Kingsway Theatre

The address of the Kingsway is 3030 Bloor Street, west. The Kingsway theatre, located in an upscale area of Toronto, has been a part of the Festival Theatre chain for many years. Neither the owner or Festival spent much on upkeep until recently. I remember before its updating there were several broken seats which really wasn't such a bad thing. If you chose a seat in the row behind the broken seat, you always had a clear view. Despite the always upscale surrounding area the Kingsway is a very basic theatre in appearance. Up until approximately 15 years ago, there was a tiny second theatre on the second floor of the theatre building. It was called the Screening Room and showed 16mm prints of films that you had no hope of seeing anywhere else.

I was an usher at the Kingsway back in the early to mid '70s when it was still operated by the Famous Players theatre chain. I made $1.15 an hour, I think, paid in cash and coin in these little brown paper envelopes. I think I got an extra buck a week because I was the one who would scramble outside and change the heavy metal letters on the marquee each Thursday night. I was a grade nine or ten high school student at nearby Michael Power at the time.
I believe the Kingsway opened around 1939 or 1940, just as that west end neighborhood was being established.
Pretty sure the theatre had closer to 700 seats. I used to have to go around and tighted each one of the wooden arm rests with pliers. If the film being shown was in cinemascope, ushers had to adjust the matte curtains on either side of the screen by lining up two pieces of tape on the cables.
There was also a glassed in crying room up in a tiny balconey to the west of the projector booth that probably hasn't been used since the '50s. Sat about 20.
The staff change rooms were in this dingy half basement under the main foyer. We used to have to put on these tiny black bow ties and sorta white shirts that hadn't been cleaned since the 3-D craze. The creepy assistant manager used to like to go down there and watch everyone change.
I remember A Tough Of Class with George Segal and Glenda Jackson ran for six straight weeks there one summer. All those Bruce Lee Kung Fu films, too.
The manager was a magician who used to reach into the sand in the large, pedestal ash trays and conjure up coins. The lady who worked the glassed in ticket booth out front wouldn't take the nearby subway to work because she was convinced the communists would get her there. The babe who worked the candy counter used to spray Love's Fresh Lemon perfume all over herself and the popcorn each night. What a place.

It must have been two years since I've been to the Kingsway but revisited on October 23, 2004, to see "Collaterial". More updates have taken place since my last visit. A much larger curved screen and digital sound have been installed. The sub run house had about 125 people in attendance for the Tom Cruise movie. Festival theatre are a nice alternative if you're willing or able to wait a while to see the lastest releases. Unfortunately, many of todays "instant gratification generation" is not willing.

Three rep cinemas to close by end of June
May 18, 2006. 01:00 AM


Three longtime repertory cinema houses — the Revue, the Royal and the Kingsway — are slated to close by the end of June.

The theatres — part of the Festival Cinemas group — were owned by cinema entrepreneur Peter McQuillan, who died in October 2004.

Last night, his son Mark told the Star that he and his two siblings made the decision to close the theatres reluctantly.

"The heart and soul was my father. Since (his death), we have been trying our best to run (the business).

``But we don't have the time, the energy and the financial wherewithal to keep it going," said McQuillan, noting difficult market conditions contributed to their decision.

"I feel bad if they are closing. We might get a few more customers but I don't know what it says for the industry," said Carmelo Bordonaro, owner of the Bloor Cinema.

"It's a labour of love, these cinemas, believe me — a lot of hard work," Bordonaro said.

Bordonaro, a one-time partner with Peter McQuillan, said he was a "great guy."

"He loved film, he loved cinemas and he really supported the film industry in a lot of ways. He was an amazing guy. I miss him all the time," Bordonaro said.

Bordonaro said the entire movie industry is experiencing dramatic changes, with new films being downloaded from the Internet, DVDs being released in a shorter time period following a new film's release at major theatres, and DVDs also being sold at big discounts.

All those factors and others are making it increasingly difficult for repertory theatres to compete and survive, he said.

Here is a recent night view of the Kingsway.

Does anyone have any idea of the future for the Kingsway, Revue cinema. I have passed by the Kingsway cinema and noticed a "For Lease" sign on the front door, is the cinema possibly going to be changed to a restaurant or some type of store.

This is a definite loss for a world class city, Toronto, i saw Mission Impossible 3 at the Bloor cinema and nearly every person mentioned about the remaining 3 rep theatres in Toronto.

I've talked to the leasor. There are a couple of people interested in the building. One is considering adding live theatre to its repertoire, another is considering turning it into a grocery store!

I worked at the Kingsway back in the reopening in '82 with Al Rush. I helped restore the theatre and worked there for almost two years.

I am considering the possibility of reopening it myself and would be interested in talking to anyone about the business aspect - particularly the most recent manager. I should have gotten her (I think it's a her) number before it closed!

Hello DaveC426913,

Try Eleanor at kingswaytheatre@yahoo.ca Eleanor does not check this e-mail often so it may take a while for a response. I have worked at a major theatre chain and would be interested in finding out how i may help.

(Pah! It lets me write a comment, but only afterward tells me I need to be logged in!)


