Always wondered, what does Cine mean? Is it short for cinema? Seems to be on the names of alot of the Wehrenberg theatres. Is it pronounced “sin” or “sin-eh”?
That may be the case. I’ve always wondered about that since “Coliseum” was such a signature brand with Famous Players, I would have thought that Cineplex would have wanted to keep all theatres with that name.
I thought that the Rainbow Market Square 6 in downtown Toronto was also one of the “original” Cineplex theatres, having opened around 1981 or ‘82 and before Canadian Odeon taking over Cineplex theatres.
I always found some of the theatres sold to Empire to be very curious indeed. How for instance was Cineplex able to keep BOTH the Devonshire Mall cinemas and SilverCity Windsor which are very close together and more or less show the very same films. Also why would Cineplex give up the Coliseum Calgary which is one of their very own brands to Empire? It’s like in the U.S. when AMC took over Loews Cineplex and had to sell off certain theatres, they kept BOTH the AMC River East 21 and the AMC Loews 600 North Michigan 9 which are mere blocks apart and now dominate the downtown scene in Chicago.
Hurray, Shea’s is finally in here! If it hadn’t been torn down for the new City Hall, I’ve always imagined that Shea’s would have lasted in to the 60s, 70s and maybe beyond…maybe even multi-plexed like the Imperial Six, or the Uptown 5.
Correct CW. By 1982 the College theatre at College & Dovercourt was long gone, replaced with stores and apartments above them. The second College photo is of one on College in the Chinatown area, near Spadina Ave.
What a shame. Wouldn’t it be nice if Rainbow Cinemas or Encore Cinemas took this over so it could continue to be a theatre? Too bad there are not enough of these less expensive but perfectly fine theatres around the GTA anymore. Also wish that Rainbow had taken over the Upper James in Hamilton as well.
Thanks CW for all your help. The Lakeshore looks quite different now, has been real estate and lawyers offices for years. Fits in to the neighbourhood quite well.
Ok, for the reccord….the picture is of the Odeon Lakeshore in New Toronto…it was formerly known as the Biltmore New Toronto until December of 1963 when Odeon bought 3 former Biltmore theatres…the Savoy downtown became the Odeon Coronet…the Biltmore Weston, became the Odeon Weston and the Biltmore New Toronto became the Odeon Lakeshore because of it’s location on Lakeshore Blvd. I went there several times and it closed with the name of Odeon Lakeshore. It is now offices. I’ve lived in Toronto my whole life as CWalczak says and remember many of these theatres very well. There was an Odeon theatre on Queen St W in the Parkdale area of Toronto but that was part of the 20th Century theatre chain.
Exactly Jon…too bad someone couldn’t have saved the old Uptown the same way. Then we could have had the Elgin/Winter Garden, Canon and Uptown all on Yonge St and all showing travelling shows! By the way have NEVER liked the name Canon Theatre…still always call it the Pantages. I would have preferred the Canon-Pantages like the Cadillac Palace in Chicago.
When Loews was sold to 20th Century Theatres in 1969, it was re-named the Yonge…then several years later when Famous Players renovated it, it was then re-named Elgin. The only reason i think those names were chosen is because the tall vertical sign had room for 5 letters, hence Yonge and Elgin. Since there was an Elgin in Ottawa, they probably thought this was a good name for the theatre in Toronto. Probably had nothing to do with what letters were left over from Loews.
The legitimate theatre built by Honest Ed “Mirvish” (not Mirisch) is called the PRINCESS of Wales, NOT Prince of Wales. Also, Cats never played the Pantages (now the Canon) but at the Elgin and Massey Hall (where i saw it).
That’s the beautiful University theatre at 100 Bloor st W near Bay. It’s now a Pottery Barn. There was a plan by Famous Players to rebuild a theatre there as part of a condo-retail project and were to call it the University 9. But alas the developer cut out the theatre plans so now just a condo and retail are there.
I guess Cineplex Odeon figures that one half of the mountain will go to the new SilverCity and the other half will go to the SilverCity Ancaster, since the Upper James was right in the middle of both of them.
Always wondered, what does Cine mean? Is it short for cinema? Seems to be on the names of alot of the Wehrenberg theatres. Is it pronounced “sin” or “sin-eh”?
Humber is STILL sitting there empty after all these years. What a shame. Made a great “neighbourhood” theatre, something Toronto is sorely lacking.
That may be the case. I’ve always wondered about that since “Coliseum” was such a signature brand with Famous Players, I would have thought that Cineplex would have wanted to keep all theatres with that name.
