Exactly CW. The magnificent Odeon Carlton was demolished around 1975 and this didn’t open until 1981. I DO wish people that write these reports would get their facts straight before they write these articles. All the other newspaper articles about the closing were correct in stating that it was built next door to where the Odeon Carlton was. However one mentioned that it was on Carlton St. west of Yonge street which of course can’t be since west of Yonge St it is called College St, NOT Carlton St. So that person couldn’t even get the location right.
Cineplex Entertainment announced that these cinemas will be closing on Dec 6. The reasons given were that the lease expires Dec. 31, declining business and the need for renovations which all contributed to the decision to close this tiny cinema complex. The complex opened in 1981 so they have been here for almost 30 years.
What a wonderful article. A damn shame that the Paramount could not have been saved and restored for Broadway shows and concerts….like so many other cities have done with some of their old movie palaces. They really WERE palaces in those days, weren’t they.
That’s interesting. I was always told that the current “Moose Lodge” was the former Royal theatre, which definately looks like a theatre at the side and the back of the building which sits on the corner.
I was wondering if another company would move in. Because if the buiding has been constructed and the mall opening soon, wouldn’t the theatre space have been already built as a movie theatre? That is why when I heard that Muvico was pulling out I figured they would have to look for another company or else they would have to re-construct what is already there.
I think you guys are going on waaaaaaay to much about this. Just be glad that downtown L.A. got anything new. I mean it looks from the pictures to be a state of the art widescreen, great sound modern multiplex and getting a brand new one like this is better than nothing at all. Other cities should be so lucky.
LOL, the University was one of the most prestigious movie theatres ever in Toronto. Adult Entertainment in those days was Ontario’s version of today’s PG 13……we had 3 classification of films back then, General, Adult Entertainment and Restricted: To persons 18 and over. It looks like Forever Amber is on the marquee and that certainly wasn’t ADULT films in that sense.
Yes, I guess you’re right. Our economy isn’t quite as rough up here in Canada. Cineplex Entertainment and Empire Theatres have been busy opening new multiplexes or updating older ones to stadium seating. I was thinking that for downtown Chicago something more along the lines of Landmark or an Angelika especially if it was to have only 7 screens. Would have been interesting to see what Muvico would have done since they usually do “themed” type of theatres.
Wow, sounds like a great plan. Did you see that Muvico pulled out of Block 37? Too bad, would have been nice to have a theatre in the heart of the Loop again. Maybe another company will take a shot at it.
Ok great, thanks William and CinemarkFan….Speaking of Chicago, I read today that Muvico has pulled out of the Block 37 project. Too bad, it would have been nice having a movie theatre right in the heart of the Loop again.
City council has given the green light to construct a new Court house on the Westwood lands, so I guess the old building won’t be standing much longer. Can’t believe the theatre has been sitting empty since April of ‘98…I often drive by and think of all the movies that could have played there in that time. And there is nothing else in the immediate area except the Kingsway so at least Central Etobicoke has that again.
I grew up in the 60’s, in the era of reserved seat, roadshows, single screen movie palaces and all the old bells and whistles. I sure do miss those days, when a movie would play out it’s run downtown before even coming to the suburbs. However I must say that I DO like today’s multiplexes for the simple reason of stadium seating, wide curved screens and superior sound. Reminds me of my younger days sitting up in the balconies of all the old theatres, which were just like todays stadium seating. One of my favourite theatres here in the Toronto area is the AMC Interchange with 30 screens. Lots of choice and often holdovers from a couple of months or more….sort of like the old double bills and neighbourhood runs of my youth.
Oh yes and how could I forget the 3 Fabulous Fox theatres in Atlanta, St Louis and Detroit (Detroit!!!) as well as the beautiful Heinz and Benedum Centres in Pittsburgh and the magnificent Shea’s in Buffalo….
