The Ontario government closed most of Ontario Place, including the Cinesphere, on February 1, 2012. Interestingly enough, the Cinesphere had just underwent a $2-million renovation the previous year which included the installation of a new IMAX GT 15/70 projector. The park will be closed until 2015, when it will reopen for the Pan Am Games, and then the park will be “redeveloped.”
The Oxford Theatre opened on March 1, 1937. At the time, it was one of the smallest theatres in Halifax, intended as a local neighbourhood cinema rather than a luxurious movie palace. However, as the years have gone by, and the numerous other larger (and more majestic) single-screen movie theatres were closed, the Oxford was left standing as one of the only single-screen movie theatres in Atlantic Canada.
Even in the 1937 Halifax Herald article about the opening, the interior design was described, to paraphrase, as having a kind of severe minimalism to it. Compared to the Capitol and Paramount theatres downtown, this was likely true. Indeed, apart from the two Art Deco statues flanking the screen, the design of the theatre is rather basic, but certainly more pleasing to the eye than your average multiplex auditorium.
The Oxford hasn’t seated 680 people as long as I’ve been coming. Until yesterday, the theatre had 414 seats, and lots of legroom.
The exterior and roof underwent major renovations in mid-2011. The exterior was also repainted in Empire Theatres' corporate colours.
And yesterday, March 4th, just a few days after the Oxford’s 75th anniversary, it projected 35mm film for the last time. The last film print shown was “Monsieur Lazhar”, Canada’s foreign language Oscar nominee. The theatre is closed until Friday, and a Barco DP2K-12C digital projector was installed today. The 35mm projector was removed and placed “in storage.” The theatre is also getting brand new seats as well, which should reduce the seating capacity further to somewhere around 368. I was at the theatre, and was able to take a few pictures of the renovations, which I am uploading here shortly.
Empire Theatres is to be commended for keeping the Oxford running, and putting major money into it when they could easily close it and direct everyone to their numerous other multiplexes around the area. It does quite reasonable business as an arthouse, and even occasionally shows the latest blockbuster when there’s a drought of indie and foreign films.
Here is a video report on the Fredericton opening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.” Features some good footage of the lobby and an interview with the theatre’s manager.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFWGc94vlB0
Spire
commented about
Entranceon
Feb 26, 2012 at 7:38 pm
I can definitely understand why you’d be surprised. It’s interesting though, we’ve been bombarded with TV ads for it here in the last two weeks, and there was a sneak preview screening held at this theatre a little while ago, which apparently sold out the largest auditorium. I was on my way into another movie when it got out, and I overheard lots of people saying they loved it. I guess Canadians love a little American patriotism as much as anyone!
I’ve uploaded three new photos I was able to take with my iPod Touch. Sorry for the less-than-ideal quality, but I figured that any photos would be better than none.
A little late, Azzaelea, but here I’ve uploaded two photos I took of the interior back in September 2010. The theatre was pretty dead when I was there…
The Ontario government closed most of Ontario Place, including the Cinesphere, on February 1, 2012. Interestingly enough, the Cinesphere had just underwent a $2-million renovation the previous year which included the installation of a new IMAX GT 15/70 projector. The park will be closed until 2015, when it will reopen for the Pan Am Games, and then the park will be “redeveloped.”
A real shame…
The Oxford Theatre opened on March 1, 1937. At the time, it was one of the smallest theatres in Halifax, intended as a local neighbourhood cinema rather than a luxurious movie palace. However, as the years have gone by, and the numerous other larger (and more majestic) single-screen movie theatres were closed, the Oxford was left standing as one of the only single-screen movie theatres in Atlantic Canada.
Even in the 1937 Halifax Herald article about the opening, the interior design was described, to paraphrase, as having a kind of severe minimalism to it. Compared to the Capitol and Paramount theatres downtown, this was likely true. Indeed, apart from the two Art Deco statues flanking the screen, the design of the theatre is rather basic, but certainly more pleasing to the eye than your average multiplex auditorium.
The Oxford hasn’t seated 680 people as long as I’ve been coming. Until yesterday, the theatre had 414 seats, and lots of legroom.
The exterior and roof underwent major renovations in mid-2011. The exterior was also repainted in Empire Theatres' corporate colours.
And yesterday, March 4th, just a few days after the Oxford’s 75th anniversary, it projected 35mm film for the last time. The last film print shown was “Monsieur Lazhar”, Canada’s foreign language Oscar nominee. The theatre is closed until Friday, and a Barco DP2K-12C digital projector was installed today. The 35mm projector was removed and placed “in storage.” The theatre is also getting brand new seats as well, which should reduce the seating capacity further to somewhere around 368. I was at the theatre, and was able to take a few pictures of the renovations, which I am uploading here shortly.
Empire Theatres is to be commended for keeping the Oxford running, and putting major money into it when they could easily close it and direct everyone to their numerous other multiplexes around the area. It does quite reasonable business as an arthouse, and even occasionally shows the latest blockbuster when there’s a drought of indie and foreign films.
Here’s to another 75 years of the Oxford!
Andrew
Thanks! I had other shots of the place, but they were mostly too grainy or blurry.
Here is a video report on the Fredericton opening of “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1.” Features some good footage of the lobby and an interview with the theatre’s manager.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFWGc94vlB0
I can definitely understand why you’d be surprised. It’s interesting though, we’ve been bombarded with TV ads for it here in the last two weeks, and there was a sneak preview screening held at this theatre a little while ago, which apparently sold out the largest auditorium. I was on my way into another movie when it got out, and I overheard lots of people saying they loved it. I guess Canadians love a little American patriotism as much as anyone!
Thanks! Really happy to have found this site.
Andrew
I’ve uploaded three new photos I was able to take with my iPod Touch. Sorry for the less-than-ideal quality, but I figured that any photos would be better than none.
A little late, Azzaelea, but here I’ve uploaded two photos I took of the interior back in September 2010. The theatre was pretty dead when I was there…