According to the 1986 edition of the Canadian Film Digest Yearbook, May Theatres (1984) Ltd. ran the Towne for a brief period after Landmark sold the theatre up until the Towne closed.
May Theatres (1984) Ltd. was the previous owner of the theatre when it was the McCinema (as noted above), before Landmark took over. May Theatres is a regional chain with holdings in Alberta and Saskatchewan, centered around the May Cinema Centre in Lloydminster.
Confirming Chuck’s post above regarding the ownership, the current owner of the Grand Square 5 is May Theatres (1984) Ltd., the owner of the May Cinema Centre in Lloydminster.
The Cinema 6 actually opened on June 10, 1970 with an opening double-bill of the John Wayne Western film “The Undefeated” and the Jerry Lewis comedy “Way…Way Out”. Here’s the ad for the opening night of the Cinema 6 from the June 10, 1970 Regina Leader-Post.
Here’s an ad from the October 29, 1981 edition of the Regina Leader-Post, the day that the Broadway closed with a last showing of the Burt Reynolds movie “Paternity”.
The Metropolitan went dark on November 29, 1981 after a final triple-bill of Ralph Bakshi animated features, “Fritz the Cat”, “The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat” and “Heavy Traffic”. Here’s the ad for the final Metropolitan show from the Regina Leader-Post.
Plans have been announced by the Empire chain to sell the Esplanade 6 to Landmark Cinemas as part of Empire’s splitting of its theatres between Landmark (20 locations in western Canada and Ontario) and Cineplex Odeon (24 locations in Atlantic Canada and two in Ontario) as Empire quits the theatre business. Full story below:
The future is currently looking iffy for the Capitol 6/Empire Victoria as the Empire chain plans on splitting its theatres between Cineplex Entertainment and Landmark Cinemas in a sale as part of Empire’s exit from the theatre business (see link below):
Personally, I hope Landmark picks up the Cap 6 as well and keeps it open because I’d hate to see another theatre disappear from the downtown area following the losses of the Haida, the Coronet and the Vic/Towne (the latter as a regular venue) over the years. Those who are turned off by the stadium-style experience of places like the SilverCity at Tillicum Mall and the Cineplex Westshore in Langford have found appeal in the older-style downtown houses like the Cap 6 and the nearby Odeon.
Plans have just been announced by the Empire chain to sell the University Heights theatre to Landmark Cinemas as part of Empire’s exit from the theatre business. Story below:
The Bay Theatre’s days may now be numbered, as it was recently reported that the roof above Cinema One at the Bay caved in in stages, first on May 8, then again on June 5, as the result of neglect and lack of maintenance by its current owner. Nanaimo city council announced that a remedial action order had been approved on June 10, and the owner has 30 days from the date of the order to either ensure the building’s soundness or have it torn down, or the city will have it demolished at the owner’s expense. Full story below:
As such, this theatre’s name should currently be listed as the Caprice Twin (as shown at the website) and as part of the Caprice Showcase Theatres chain.
The Grand 10 and the power centre it is located at, McCurdy Corner, were built on the site of a Flintstones theme park, which originally opened in 1968. It operated until its closure in 1998 after negotiations between the park’s then-owner and Hanna-Barbera over licencing rights to the Flintstones characters were unsuccessful. The park was later demolished to make way for construction of McCurdy Corner and the Grand 10.
The location’s pre-Grand 10 history is located here.
Here’s a photo of what happened to the old Plaza 400/Coronet theatre space not long after the Coronet closed. Appears the former cinemas were converted into a casino called Casino Hollywood for a few years.
The Collingwood has closed its doors again, unfortunately. The theatre closed on April 30 due to a dispute between its management and the theatre’s landlord.
The company listed above as Landmark Celebrity Cinemas (which took over the Bay Theatre after Famous Players closed it) is actually called Celebrity Cinemas, a company that once owned the Towne Cinema in Vernon and was listed by that name in the Film Canada Yearbook. Celebrity Cinemas was an affiliate company of Landmark Cinemas of Canada.
Just to note, the Pen-Mar is no longer listed on the Landmark website since it closed nearly six months ago, so its status should now read closed, not open.
According to the 1986 edition of the Canadian Film Digest Yearbook, May Theatres (1984) Ltd. ran the Towne for a brief period after Landmark sold the theatre up until the Towne closed.
May Theatres (1984) Ltd. was the previous owner of the theatre when it was the McCinema (as noted above), before Landmark took over. May Theatres is a regional chain with holdings in Alberta and Saskatchewan, centered around the May Cinema Centre in Lloydminster.
May Theatres (1984) Ltd. is the current owner of the Alma, confirmed here on the fourth page.
Confirming Chuck’s post above regarding the ownership, the current owner of the Grand Square 5 is May Theatres (1984) Ltd., the owner of the May Cinema Centre in Lloydminster.