Anyway, thanks! I've fired off an email to her.

Zeph, do you have any experience in the business operations aspect of theatres?

Hello DaveC426913,

I have worked in the food service kiosk at a major theatre chain. I, not only had the responsibility of serving guests(customers) but also had the task of accepting food deliveries and making sure that there was no shortages. I had 2 other food kiosk under my responsibility to set up and to make sure that food shipments were not short in required amount.

I also had the responsibility of setting up and running the concession stand.

What specific business operations are in question.?

Oh, I meant running expenses and revenue. Employee wages, consumables, film rental, property costs, etc. Ultimately, I want to get all these things as ballpark numbers, add them up and see if it comes near breaking even. Until I do that, trying to start up the biz would be folly.

Hello DaveC426913,

Thanks for the consideration.

Sorry, I may be misleading you. I'm looking for people whose brains I can pick prior to embarking on a quest of this scope.

Hi DaveC426013,

Unfortunately, the asking price of the monthly rent is way too high for anyone to come close to breaking even. Some of the managers of the festival theatres had hoped to re-open the theatre at a rent less than festival was paying but the owner wants more rent than festival was paying. I'm pretty sure the Kingsway was the biggest grossing of all the theatres but probably not the most profitable -- remember they had no rent to pay at the Revue and Royal.

Anyway, let's hope the rent becomes realistic and you, I, or someone
opens the Kingsway. Have you thought about the Paradise? I know the gross would be very signifcantly less but if the rent were right, the net could be better.

"...remember they had no rent to pay at the Revue and Royal."

Why do you say this?

Hello DaveC426913,

I have found out from the Savetherevue community run website that the non-for-profit organization bid has been rejected and that a private bidder has submitted a bid and has been accepted.( Details have not been released yet.) Why do we need another grocery store or some type of store within the Roncessvalles area when there is more than enough stores.

This is truly upsetting, depressing for a so-called World class city as Toronto to not be able to keep its past. Recently, i have been going to view films at the Bloor and other independants because of the cost and the character of the cinema which is not a dark box that is called a cinema.

I truly hope that you are sucessful in reopening the Kingsway because there are a lot of other people who probably feel the same way as I.

Ooh, that's a real bummer about the Revue. Of course, we don't know what's replacing it do we?


Why don't you contact me directly by email (in my profile).

Hey DaveC426913,

I am keeping a close eye on the Savetherevue website to see what is going to become of the Revue cinema, at the moment i am not sure what will be of the cinema.

I shall contact you next time i write an e-mail.

Hi Dave,

I guess I forgot to mention that Festival Theatres owned both buildings that housed the Revue and Royal. That's why they had no rent to pay.
Sorry for the confusion.

Oh, I see. Revue and Royal were owned, but Kingsway was leased.

That could be bad news. If I understand correctly, that means that the Kingsway *could* have been a loss-leader. It's loss could have been supported by the other two theatres' profits.

In which case, the Kingsway, as it was being run, might not have been breaking even at all.

Here is another photo of the Kingsway Theater.

Hello DaveC426913,

Any new information on the future of the Kingsway and possibly the revue cinemas.

I've sent an email to one of the McQuillans, but no response so far.

Oh, I did get an email from someone in corproate finance (I thought it was you) who was interested in helping.

Hey DaveC426913,

I would be curious to find out what plans the McQuillans have for the Kingsway/Revue cinemas. Send me an e-mail(on this site) whenever you receive an answer.

Hi,

Something exciting is going on here in Toronto. See the article link below. Could this be the saviour of other cinemas? Let's hope so!

-Dave


"The Royal Cinema, one of four neighbourhood repertory theatres that shut earlier this year after the death of the owner, has been taken over by Theatre D Digital.

The company plans to do post-production film work in four editing suites during the day and show movies in the evenings and on weekend afternoons."

http://www.mytelus.com/news/article.do?pageID=ontario_home&articleID=2486417

This is a 2007 close-up view of the Kingsway which is now for lease.

I am saddened that the Kingsway is still closed, but I have good news regarding the Revue. The Revue Cinema has been purchased by a local couple who has agreed to lease it to the Revue Film Society (the Save the Revue people). We are expecting to have the Revue up and running by the end of the summer. You can read all about it at http://www.revuecinema.ca

Sometimes the good guys DO win!

Keith Denning
Revue Film Society

Hello Everyone,
I am in the extreme early stages of creating a business plan for a theatre and was wondering if anyone had any ideas or advice for me as I know very little about this sort of thing (running a film theatre).
Thanks,
Paige

I don't suppose it's a Toronto repertory theatre is it?

Yes it is a Toronto rep theatre, I was thinking of the Paradise.

Ps-of course I would look at the Kingsway as well!

Last October I arranged a meeting with the owner and the former manager to get some advice from them about the workings of the theatre as a prelude to possibly running it myself. The meeting never happened (my fault) so I never got the chance to discuss it with them. But they were both interested in anything that might help the theatre re-open.

I think they might be open to talking with you and I think that it would be an extremely informative meeting for you. (The first things I wanted to ask were: what is the rent? and what are the operating costs? )

If you're interested, I think it would be OK to pass along their contact info to you.

