Same thing up here in Canada. When Cineplex Odeon bought out Famous Players a few years ago, they had to sell off over 30 theatres of their own or Famous Players locations so that they wouldn’t be close together. However years ago, Famous Players virtually owned the Yonge-Bloor-Bay neighbourhood in Toronto by having the Uptown 5, Towne Cinema, Plaza Twin, University and Cumberland 4. All Cineplex Odeon had in that area was the Varsity Twin and the Showcase.
I always wondered the same thing about Chicago. How AMC were able to keep the 600 North Michigan 9 after the River East 21 opened. They are blocks apart.
Thanks JRS40, that makes sense. Always wondered why Chicago never did when so many cities even New York had divided downtown palaces in to multiples. Here in Toronto, the former Loew’s Uptown was divided in to 5, the Imperial was divided in to 6 and several others in to twins.
What IS it about Pittsburgh area and movie theatres? Do Pittsburghers not go to the movies as much as other parts of the country? I’ve never heard of a city that seems to have so many multiplexes open and then close within a few years. There are so many other cities that even have multiplex theatres close to one another and still do business. Just wondering why it seems that it doesn’t work in the Pittsburgh area.
It’s also quite amazing that not ONE of the downtown Loop movie palaces were ever divided up in to multiple cinemas like they were almost everywhere. They all were intact and the same single screen theatres when they subsequently closed. That’s quite extraordinary.
Considering what the Goodman has become, too bad they had to demolish the Woods, Michael Todd and Cinestage. They could have just combined them somehow and now THEY would be the Goodman Theatre. Sort of like Playhouse Square in Cleveland, with the old original theatres in place.
Looking at that lovely photo, it really is a shame that the Esquire has been just sitting there all these years. It really does fit in to the neighbourhood so well doesn’t it. It should be a Landmark or Angelika or something.
As far as I know, the only State theatre in Toronto was on Bloor St, between Keele and Dundas. It’s listed in here as the Bloordale, but it was known as the State, a 20th Century theatre until it closed.
I don’t agree with your statement that the Oscar winning film “Oliver!” didn’t do well simply because it was released as a reserved seat, roadshow engagement all over, not just Toronto and not just because Odeon didn’t agree with the pricing. After it’s run at the Carlton, it moved over to the Odeon Danforth where it ran for many more months, so I wouldn’t say that “it didn’t do well”.
I remember there was an Eric in downtown Allentown. It opened in the late 60s and I remember going there in the summer of 1969 to see “Midnight Cowboy” It must have been the same chain because the letters of the name in the photos above were the same as the one in Allentown. Many years later I was in Allentown again and it was the Eric 5, so they obviously added on more screens. I’m not sure when it closed but it was a stand alone building right near city hall and had it’s own parking lot. I don’t know if it still stands or was demolished.
I often wonder what they use all the space for cinemas such as these after they close. I mean, when you walk by the entrance at the Hudson’s Bay Centre, you would never know a theatre ever existed there. Are the 2 cinemas still sitting there empty after all these years? Makes you wonder what they could use them for now. Even a twin cinema still open at this location would be better than nothing. You didn’t even have to go outside when you got off the subway. It was practically across the hall of the mall.
Great news! Can’t wait to see what it looks like when it re-opens. Can’t understand why they didn’t open a Rainbow Cinema in the closed Upper James 7 in Hamilton. Magic Lantern/Rainbow always seem to re-open former Cineplex Odeon theatres. That one would have been perfect for the people of Hamilton Mountain.
Up here in Canada, AMC is the much nicer, more civilized chain. Much less noisy and flashy than those former Famous Players SilverCity and Coliseums and the one in downtown Toronto, the Yonge-Dundas 24, is waaay classier than the loud Scotiabank (formerly Paramount)
Did the Panorama close under another name? Otherwise there is no listing for it here at Cinema Treasures and you would think if it had Roadshow engagements, it would be in here.
It’s interesting that the Cumberland Four does not have a listing on Cinema Treasures. Even though it’s been around almost 30 years. I still think it has one of the best locations in Toronto. Remember when the Bloor/Yonge/Bay/Avenue rd area had the most screens of anywhere in Toronto? Those WERE the days!
I once wrote to Famous Players and asked them if they had any plans to re-decorate the auditoriums. I always found the carpeting and especially the seats to be hidious colours and designs. Especially for that location within their head office. Remember when it opened, Cinema 1 was called La Reserve? I don’t think that lasted too long though. Wasn’t that screen capable for 70MM? It never looked wide enough to me to show that format. I remember that it opened around Christmas 1980 as well as the newly renovated Runnymede twin and the 3rd screen at the Westwood.
The photos posted on Feb 26,2007 by Jack Coursey. First entry under comments.
Same thing up here in Canada. When Cineplex Odeon bought out Famous Players a few years ago, they had to sell off over 30 theatres of their own or Famous Players locations so that they wouldn’t be close together. However years ago, Famous Players virtually owned the Yonge-Bloor-Bay neighbourhood in Toronto by having the Uptown 5, Towne Cinema, Plaza Twin, University and Cumberland 4. All Cineplex Odeon had in that area was the Varsity Twin and the Showcase.
