Globe Cinema
393 Portage Avenue,
Winnipeg,
MB
393 Portage Avenue,
Winnipeg,
MB
2 people
favorited this theater
In an attempt to re-vitalize downtown, Famous Players opened the Portage Place Cinemas.
Combining Gothic Revival and Art Deco, the cinemas are lavish with giant screens, several different digital sound systems, high-backed seats (different colours for each auditorium), gothic columns down the auditoriums, a large concession stand and an entire wall of glass running the length of the auditoriums that looked down onto Portage Avenue from the third storey of Portage Place.
This cinema is completely wheelchair accessible.
Famous Players skipped paying the enormous lease for a few months before it was closed, and that resulted in the mall’s owners replacing the locks. They sued to get their equipment back, but lost.
In June 2002, Landmark Cinemas took over this theatre that is commonly known as one of Winnipeg’s most finest. They are currently showing art films and offer free parking.
Contributed by
Shelley Kindleman
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Recent comments (view all 5 comments)
This theatre has a combined total of around 900 seats now.
When it was a Famous Players theatre, the projection booth equipment was as follows:
Cinema 1: “ALTO"
Xebex Supersol 4kw Lamphouse
Cinemeccanica VIC 8 35/70mm Projector
Strong ALPHA 35/70mm Platter
GS Showman II Automation *(later replaced to CineQ Automations)
Cinema 2: “RIO"
Xebex Hi-Beam III 3kw Lamphouse
Cinemeccanica VIC 8 (35mm only) Projector
Strong ALPHA Platter
GS Showman II Automation *(later replaced to CineQ Automations)
Cinema 2: “BIJOU"
Xebex Hi-Beam III 3kw Lamphouse
Cinemeccanica VIC 8 (35mm only) Projector
Strong ALPHA Platter
GS Showman II Automation *(later replaced to CineQ Automations)
I’m almost 100% certain that Famous never updated C2 or C3 for 35/70mm.
If all of their equipment remained in the building when Landmark took over, then it must still be there.
I was the General Manager for Famous Players when we closed this cinema (as Portage Place) and later went on to work for Landmark Cinemas to re-open it as The Globe. I was pleased to help give back such a viable and beautiful theatre to the city of Winnipeg. Truly this is the only premier facility in the downtown of Winnipeg for film exhibition.
Also grandcameo, you’re correct. C2 & 3 were never 70MM capable (largely because of the absence of 70MM product when refurb’s were optioned and deliberated).
FilmExhibitor, please drop me an e-mail at my username at hotmail dot com. I’m posting my e-mail like that to block out spamware that searches the internet for addresses.
Thanks!