Status should now be closed, as the cinema shut down on September 30th, 2012, and IS becoming a Dollarama. Now downtown Vancouver only has two cinemas (Scotiabank 9 and International Village 12) in operation.
Empire Granville 7 will be closing on Sunday, November 4th, 2012 after a South Asian film festival rental. This leaves downtown Vancouver with only TWO cinemas (Scotiabank 9 and International Village 12, both Cineplex) as of November.
Station Square 7 to close on September 3rd, 2012. Which is not surprising as Cineplex never updated to digital at this location. I took photos recently and will add more to the site soon. http://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/TheatreDetails/Famous-Players-Station-Square-Cinemas.aspx
I think I recall those Uptown pics were from another person’s Flickr account. That and the archive photos were the only photos I ever found of the place.
As for the Kingston 7, I couldn’t find photos either but it would appear the multiplexing was done under the 80’s Famous Players design where every cinema had a name (“Rialto” “Bijou” etc). There are still two of them in existence in Greater Vancouver (Esplanade 6 in North Van and Station Square 7 in Burnaby) and are both good cinemas.
It’s closing? Shame. Always wanted to visit there, but understand if there’s a new one opening nearby. (I keep hearing about how awesome the new Empire locations are, even though they have yet to build one in BC).
I too am curious how they divided it up and would love to see interior photos.
Further update: Five of the 20 screens are now converted to the Cineplex VIP experience. Leather couches, bar and in-seat service. Tix are $19.50 ($22.50 for 3D movies).
It certainly was! Saw my last movie there, SHERLOCK HOLMES 2 about a week ago, and the sound and projection are among the best in the city. Cinema #1, with the balcony and huge capacity (between 620-640) made it a really great place to watch a movie. The theater was doing pretty good business but you can’t stop progress, I suppose, as Oakridge mall really wants to update. I took even more photos recently and will be sending those into Cinematour next week.
Even as of December, they are still on about 13-14 of their screens. Likely because the cost of booking/operating 30-35 movies in this day and age would put this location in the red.
I know AMC wants out of Canada and this 30 screen could probably be re-done with a much smaller screen count. Calling Empire Theatres!!! ;)
Cineplex pretty much uses the Station Square now as a “move over” from nearby, 10 screen Silvercity Metropolis; in other words, it’s 17 screens but in two buildings. Strange thing is, Station Square is still all 35mm and Metropolis is all digital now. Time will tell if this cinema stays open…
Update: The IMAX 15/70 film system (screen #19) will be replaced with the IMAX Digital system in Spring 2012. Screen #1 will be converted to Ultra AVX, meaning that both AVX & IMAX will be in the same complex. Currently, screens 1-18 are all digital.
Empire Oakridge 3 will be closing on January 2nd, 2012 as the mall is redeveloping. A Crate & Barrel store will be going in its place. Very sad news as the theater certainly has its history.
I had a talk with good ‘ol GM Pierre at the Odeon recently, showed him this post and he confirmed everything you said. My previous source was a younger GM who told me of the incorrect split…so my apologies on that! And big thanks for all of your memories of working there; that’s really amazing stuff! As I’m also a lot younger, I only have faint memories of the Counting House and the Haida, but I loved those cinemas. The Haida had a small balcony that I loved to “sneak up” into sometimes.
(I’d also like to add to your post that Cineplex Odeon had the Towne until the early 90’s, then Landmark re-opened it as The Vic in ‘95)
As is now, I’m still trying to figure out how the heck they had two screens from the original screen. That twinning must have been a disaster resulting in two narrow, “bowling alley” type theatres. Currently #5 (formerly #1) is known as “The Big House” and people still love it.
On another note, the Odeon is now all digital projection. All of the film equipment has been removed, save for the Century/Prevost in #5 (although I haven’t been in the booth to see if the rest of it is still intact).
Capitol 6 across the street is now 100% digital and all film equipment has been removed.
Rumors abound that Cineplex will switch this theater entirely over to digital projection in the summer or early fall. I’m just hoping they enlarge the smaller auds (#1 and #2, still to this day the former orchestra of the original huge auditorium) somehow.
First theater in Canada with digital projection (Star Wars: Episode II in 2002). This location to be all digital this summer, and the IMAX theater will be converted to Ultra AVX digital projection.
“One screen was the first to use digital projections in Canada.” Silvercity Riverport had the first DLP installation (they ran Star Wars: Episode II on Cinema #5). I think Coquitlam’s came a few years later.
Mind you, this location will probably be all-digital by year end.
I just noticed this too…I DO know that in the US, AMC has converted a lot of their 24-30 screen locations into Fork & Screen complexes. This just looks like they have closed an entire wing of cinemas off. Very strange.
The Cineplex Odeon Station Square closed in early 2002. It had five large screens and was right across from the Famous Players theater. Last I was there the space was being used as an art/print shop, although that could be gone by now.
More than likely they will just stick with Riverport as it already has 18 screens plus one IMAX.
Shame, as Richmond Centre 6 was a nice cinema. All 6 screens were pretty big, Dolby Digital and had good seating capacities. It was also one of the Famous Players builds where every cinema had a name (“Avalon”, “Bijou”, “Rialto” etc). The other two still open in Vancouver are Empire’s Esplanade 6 and Cineplex/FP Station Square 7.
Status should now be closed, as the cinema shut down on September 30th, 2012, and IS becoming a Dollarama. Now downtown Vancouver only has two cinemas (Scotiabank 9 and International Village 12) in operation.
Empire Granville 7 will be closing on Sunday, November 4th, 2012 after a South Asian film festival rental. This leaves downtown Vancouver with only TWO cinemas (Scotiabank 9 and International Village 12, both Cineplex) as of November.