I always wondered the same thing about Chicago. How AMC were able to keep the 600 North Michigan 9 after the River East 21 opened. They are blocks apart.
Thanks JRS40, that makes sense. Always wondered why Chicago never did when so many cities even New York had divided downtown palaces in to multiples. Here in Toronto, the former Loew’s Uptown was divided in to 5, the Imperial was divided in to 6 and several others in to twins.
What IS it about Pittsburgh area and movie theatres? Do Pittsburghers not go to the movies as much as other parts of the country? I’ve never heard of a city that seems to have so many multiplexes open and then close within a few years. There are so many other cities that even have multiplex theatres close to one another and still do business. Just wondering why it seems that it doesn’t work in the Pittsburgh area.
Hurray, Remembering Cinerama is back! Missed it. Still looking forward to seeing Cleveland and Cincinnati.
It’s also quite amazing that not ONE of the downtown Loop movie palaces were ever divided up in to multiple cinemas like they were almost everywhere. They all were intact and the same single screen theatres when they subsequently closed. That’s quite extraordinary.
Considering what the Goodman has become, too bad they had to demolish the Woods, Michael Todd and Cinestage. They could have just combined them somehow and now THEY would be the Goodman Theatre. Sort of like Playhouse Square in Cleveland, with the old original theatres in place.
What about Classic Cinemas?
Looking at that lovely photo, it really is a shame that the Esquire has been just sitting there all these years. It really does fit in to the neighbourhood so well doesn’t it. It should be a Landmark or Angelika or something.
As far as I know, the only State theatre in Toronto was on Bloor St, between Keele and Dundas. It’s listed in here as the Bloordale, but it was known as the State, a 20th Century theatre until it closed.
Wow, the newspaper ad posted by Mike Rivest is gone already. That was fast!
I don’t agree with your statement that the Oscar winning film “Oliver!” didn’t do well simply because it was released as a reserved seat, roadshow engagement all over, not just Toronto and not just because Odeon didn’t agree with the pricing. After it’s run at the Carlton, it moved over to the Odeon Danforth where it ran for many more months, so I wouldn’t say that “it didn’t do well”.
Too bad all the photos supposedly listed above are gone. I don’t remember what this one looked like.
I remember there was an Eric in downtown Allentown. It opened in the late 60s and I remember going there in the summer of 1969 to see “Midnight Cowboy” It must have been the same chain because the letters of the name in the photos above were the same as the one in Allentown. Many years later I was in Allentown again and it was the Eric 5, so they obviously added on more screens. I’m not sure when it closed but it was a stand alone building right near city hall and had it’s own parking lot. I don’t know if it still stands or was demolished.
Nashville IS there, between Hamden and Scranton.
I often wonder what they use all the space for cinemas such as these after they close. I mean, when you walk by the entrance at the Hudson’s Bay Centre, you would never know a theatre ever existed there. Are the 2 cinemas still sitting there empty after all these years? Makes you wonder what they could use them for now. Even a twin cinema still open at this location would be better than nothing. You didn’t even have to go outside when you got off the subway. It was practically across the hall of the mall.
Wow, talk about a narrow minded individual! I’m sure Classic Cinemas does a great jot of running this theatre, but you will never know I guess.
Great news! Can’t wait to see what it looks like when it re-opens. Can’t understand why they didn’t open a Rainbow Cinema in the closed Upper James 7 in Hamilton. Magic Lantern/Rainbow always seem to re-open former Cineplex Odeon theatres. That one would have been perfect for the people of Hamilton Mountain.
Up here in Canada, AMC is the much nicer, more civilized chain. Much less noisy and flashy than those former Famous Players SilverCity and Coliseums and the one in downtown Toronto, the Yonge-Dundas 24, is waaay classier than the loud Scotiabank (formerly Paramount)
Thanks Michael.
Did the Panorama close under another name? Otherwise there is no listing for it here at Cinema Treasures and you would think if it had Roadshow engagements, it would be in here.
Nope, they’re all there. Wasn’t that glorious!
It’s interesting that the Cumberland Four does not have a listing on Cinema Treasures. Even though it’s been around almost 30 years. I still think it has one of the best locations in Toronto. Remember when the Bloor/Yonge/Bay/Avenue rd area had the most screens of anywhere in Toronto? Those WERE the days!
I once wrote to Famous Players and asked them if they had any plans to re-decorate the auditoriums. I always found the carpeting and especially the seats to be hidious colours and designs. Especially for that location within their head office. Remember when it opened, Cinema 1 was called La Reserve? I don’t think that lasted too long though. Wasn’t that screen capable for 70MM? It never looked wide enough to me to show that format. I remember that it opened around Christmas 1980 as well as the newly renovated Runnymede twin and the 3rd screen at the Westwood.