Canadian cities have had an extremely poor track record when it comes to saving beautiful old movie palaces and turning them in to live performance venues for concerts, Broadway shows, plays etc. Especially when compared to all the cities in the U.S. such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Boston and especially Cleveland which managed to save 4 old palaces to form Playhouse Square. Here I can only think of the Royal in Victoria, the Orpheum in Vancouver, Canon in Toronto (formerlly Pangages/Impereial), the Elgin / Winter Garden in Toronto as well as the Imperial in Sarnia, Capitol in Windsor, the Capitol in Brantford. There may be others but at the same time we have lost so many including ones in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Halifax and especially Hamilton and Ottawa which both had 2 glorious palaces lost to demolition…the Palace and cCapitlo in Hamilton and the Capitol and Regent in Ottawa.
That sounds like a wonderful plan CinemarkFan! When I was in Chicago last year, I was shocked that the only screens left in all of “downtown” were the River East 21 and the 600 North Michigan. Especially since the Loop used to have all those movie palaces (which amazingly NONE were ever divided in to multi screens) and the north of river area used to have the 600 North Michigan 9, McClurg Court 3, 900 North Michigan twin, Watertower 7 and the Esquire 6…
That sounds great! Where exactly is Roosevelt Collection and when is it opening? Any more info about the cinemas that were to be in Block 37 and when they might open?
When I was in Metairie in 1999 there were several theatres still open in the Metairie/Kenner area. The Lakeside 5 was still operating as was the AMC Galleria 8, The Eslplanade 9 (now open as the Hollywood 9), the UA Pavillion 8 and Cinema City 8. I believe the only theatres now operating in the area are the AMC Clearview Palace 12 and the Hollywood 9.
Just awful! I hate seeing theatres being torn down. Seems it was far too new to be torn down already. What a waste! Seems to me I saw nice pictures of the Pacific cinemas somewhere with the marquee and everything. Again, what a loss.
Exactly CW. The magnificent Odeon Carlton was demolished around 1975 and this didn’t open until 1981. I DO wish people that write these reports would get their facts straight before they write these articles. All the other newspaper articles about the closing were correct in stating that it was built next door to where the Odeon Carlton was. However one mentioned that it was on Carlton St. west of Yonge street which of course can’t be since west of Yonge St it is called College St, NOT Carlton St. So that person couldn’t even get the location right.
Cineplex Entertainment announced that these cinemas will be closing on Dec 6. The reasons given were that the lease expires Dec. 31, declining business and the need for renovations which all contributed to the decision to close this tiny cinema complex. The complex opened in 1981 so they have been here for almost 30 years.
What a wonderful article. A damn shame that the Paramount could not have been saved and restored for Broadway shows and concerts….like so many other cities have done with some of their old movie palaces. They really WERE palaces in those days, weren’t they.
Also, there hasn’t been a Long Branch Ontario since 1967….was merged in to Etobicoke which is now part of Toronto
That’s interesting. I was always told that the current “Moose Lodge” was the former Royal theatre, which definately looks like a theatre at the side and the back of the building which sits on the corner.
I was wondering if another company would move in. Because if the buiding has been constructed and the mall opening soon, wouldn’t the theatre space have been already built as a movie theatre? That is why when I heard that Muvico was pulling out I figured they would have to look for another company or else they would have to re-construct what is already there.
I think you guys are going on waaaaaaay to much about this. Just be glad that downtown L.A. got anything new. I mean it looks from the pictures to be a state of the art widescreen, great sound modern multiplex and getting a brand new one like this is better than nothing at all. Other cities should be so lucky.
No harm done. I think it’s funny….the University as an ADULT house….now THAT would have been something! LOL
LOL, the University was one of the most prestigious movie theatres ever in Toronto. Adult Entertainment in those days was Ontario’s version of today’s PG 13……we had 3 classification of films back then, General, Adult Entertainment and Restricted: To persons 18 and over. It looks like Forever Amber is on the marquee and that certainly wasn’t ADULT films in that sense.
Yes, I guess you’re right. Our economy isn’t quite as rough up here in Canada. Cineplex Entertainment and Empire Theatres have been busy opening new multiplexes or updating older ones to stadium seating. I was thinking that for downtown Chicago something more along the lines of Landmark or an Angelika especially if it was to have only 7 screens. Would have been interesting to see what Muvico would have done since they usually do “themed” type of theatres.
