Strand Theatre

761 King Street E,
Hamilton, ON L8M

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Famous Players, United Amusement Ltd.

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Strand Theatre

The Strand Theatre opened on December 4, 1915. United Amusements operated the Strand Theatre, which had 935 seats. The Strand Theatre suffered damage from a fire in the 1950’s. It was reopened on June 28, 1968 and was closed by Famous Players in 1971. and the site of this theatre is now a parking lot.

Contributed by Chad Irish

Recent comments (view all 15 comments)

darrenparlett
darrenparlett on August 12, 2013 at 8:06 pm

So it didn’t burn down eh?

TivFan
TivFan on August 12, 2013 at 11:54 pm

Great photo of the Strand. This is the first time I’ve seen one. I don’t remember that it looked like this…could be just my memory…I remember a larger marquee/canopy. I saw “Born Free” here in 1966 and I think I saw “Mary Poppins” here, as well.
Does anyone remember what the signs looked like after the last renovation in the late l960’s? I remember the name STRAND in stylized lettering. This same style/font was used as the theater signature in the newspaper ads. I recall that under the theater name was a rectangular sign board that usually had an “ad/graphic” instead of the standard letters. This may have been an early version of the way ads and billboards are done now: printed on canvas or plastic and back-lit. I recall the “Rosemary’s Baby” graphic of Mia Farrow’s profile and the baby buggy on the peak and the film title below. And “On A Clear Day…” had Streisand’s face on the flower pot and the film title, like in the ads or posters. Am I remembering correctly? There has to be some pictures out there somewhere…

TivFan
TivFan on August 13, 2013 at 12:07 am

I have a Hamilton Spectator dated October 13, 1916 which has an ad for the New Strand. A film was shown and a baritone appeared live. There are ads for the Strand in Spectators dated 1919 and 1921. There is no address in any of the ads.
In the 1944 Vernon’s Hamilton Directory: (alphabetically under Strand) Theatre John Trotter mgr 761 King e; (alphabetically under Trotter) “ John mgr Strand Theatre 461 Main e.

TivFan
TivFan on August 13, 2013 at 12:22 am

I have a postcard or advertising card for an attraction (a movie, I think) at a Strand Theatre on King Street. The address is not 761, and this may not be the Strand in Hamilton (I don’t have the card handy). It is possible an earlier Strand did burn down and another was built at 761 King Street. Anything is possible and more research will tell.

DavidDymond
DavidDymond on August 13, 2013 at 8:22 am

The Strand Theatre in Hamilton was originally a little independent squeezed into joining Famous Players Canadian Corporation as an operating partner. He was so desperate to be able to get movies that he signed an absolutely AWFUL agreement with Famous Players about 1930. The deal was this: get behind more than two months in paying for advertising or film and Famous had the right to seize the rest of the outstanding shares from the little partner at NO EXPENSE to Famous. One of the most awful operating agreements for the little guy that Famous Players ever wrote!! Naturally, they (Famous) do NOT guarantee any profits!! LOL!!

DavidDymond
DavidDymond on August 13, 2013 at 3:58 pm

Hamilton United another operating partner of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, owned by Bernie Braydon and the Braydon family ended up with this theatre eventually!

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on October 19, 2021 at 9:35 pm

To add to all the other early mentions of the Strand Theatre noted in earlier comments, the house (and owner Fred Guest) were mentioned in the October 14, 1916 issue of Moving Picture World. The item also mentioned Guest’s Empire Theatre.

rivest266
rivest266 on December 5, 2023 at 8:20 am

Opened December 4th, 1915. Grand opening ad posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on December 6, 2023 at 11:44 am

Reopened on June 28th, 1968. Ad posted.

rivest266
rivest266 on December 6, 2023 at 1:24 pm

Closed by Famous Players in 1971.

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