Londonderry Cinemas

Per Stephen Leigh:

Famous Players Theatres' Londonderry Cinemas opens on November 10, 1972 at the new Londonderry Shopping Centre, 137 Avenue & 66 Street in Edmonton. The Twin cinemas have a total seating capacity of over 1,000. First manager is Glen Birnie. The main entrance is reached by a set of grand stairs from the parking lot on the west side of the shopping centre, is set in a sunken landscaped area. The cinema sign, visible from street level, is big enough to carry attractions for both theatres and is positioned across the entrance. Inside the entrance, the area is broken into an upper and lower-level foyer, with an open well on either side. About 20 light fixtures, placed in the centre of these wells, enhance the decor. A corridor to the left of the upper foyer, leading to the upper shopping centre, is carpeted and brilliantly decorated. This area provides a warm, sheltered standing area and holding space for patrons during the harsh and severe winter months. Two very unique spiral stairways in the shape of “ram horns” flow gracefully and majestically down to the lower-level foyer. Located between the spiral stairways is a 30-foot snack bar serving both cinemas. The seats are well-upholstered and built to give the utmost in comfort. Surrounding the massive 16x37-foot screens are fully automated, off-white drapes. The sound and camera equipment was installed at a cost of nearly $100,000 to complement the spectacular atmosphere. Opening features: Cinema A. “What’s Up, Doc?” in it’s twenty-first week in Edmonton, and Cinema B. “King Elephant” and “Edge of Arctic Ice”. Londonderry Cinema A is converted to 70 MM with an improved Dolby Sound system, with the first feature in this format “Quest for Fire”, in it’s 14th week in Edmonton, on June 4, 1982. Cinema is closed on August 12, 1997 with the following features: Cinema A: “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” and Cinema B" “Speed”.