Station Square 7 to close on September 3rd, 2012. Which is not surprising as Cineplex never updated to digital at this location. I took photos recently and will add more to the site soon. http://www.cineplex.com/Theatres/TheatreDetails/Famous-Players-Station-Square-Cinemas.aspx
Hey Tim,
I think I recall those Uptown pics were from another person’s Flickr account. That and the archive photos were the only photos I ever found of the place.
As for the Kingston 7, I couldn’t find photos either but it would appear the multiplexing was done under the 80’s Famous Players design where every cinema had a name (“Rialto” “Bijou” etc). There are still two of them in existence in Greater Vancouver (Esplanade 6 in North Van and Station Square 7 in Burnaby) and are both good cinemas.
It’s closing? Shame. Always wanted to visit there, but understand if there’s a new one opening nearby. (I keep hearing about how awesome the new Empire locations are, even though they have yet to build one in BC).
I too am curious how they divided it up and would love to see interior photos.
Further update: Five of the 20 screens are now converted to the Cineplex VIP experience. Leather couches, bar and in-seat service. Tix are $19.50 ($22.50 for 3D movies).
Article: http://t.co/zdCVIuET
Status should now be closed. Tear.
It certainly was! Saw my last movie there, SHERLOCK HOLMES 2 about a week ago, and the sound and projection are among the best in the city. Cinema #1, with the balcony and huge capacity (between 620-640) made it a really great place to watch a movie. The theater was doing pretty good business but you can’t stop progress, I suppose, as Oakridge mall really wants to update. I took even more photos recently and will be sending those into Cinematour next week.
Even as of December, they are still on about 13-14 of their screens. Likely because the cost of booking/operating 30-35 movies in this day and age would put this location in the red.
I know AMC wants out of Canada and this 30 screen could probably be re-done with a much smaller screen count. Calling Empire Theatres!!! ;)
All digital projection as of December, 2011.
Capitol 6 is all digital projection as of September 2011. Large screen #2 has the largest capacity of any cinema in Greater Victoria.
Update: Complex is all digital now, and one screen has been renovated to the Ultra AVX system.
Cineplex pretty much uses the Station Square now as a “move over” from nearby, 10 screen Silvercity Metropolis; in other words, it’s 17 screens but in two buildings. Strange thing is, Station Square is still all 35mm and Metropolis is all digital now. Time will tell if this cinema stays open…
Update: The IMAX 15/70 film system (screen #19) will be replaced with the IMAX Digital system in Spring 2012. Screen #1 will be converted to Ultra AVX, meaning that both AVX & IMAX will be in the same complex. Currently, screens 1-18 are all digital.
Empire Oakridge 3 will be closing on January 2nd, 2012 as the mall is redeveloping. A Crate & Barrel store will be going in its place. Very sad news as the theater certainly has its history.
Blade Runner,
I had a talk with good ‘ol GM Pierre at the Odeon recently, showed him this post and he confirmed everything you said. My previous source was a younger GM who told me of the incorrect split…so my apologies on that! And big thanks for all of your memories of working there; that’s really amazing stuff! As I’m also a lot younger, I only have faint memories of the Counting House and the Haida, but I loved those cinemas. The Haida had a small balcony that I loved to “sneak up” into sometimes.
(I’d also like to add to your post that Cineplex Odeon had the Towne until the early 90’s, then Landmark re-opened it as The Vic in ‘95)
As is now, I’m still trying to figure out how the heck they had two screens from the original screen. That twinning must have been a disaster resulting in two narrow, “bowling alley” type theatres. Currently #5 (formerly #1) is known as “The Big House” and people still love it.
On another note, the Odeon is now all digital projection. All of the film equipment has been removed, save for the Century/Prevost in #5 (although I haven’t been in the booth to see if the rest of it is still intact).
Capitol 6 across the street is now 100% digital and all film equipment has been removed.
Sad to report that the Hollywood closed on Sunday, May 29th with a showing of CINEMA PARADISO and a Buster Keaton short.
Article: http://bit.ly/j8965Q
Rumors abound that Cineplex will switch this theater entirely over to digital projection in the summer or early fall. I’m just hoping they enlarge the smaller auds (#1 and #2, still to this day the former orchestra of the original huge auditorium) somehow.
First theater in Canada with digital projection (Star Wars: Episode II in 2002). This location to be all digital this summer, and the IMAX theater will be converted to Ultra AVX digital projection.
“One screen was the first to use digital projections in Canada.” Silvercity Riverport had the first DLP installation (they ran Star Wars: Episode II on Cinema #5). I think Coquitlam’s came a few years later.
Mind you, this location will probably be all-digital by year end.
I just noticed this too…I DO know that in the US, AMC has converted a lot of their 24-30 screen locations into Fork & Screen complexes. This just looks like they have closed an entire wing of cinemas off. Very strange.
The Cineplex Odeon Station Square closed in early 2002. It had five large screens and was right across from the Famous Players theater. Last I was there the space was being used as an art/print shop, although that could be gone by now.
More than likely they will just stick with Riverport as it already has 18 screens plus one IMAX.
Shame, as Richmond Centre 6 was a nice cinema. All 6 screens were pretty big, Dolby Digital and had good seating capacities. It was also one of the Famous Players builds where every cinema had a name (“Avalon”, “Bijou”, “Rialto” etc). The other two still open in Vancouver are Empire’s Esplanade 6 and Cineplex/FP Station Square 7.
Status for this theater should be closed. I don’t know the date, but I believe it shuttered in February.
The theater ceased operations today, to be replaced by an expanded food court.