Status should now read demolished. The Bay Theatre was torn down this past week, as reported in this article:
Old Theatre on Chapel Street Demolished
The Cinema 6 actually opened on June 10, 1970 with an opening double-bill of the John Wayne Western film “The Undefeated” and the Jerry Lewis comedy “Way…Way Out”. Here’s the ad for the opening night of the Cinema 6 from the June 10, 1970 Regina Leader-Post.
Here’s an ad from the October 29, 1981 edition of the Regina Leader-Post, the day that the Broadway closed with a last showing of the Burt Reynolds movie “Paternity”.
The Metropolitan went dark on November 29, 1981 after a final triple-bill of Ralph Bakshi animated features, “Fritz the Cat”, “The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat” and “Heavy Traffic”. Here’s the ad for the final Metropolitan show from the Regina Leader-Post.
Plans have been announced by the Empire chain to sell the Esplanade 6 to Landmark Cinemas as part of Empire’s splitting of its theatres between Landmark (20 locations in western Canada and Ontario) and Cineplex Odeon (24 locations in Atlantic Canada and two in Ontario) as Empire quits the theatre business. Full story below:
Empire leaves movie theatre business with sale to Cineplex and Landmark
The future is currently looking iffy for the Capitol 6/Empire Victoria as the Empire chain plans on splitting its theatres between Cineplex Entertainment and Landmark Cinemas in a sale as part of Empire’s exit from the theatre business (see link below):
Empire selling University Heights theatres, uncertain future for downtown’s Capitol Six
Personally, I hope Landmark picks up the Cap 6 as well and keeps it open because I’d hate to see another theatre disappear from the downtown area following the losses of the Haida, the Coronet and the Vic/Towne (the latter as a regular venue) over the years. Those who are turned off by the stadium-style experience of places like the SilverCity at Tillicum Mall and the Cineplex Westshore in Langford have found appeal in the older-style downtown houses like the Cap 6 and the nearby Odeon.
Plans have just been announced by the Empire chain to sell the University Heights theatre to Landmark Cinemas as part of Empire’s exit from the theatre business. Story below:
Empire selling University Heights theatres, uncertain future for downtown’s Capitol Six
The Bay Theatre’s days may now be numbered, as it was recently reported that the roof above Cinema One at the Bay caved in in stages, first on May 8, then again on June 5, as the result of neglect and lack of maintenance by its current owner. Nanaimo city council announced that a remedial action order had been approved on June 10, and the owner has 30 days from the date of the order to either ensure the building’s soundness or have it torn down, or the city will have it demolished at the owner’s expense. Full story below:
Old Bay Theatre now needs to be demolished
Here’s the 1985 photo of the York.
The website link on the right side no longer works, as that site (Criterion Luxury Theatres) is down. This is the current site for the theatre:
Caprice Showcase Theatres
As such, this theatre’s name should currently be listed as the Caprice Twin (as shown at the website) and as part of the Caprice Showcase Theatres chain.
The website link on the right side no longer works, as that site (Criterion Luxury Theatres) is down. This is the current site for the theatre:
Caprice Showcase Theatres
As such, this theatre should currently be listed as part of the Caprice Showcase Theatres chain.
The website link on the right side no longer works, as that site (Criterion Luxury Theatres) is down. This is the current site for the theatre:
Caprice Showcase Theatres
As such, this theatre’s name should currently be listed as the Caprice 4 (as shown at the website) and as part of the Caprice Showcase Theatres chain.
Famous Players ran this theatre in its earlier years, at least until the late-1980s.
The Grand 10 and the power centre it is located at, McCurdy Corner, were built on the site of a Flintstones theme park, which originally opened in 1968. It operated until its closure in 1998 after negotiations between the park’s then-owner and Hanna-Barbera over licencing rights to the Flintstones characters were unsuccessful. The park was later demolished to make way for construction of McCurdy Corner and the Grand 10.
The location’s pre-Grand 10 history is located here.
Here’s a photo of what happened to the old Plaza 400/Coronet theatre space not long after the Coronet closed. Appears the former cinemas were converted into a casino called Casino Hollywood for a few years.
The Collingwood has closed its doors again, unfortunately. The theatre closed on April 30 due to a dispute between its management and the theatre’s landlord.
Collingwood Theatre set to close next week
According to this article, the current Cinecenta theatre opened at its present location in 1976.
The company listed above as Landmark Celebrity Cinemas (which took over the Bay Theatre after Famous Players closed it) is actually called Celebrity Cinemas, a company that once owned the Towne Cinema in Vernon and was listed by that name in the Film Canada Yearbook. Celebrity Cinemas was an affiliate company of Landmark Cinemas of Canada.
The sale now appears to be official, as the Festival Cinemas website says that the Park is now part of Cineplex Entertainment.
The sale now appears to be official, as the Festival Cinemas website says that the 5th Avenue is now part of Cineplex Entertainment.
Just to note, the Pen-Mar is no longer listed on the Landmark website since it closed nearly six months ago, so its status should now read closed, not open.