PPS: The Century had only 705 seats when iot closed. It was refurbished in 1964 or 1965 and it wa then that they eliminated some seating. They still had reserve seating for some special attraction too. The ticket bos was right behind the cashier in the “new box office” The old box office was outside and glassed in. My God the memories!
For Al Burt: I remember your name. You knew my dad and my bothers Doug and Mike Marriott. Mary Poppins was the first picture I think I saw there. Do you remember Mrs. Wade, Charlie Jarvis, Loretta Stremble, Arlene Belleck, Mike Hogan?
hello, I can’t tell you how delighted I was to stumble upon this website. My father (Verdun Marriott) ran the Century Theatre for many years. Some of the people you mentioned were friends of his. I virtually grew up around theatres specifically the Century and all of our family worked there over the years. My dad moved to Famous Players Head Office later on but the Century was always his favourite. He was well liked by the community whether it be reporters from the Spectator, the nuns that he bused in to see Sound of Music, movie stars, politicians or the same bunch that came in every Sunday…everyone was treated special at that theatre. The matron there on Saturdays and Sundays was named Mrs. Evangeline Wade, the best lady you could ever meet. She used to watch us when my mother had to look after my brother who was frequently ill. I remember watching movies in the projection booth or through the trap door window in the manager’s office. The backstage rooms are old dressing rooms from the days of vaudiville. I found newspapers from the world wars in there. The coal bins were there too. I have original furniture and ashtrays from there. My name is written on the wall in the lobby. Originally it was hidden by a hinged poster board and a drape. I have programs and posters that were my dad’s as well. We used to go through a trap door in the second floor ceiling. We went above the suspended ceiling on catwalks and saw your balconies. I heard them called opera boxes as well. Also the drapes were indeed orginally red velvet. Did you know that the Century is haunted? There is also the true story of the vaudiville actor who killed his wife and her lover backstage and I heard a version where he then killed himself but someone has since told me that he was convicted and hung at Barton Street Jail. I have often thought of the Century. I ran it for awhile while I was in University at McMaster. I went by there about ten or so years ago and the door was open. The person there allowed me to go up into my dad’s old office. It was then that he gave me one of the orginal black glass ashtrays and a rubber stamp bearing the Century’s theatre number. I remember the phone number 527-7861 or ja-77861. Pretty good huh? I may know you Mike16. Anyway you can write to me at Skye
PPS: The Century had only 705 seats when iot closed. It was refurbished in 1964 or 1965 and it wa then that they eliminated some seating. They still had reserve seating for some special attraction too. The ticket bos was right behind the cashier in the “new box office” The old box office was outside and glassed in. My God the memories!
For Al Burt: I remember your name. You knew my dad and my bothers Doug and Mike Marriott. Mary Poppins was the first picture I think I saw there. Do you remember Mrs. Wade, Charlie Jarvis, Loretta Stremble, Arlene Belleck, Mike Hogan?
hello, I can’t tell you how delighted I was to stumble upon this website. My father (Verdun Marriott) ran the Century Theatre for many years. Some of the people you mentioned were friends of his. I virtually grew up around theatres specifically the Century and all of our family worked there over the years. My dad moved to Famous Players Head Office later on but the Century was always his favourite. He was well liked by the community whether it be reporters from the Spectator, the nuns that he bused in to see Sound of Music, movie stars, politicians or the same bunch that came in every Sunday…everyone was treated special at that theatre. The matron there on Saturdays and Sundays was named Mrs. Evangeline Wade, the best lady you could ever meet. She used to watch us when my mother had to look after my brother who was frequently ill. I remember watching movies in the projection booth or through the trap door window in the manager’s office. The backstage rooms are old dressing rooms from the days of vaudiville. I found newspapers from the world wars in there. The coal bins were there too. I have original furniture and ashtrays from there. My name is written on the wall in the lobby. Originally it was hidden by a hinged poster board and a drape. I have programs and posters that were my dad’s as well. We used to go through a trap door in the second floor ceiling. We went above the suspended ceiling on catwalks and saw your balconies. I heard them called opera boxes as well. Also the drapes were indeed orginally red velvet. Did you know that the Century is haunted? There is also the true story of the vaudiville actor who killed his wife and her lover backstage and I heard a version where he then killed himself but someone has since told me that he was convicted and hung at Barton Street Jail. I have often thought of the Century. I ran it for awhile while I was in University at McMaster. I went by there about ten or so years ago and the door was open. The person there allowed me to go up into my dad’s old office. It was then that he gave me one of the orginal black glass ashtrays and a rubber stamp bearing the Century’s theatre number. I remember the phone number 527-7861 or ja-77861. Pretty good huh? I may know you Mike16. Anyway you can write to me at Skye