mind you, it is less expensive to see a movie at the Market Square.
Thanks for putting this up wgmewes. I could swear it was there previously and disappeared. The folks at CT said not so. Many years ago on a visit to Toronto I saw For the Boys on the opening day.
I had based the opening date upon the fact that the first film I saw there was “The Fabulous Baker Boys” and for some reason I always thought I went there right after it opened.
Yes I was wrong.
I just found this in “The Toronto Star” of “Friday September 30th 1983”
“Drabinsky’s Ciniplex chain today opens its sixth and most impressive movie complex in Toronto at Market Square opposite the St.Lawrence north market…”
Yes, opened in 1983, not 1989. First film I saw there was “The Big Chill” which was released that year.