I thought that the Rainbow Market Square 6 in downtown Toronto was also one of the “original” Cineplex theatres, having opened around 1981 or ‘82 and before Canadian Odeon taking over Cineplex theatres.
I always found some of the theatres sold to Empire to be very curious indeed. How for instance was Cineplex able to keep BOTH the Devonshire Mall cinemas and SilverCity Windsor which are very close together and more or less show the very same films. Also why would Cineplex give up the Coliseum Calgary which is one of their very own brands to Empire? It’s like in the U.S. when AMC took over Loews Cineplex and had to sell off certain theatres, they kept BOTH the AMC River East 21 and the AMC Loews 600 North Michigan 9 which are mere blocks apart and now dominate the downtown scene in Chicago.
Hurray, Shea’s is finally in here! If it hadn’t been torn down for the new City Hall, I’ve always imagined that Shea’s would have lasted in to the 60s, 70s and maybe beyond…maybe even multi-plexed like the Imperial Six, or the Uptown 5.
Correct CW. By 1982 the College theatre at College & Dovercourt was long gone, replaced with stores and apartments above them. The second College photo is of one on College in the Chinatown area, near Spadina Ave.
What a shame. Wouldn’t it be nice if Rainbow Cinemas or Encore Cinemas took this over so it could continue to be a theatre? Too bad there are not enough of these less expensive but perfectly fine theatres around the GTA anymore. Also wish that Rainbow had taken over the Upper James in Hamilton as well.
Thanks CW for all your help. The Lakeshore looks quite different now, has been real estate and lawyers offices for years. Fits in to the neighbourhood quite well.
Perfect. Now if they could only change the Odeon Danforth back to “single screen”.
The listing for this should be changed back to single screen then.
Ok, for the reccord….the picture is of the Odeon Lakeshore in New Toronto…it was formerly known as the Biltmore New Toronto until December of 1963 when Odeon bought 3 former Biltmore theatres…the Savoy downtown became the Odeon Coronet…the Biltmore Weston, became the Odeon Weston and the Biltmore New Toronto became the Odeon Lakeshore because of it’s location on Lakeshore Blvd. I went there several times and it closed with the name of Odeon Lakeshore. It is now offices. I’ve lived in Toronto my whole life as CWalczak says and remember many of these theatres very well. There was an Odeon theatre on Queen St W in the Parkdale area of Toronto but that was part of the 20th Century theatre chain.
That picture is of the Odeon HYLAND at Yonge & St Clair. The Odeon DANFORTH was never twinned. It was sold by Odeon before any twinning could be done.
Love, love, love the Cinerama series Michael, keep up the great work! Look forward to it every week.
Exactly Jon…too bad someone couldn’t have saved the old Uptown the same way. Then we could have had the Elgin/Winter Garden, Canon and Uptown all on Yonge St and all showing travelling shows! By the way have NEVER liked the name Canon Theatre…still always call it the Pantages. I would have preferred the Canon-Pantages like the Cadillac Palace in Chicago.
The best thing they did for Toronto…the glorious Pantages theatre (now known as the Canon). It’s an absolute gem.
When Loews was sold to 20th Century Theatres in 1969, it was re-named the Yonge…then several years later when Famous Players renovated it, it was then re-named Elgin. The only reason i think those names were chosen is because the tall vertical sign had room for 5 letters, hence Yonge and Elgin. Since there was an Elgin in Ottawa, they probably thought this was a good name for the theatre in Toronto. Probably had nothing to do with what letters were left over from Loews.
The legitimate theatre built by Honest Ed “Mirvish” (not Mirisch) is called the PRINCESS of Wales, NOT Prince of Wales. Also, Cats never played the Pantages (now the Canon) but at the Elgin and Massey Hall (where i saw it).
Yes, Cadillac Records is having a first run engagement there now…
That’s the beautiful University theatre at 100 Bloor st W near Bay. It’s now a Pottery Barn. There was a plan by Famous Players to rebuild a theatre there as part of a condo-retail project and were to call it the University 9. But alas the developer cut out the theatre plans so now just a condo and retail are there.
That’s what I was thinking Michael…what cuts??
This complex was originally opened by Cineplex Odeon I believe.
This theatre is already in here under Cheektowaga NY. Details and pictures.
I guess Cineplex Odeon figures that one half of the mountain will go to the new SilverCity and the other half will go to the SilverCity Ancaster, since the Upper James was right in the middle of both of them.
I wonder if Rainbow Cinemas will pick up the Upper James? Most of their theatres are old Cineplex Odeons.