Actual opening date is September 9, 1937 with Fredric March in “Road to Glory” and Joe E. Brown in “Polo Joe” (unknown if extras added). Odeon Theatres Canada took over the Elmwood in December 1947 and was renamed the Odeon Hyland. The “Odeon” part of the name was dropped in 1959, and was renamed the Hyland Theatre. Despite a mix of first-run American and British titles throughout much of its first several decades as a neighborhood movie theater, the Hyland Theatre held some of the longest engagements.
When Dick Drysdale took over as manager, the Hyland ran “The Sound of Music” for 73 weeks. Because of the long engagement, Drysdale unexpectedly won the “Showman of the Year” award in an international competition for movie theater managers. British films were dropped by the late-1970s, and the Hyland ran only first-run American mainstream under both Canadian Odeon (Odeon Theatres Canada) and Cineplex Odeon (after Cineplex and Odeon Theatres Canada merged in July 1984). This lasted until its last operator Cineplex Odeon closed the theater on August 17, 1989.
In September 1989, the building was purchased by the Christian Centre of London, and the formerly Hyland was used as a “film ministry” and renamed the building “Word of Life Centre” on October 1 of that year. That closed in 1994. After sitting dormant for nine years, the building was sold in 2003 to Ali and Moira Alden, where they renovated everything, and reopened on December 31, 2003 as an independently-operated art and international house.
As of 2026, the Hyland Cinema screens a mix of classic films, first-run films, second-run films, family films, independent films, foreign films, film festivals, and special events.
The Century Theatre opened in the Fall of 1948 by Odeon Theatres Canada. After independent ownership took over, it was renamed the Playhouse in the 1970s before renaming it the Palm Cinema afterward. This lasted until closing in the 1990s and became a nightclub known as “The Ozone”.
Opened on March 7, 1930 with Lola Lane in “Let’s Go Places” along with an additional unnamed talkie. It was previously operated by Famous Players and Premiere Theatres Canada. Wallaceburg had two movie houses at the time, which were the Capitol and the Alexander. The Capitol closed as a movie theater in 1969 and reopened as a dance hall on January 17, 1970, retaining the Capitol marquee.
Prior to the Lyceum Theatre’s opening, the first motion pictures ran at the Wingham Opera House during the third quarter of the 1890s, showing moving images of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and the Spanish American War in 1899, bringing the movie popularity in the town. The Wingham Opera House was located elsewhere in the strip that operated as a performing arts and special events house as early as 1884.
Right after the turn of the century, William Britton, a local undertaker, opened the Wonderland Theatre in 1908, and was located north of the town hall on Josephine Street in the former Massey-Harris dealership building. Britton operated the Wonderland until George Corbett bought the house in March 1909 and changed its name to the more classically named Lyceum Theatre. Mixing in with first-run movies, live orchestral concerts were also held at the Lyceum at that time. Lachlan Kennedy purchased the Lyceum in August 1912, though Kennedy promised that nothing objectionable would be shown at the theater, the first ever film screened at the Lyceum under Kennedy’s operation is a newsreel with updated information on the sinking of the Titanic. The Lyceum received a big renovation by enlarging and redecorating in November 1914, alongside installations of a piano that runs through electricity, updated projection, oscillating electric fans and ventilation upgrades.
Kennedy sold the Lyceum to Hyde Parker of Stratford in 1923, followed by Captain William Adams in 1925, who was formerly the skipper of the famed Great Lakes passenger ship Greyhound. Under his management came talking pictures and received a massive rebuild. The original building was demolished in June 1930 to rebuild and remodel. After two months of work, the Lyceum Theatre reopened on August 18, 1930 with Marilyn Miller in “Sally” along with a musical short starring Ruddy Vallee and his Orchestra. The Lyceum became a local participation in a nationwide event in which admission to a show would be free with the purchase of two war saving stamps, costing 25 cents in 1940, before the seats were updated in April 1941.
Captain Williams Adams operated the Lyceum until 1942 when he handed the management to his son Alton Adams. This was followed by another redecorate in 1944, new amplifiers in 1946, and updated Western Electric (Northern Electric in Canada) sound in 1948. CinemaScope was installed in October 1954 with “The Robe”, though the theater began having a downfall in July 1955 when matinees were discontinued. The Lyceum received many struggles throughout the late-1950s and early-1960s, including a short time under a weekend-status only. Unfortunately, the Lyceum closed in April 1963 after the management were unable to turn enough profit.
Four months later in September 1963, rumors circulated that the theater would reopen after it was sold by W.T. “Doc” Cruickshank, a well-known resident and owner of then-CBC Television affiliate CKNX-TV (now defunct). He reopened the theater to the town on October 3, 1963 with “The Longest Day”, back to a six-day weekly schedule. The Lyceum Theatre did receive several short closures from here-and-there throughout the late-1960s, including a short July 1966 closure before reopening on August 3 of that year, and a six-week closure from March until June 1967. Operations seem to have continued to struggle into the early 1970s, with the theatre lacking the snack bar and open only three nights a week again.