Wow, sounds like a great plan. Did you see that Muvico pulled out of Block 37? Too bad, would have been nice to have a theatre in the heart of the Loop again. Maybe another company will take a shot at it.
Ok great, thanks William and CinemarkFan….Speaking of Chicago, I read today that Muvico has pulled out of the Block 37 project. Too bad, it would have been nice having a movie theatre right in the heart of the Loop again.
City council has given the green light to construct a new Court house on the Westwood lands, so I guess the old building won’t be standing much longer. Can’t believe the theatre has been sitting empty since April of ‘98…I often drive by and think of all the movies that could have played there in that time. And there is nothing else in the immediate area except the Kingsway so at least Central Etobicoke has that again.
Where are those photos? I clicked on that site and it only showed an exterior night shot.
I grew up in the 60’s, in the era of reserved seat, roadshows, single screen movie palaces and all the old bells and whistles. I sure do miss those days, when a movie would play out it’s run downtown before even coming to the suburbs. However I must say that I DO like today’s multiplexes for the simple reason of stadium seating, wide curved screens and superior sound. Reminds me of my younger days sitting up in the balconies of all the old theatres, which were just like todays stadium seating. One of my favourite theatres here in the Toronto area is the AMC Interchange with 30 screens. Lots of choice and often holdovers from a couple of months or more….sort of like the old double bills and neighbourhood runs of my youth.
Oh yes and how could I forget the 3 Fabulous Fox theatres in Atlanta, St Louis and Detroit (Detroit!!!) as well as the beautiful Heinz and Benedum Centres in Pittsburgh and the magnificent Shea’s in Buffalo….
Canadian cities have had an extremely poor track record when it comes to saving beautiful old movie palaces and turning them in to live performance venues for concerts, Broadway shows, plays etc. Especially when compared to all the cities in the U.S. such as Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Boston and especially Cleveland which managed to save 4 old palaces to form Playhouse Square. Here I can only think of the Royal in Victoria, the Orpheum in Vancouver, Canon in Toronto (formerlly Pangages/Impereial), the Elgin / Winter Garden in Toronto as well as the Imperial in Sarnia, Capitol in Windsor, the Capitol in Brantford. There may be others but at the same time we have lost so many including ones in Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Halifax and especially Hamilton and Ottawa which both had 2 glorious palaces lost to demolition…the Palace and cCapitlo in Hamilton and the Capitol and Regent in Ottawa.
That sounds like a wonderful plan CinemarkFan! When I was in Chicago last year, I was shocked that the only screens left in all of “downtown” were the River East 21 and the 600 North Michigan. Especially since the Loop used to have all those movie palaces (which amazingly NONE were ever divided in to multi screens) and the north of river area used to have the 600 North Michigan 9, McClurg Court 3, 900 North Michigan twin, Watertower 7 and the Esquire 6…
Thanks, sounds exciting!
That sounds great! Where exactly is Roosevelt Collection and when is it opening? Any more info about the cinemas that were to be in Block 37 and when they might open?
When I was in Metairie in 1999 there were several theatres still open in the Metairie/Kenner area. The Lakeside 5 was still operating as was the AMC Galleria 8, The Eslplanade 9 (now open as the Hollywood 9), the UA Pavillion 8 and Cinema City 8. I believe the only theatres now operating in the area are the AMC Clearview Palace 12 and the Hollywood 9.
Just awful! I hate seeing theatres being torn down. Seems it was far too new to be torn down already. What a waste! Seems to me I saw nice pictures of the Pacific cinemas somewhere with the marquee and everything. Again, what a loss.
Wow, thanks MM….that’s a lot of additions. Still, it’s nice that the theatre is still operating in this day and age.
The Cineplex site lists this theatre as having 12 screens, not 18.
Just looking at what’s playing today at the Centre cinemas, it seems to me that they are all recent releases, so I don’t see the problem.