Thanks Dave, I would appreciate the information, are you still interested at all?

I very much like the idea, though I should probably be realistic about just how able I am to follow it through in addition to my career.


You'll find my email in my profile.

This is a 2006 photo of the Kingsway.

Lost Memory, how did you come across that pic on Flickr? It was just uploaded today. Or are *you* onesharp?

Here's a picture from 1957:

http://gencat.eloquent-systems.com/webcat/systems/toronto.arch/resource/fo1257%5Cser1057%5Cf1257_s1057_it7997.jpg

The Kingsway Theatre will open soon and play movies once again.

www.whiptv.ca

Hey Paige(Theme Queen),
I also have aspirations to open a rep theatre, and also have the Paradise in my sights. Have you had any luck with your business plan? My email is in my profile.
Mark

"The Kingsway Theatre will open soon and play movies once again."

Please elaborate. Do you know something we don't? Are are you just being optimistic?

Check out
www.whiptv.ca/pages/kingsway.php

Our company has taken over the Kingsway it is currently being upgraded.
The new format will be first run movies, special events, and festivals. Do not believe me then call the Kingsway's Theatre Line 416-548-8868.
Tentative opening is early November.

Rui

Would you like some help? You've got a bunch of people who would love to be involved!

The Kingsway Theatre will have an open house in late October. There will be more information on www.whiptv.ca/pages/kingsway.php SOON!

Thank You for all your support.

Any news on the re-opening of the Kingsway? It is now December and so far haven't heard any more about it.

Finally!!...The Kingsway Theatre will re-open on Friday January 02, 2009 with:

Boy In Striped Pajamas-7pm
Rachel Getting Married-9:30pm

Minimum run will be one week and we look forward to booking first run films as of mid to late January 2009.

The renovation is nearly complete with a new lobby and continuing upgrades in the auditorium. The Kingsway will soon become, once again, a vital part of Toronto's west end. There is still lots of work to be done but it will be well worth the effort.

Keep watching the marquee the Kingsway neon will glow again.

Rui Pereira

kingsway@whip.ca

Switchworks – WhipTV Presents:

Open House!! See how far we have come and what is in the works. Wednesday December 31st, 2008 with free show on screen of Spike Milligan's 1962 comedy "The Postman's Knock" 7pm and 9pm.

http://www.whiptv.ca/pages/kingsway.php

Torontoist has some pics:
http://torontoist.com/2009/01/movies_are_finally_back_at_the_king.php

Here is another photo of the Kingsway.

A photo taken after the reopening:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Kingsway_Cinema.JPG

www.kingswaymovies.com

Here's an updated link to the 1957 picture I posted on June 4, 2008:
http://gencat4.eloquent-systems.com/webcat/systems/toronto.arch/resource/fo1257%5Cser1057%5Cf1257_s1057_it7997.jpg

The renovation was sponsored by majority investor Rick Ross. Mr. Ross is a Toronto Business man and entrepreneur. His company SwitchWorks Technologies Inc. and myCybernet.ca have taken the closed building and restored it to its classic movie palace grandeuer. Thank-you SwitchWorks for saving this gem!

...don't be fooled...

The Kingsway Theatre Website is www.kingswaymovies.com

See Friday's Toronto Star Movie Guide for an ad for STAR TREK 2009 Now Playing the Kingsway Theatre in full surround sound DTS.

The Kingsway was my first-ever job as a projectionist. I worked there "on permit" from 1980 until 83, then after officially becoming a member of Local 173 I offically owned the job until I moved to the Showcase (ex-New Yorker) in 86. Wonderful booth. Stuff that lifelong memories are made of. It was running purely repertory at the time (two different films a night), running 2000 foot reels on Super Simplex heads and Peerless Magnarc Type G lamphouses. The optical stereo sound was home-brewed by the general manager from a Quadraphonic-QS decoder!

When I started off the booth ran with an insanely-loud Motor-Generator for arc power, but was later converted to rectifiers. The Super Simplex heads went out in favor of Century C's and thanks to a resourceful sound technician, we put Motiograph 35mm Magnetic soundheads in, which I think I ran about 3 or 4 times. I later worked there in the mid-90s after the Showcase closed and I was a relief operator. This is where I saw many of the best movies ever made. There was a real gem in this theatre. A small 20 seat auditorium upstairs that ran 16mm movies, completely separate from the main Kingsway. I forgot what it was called at the time (the Festival?) or the name of the kindly older gentleman who ran it.

Lots of good memories int aht theatre, though. Glad to see it's no longer dark.

When I go to http://www.kingswaytheatre.com it says you get free popcorn.

So has anyone signed up with http://www.mycybernet.ca and got free popcorn? How does that work?

Don't be fooled...

The Kingsway Theatre website is:

www.kingswaymovies.com

The Kingsway Theatre is in no way connected to any other entity.

Please note that a few comments regarding a physical attack at the theater have been removed. If you have police records, newspaper accounts, you are welcome to link to them. Future unsupported allegations will also be removed. Thank you for your consideration.