In August 1973, a man with Huron County theater experience named John Schedler, assumed management in August 1973 with a big improvement of the Lyceum for over $20,000. Schedler also operated the Capitol Theatre in Listowel at the time. Here, the lobby received a big remodel, the box office being replaced, and the concession booth expanded. Almost half of the seats in the theater were ripped, the entire seating was replaced to bring in a better view of the screen. Schedler had an original partner in business who left the theater, and in 1976, he was joined in operating by Nelson Frank. Renovations were carried alongside updated CinemaScope lenses for projectionist Ward Robertson, and its schedule returned to its original seven-days-a-week weekly schedule.
Despite the video challenges, the Lyceum successfully operated throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s despite having a few management transitions. Ward Robinson’s family operated the Lyceum throughout the 1980s beginning in August 1981 and ending in 1993. After the Robinsons left, Dale Edgar became its last owner. Edgar operated the Lyceum for its last dozen years until its 2005 closure.
Opened with Ray Milland in “It Happens Every Spring” along with Disney’s Pluto in “Bubble Bee”, the Pete Smith Specialty “Fishing for Fun”, and a Fox Movietone Newsreel.
The Regent Theatre opened its doors on September 8, 1932 with Eddie Cantor in “Palmy Days” along with Paramount Sound News and several unnamed shorts including a cartoon, featuring Western Electric sound (Northern Electric in Canada). The Regent was the replacement of the Princess Theatre that operated from September 1907 until November 28, 1931, leaving the town without a movie palace for nearly 10 months. It was operated by the husband-and-wife team of Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Sutherland of St. Mary’s, who also operated theaters in Goderich, St. Mary’s, and Cobourg.
Information about the Regent as of 1932 goes as follows: The original auditorium was formerly occupied by two stores alongside an antiquated hall above before it was remodeled into a movie theater. Inside, it housed a 23x18ft stage, 306 blue air-cushioned seats, and yellow panels on the walls with light green moldings. There is also a cellar underneath the auditorium for an auxiliary heating plant or dressing rooms. Lastly, above the lobby is the projection room and the men’s restroom built in cement, and there is also an emergency exit door on the south side of the building from the projection room in case of fire or any other emergency.
Listowel resident and Dairyman Bob Marshall opened Huron County’s first drive-in theater on June 26, 1952 with June Haver in “The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady” along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. This started life as the Llashmar Drive-In.
Marshall operated the theater until the husband-and-wife team of Lorne and Margaret Brown took over the theater and was renamed Brownie’s Drive-In on April 26, 1956, relaunching with Gregory Peck in “Purple Plain” along with an unnamed cartoon. For the next 32 years afterward, the Brownie’s was a family business, and during its later years, Lorne and Margaret’s son, Steve, and his sons operated the drive-in until its final closure on September 5, 1988.
The 60 Drive-In opened its gates on July 4, 1952 with James Stewart in “Broken Arrow” along with an unnamed cartoon and an unnamed short. It was first owned by Austin E. Allcorn of Poplar Bluff and managed by Les Snodgrass of Kansas City.
Archives of the Mountain Grove Journal only reveal the “60 Drive-In” name, and I cannot find the word “Autovue” or “Autoview” anywhere.
Correction: After Atkin Enterprises took over the Mustang in 1986, Atkin operated the Mustang for two more seasons until closing after the 1988 season. It was immediately demolished afterward.
Correction: According to Vaughn Berry Photography, the Atomic Drive-In housed 284 cars. Much of the theater, including its screen, still stands into the early-2000s.
The Badger Opera House opened its doors on June 6, 1904 with a live production of “The Charity Ball” starring the Florence Stone Company, and the Badger Theatre name was introduced in March 1910.
The Badger received several closures throughout 1956 and 1957, before closing as a movie theater that same year. The Badger became a special events house a short time afterward, presenting performing arts and special events for a couple years until February 5, 1959, when it closed for the final time with a performance of “Gypsy Troubadour” because of the building’s aging.
The Grand Theatre opened its doors on July 14, 1938 with Cary Grant in “Holiday” (unknown if extras added), featuring RCA Photophone sound, and operated continuously as a first-run house until 1972. During its final couple of years as a first-run house, the Grand also presented special events and rock concerts.
Actually, here’s a correction. When the Cosmo was given the streamline modern makeover in January 1948, the refresh only lasted two days and not a whole month. The Cosmo briefly closed for two days on January 14, 1948, because of it, and reopened two days later on January 16. The Cosmo was twinned on Thanksgiving Day 1977, renovated in February 2001, and a third screen added by the late-2000s.
This opened as the Destin Cinema 6 on April 10, 1987 by O'Neil Cinemas, as Destin’s first movie theater, launching in screen order with “Blind Date”, “Police Academy 4 - Citizens On Patrol”, Disney’s “The Aristocats”, “The Secret Of My Success”, “Hoosiers”, and “Lethal Weapon”. The original seating capacity is 1,500 seats, with two housing 350 seats, two housing 250 seats, and two housing 200 seats.
Correction: It originally planned to open with “Platoon” and “Mannequin” but was not presented on opening for unknown reasons. Both films were shown later that month.
Opened on August 16, 2002 with “Men In Black 2”.
Actual opening date is September 9, 1937 with Fredric March in “Road to Glory” and Joe E. Brown in “Polo Joe” (unknown if extras added). Odeon Theatres Canada took over the Elmwood in December 1947 and was renamed the Odeon Hyland. The “Odeon” part of the name was dropped in 1959, and was renamed the Hyland Theatre. Despite a mix of first-run American and British titles throughout much of its first several decades as a neighborhood movie theater, the Hyland Theatre held some of the longest engagements.
When Dick Drysdale took over as manager, the Hyland ran “The Sound of Music” for 73 weeks. Because of the long engagement, Drysdale unexpectedly won the “Showman of the Year” award in an international competition for movie theater managers. British films were dropped by the late-1970s, and the Hyland ran only first-run American mainstream under both Canadian Odeon (Odeon Theatres Canada) and Cineplex Odeon (after Cineplex and Odeon Theatres Canada merged in July 1984). This lasted until its last operator Cineplex Odeon closed the theater on August 17, 1989.
In September 1989, the building was purchased by the Christian Centre of London, and the formerly Hyland was used as a “film ministry” and renamed the building “Word of Life Centre” on October 1 of that year. That closed in 1994. After sitting dormant for nine years, the building was sold in 2003 to Ali and Moira Alden, where they renovated everything, and reopened on December 31, 2003 as an independently-operated art and international house.
As of 2026, the Hyland Cinema screens a mix of classic films, first-run films, second-run films, family films, independent films, foreign films, film festivals, and special events.
Last known as Aztec Cinema.
The Century Theatre opened in the Fall of 1948 by Odeon Theatres Canada. After independent ownership took over, it was renamed the Playhouse in the 1970s before renaming it the Palm Cinema afterward. This lasted until closing in the 1990s and became a nightclub known as “The Ozone”.
Opened on March 7, 1930 with Lola Lane in “Let’s Go Places” along with an additional unnamed talkie. It was previously operated by Famous Players and Premiere Theatres Canada. Wallaceburg had two movie houses at the time, which were the Capitol and the Alexander. The Capitol closed as a movie theater in 1969 and reopened as a dance hall on January 17, 1970, retaining the Capitol marquee.
Prior to the Lyceum Theatre’s opening, the first motion pictures ran at the Wingham Opera House during the third quarter of the 1890s, showing moving images of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and the Spanish American War in 1899, bringing the movie popularity in the town. The Wingham Opera House was located elsewhere in the strip that operated as a performing arts and special events house as early as 1884.
Right after the turn of the century, William Britton, a local undertaker, opened the Wonderland Theatre in 1908, and was located north of the town hall on Josephine Street in the former Massey-Harris dealership building. Britton operated the Wonderland until George Corbett bought the house in March 1909 and changed its name to the more classically named Lyceum Theatre. Mixing in with first-run movies, live orchestral concerts were also held at the Lyceum at that time. Lachlan Kennedy purchased the Lyceum in August 1912, though Kennedy promised that nothing objectionable would be shown at the theater, the first ever film screened at the Lyceum under Kennedy’s operation is a newsreel with updated information on the sinking of the Titanic. The Lyceum received a big renovation by enlarging and redecorating in November 1914, alongside installations of a piano that runs through electricity, updated projection, oscillating electric fans and ventilation upgrades.
Kennedy sold the Lyceum to Hyde Parker of Stratford in 1923, followed by Captain William Adams in 1925, who was formerly the skipper of the famed Great Lakes passenger ship Greyhound. Under his management came talking pictures and received a massive rebuild. The original building was demolished in June 1930 to rebuild and remodel. After two months of work, the Lyceum Theatre reopened on August 18, 1930 with Marilyn Miller in “Sally” along with a musical short starring Ruddy Vallee and his Orchestra. The Lyceum became a local participation in a nationwide event in which admission to a show would be free with the purchase of two war saving stamps, costing 25 cents in 1940, before the seats were updated in April 1941.
Captain Williams Adams operated the Lyceum until 1942 when he handed the management to his son Alton Adams. This was followed by another redecorate in 1944, new amplifiers in 1946, and updated Western Electric (Northern Electric in Canada) sound in 1948. CinemaScope was installed in October 1954 with “The Robe”, though the theater began having a downfall in July 1955 when matinees were discontinued. The Lyceum received many struggles throughout the late-1950s and early-1960s, including a short time under a weekend-status only. Unfortunately, the Lyceum closed in April 1963 after the management were unable to turn enough profit.
Four months later in September 1963, rumors circulated that the theater would reopen after it was sold by W.T. “Doc” Cruickshank, a well-known resident and owner of then-CBC Television affiliate CKNX-TV (now defunct). He reopened the theater to the town on October 3, 1963 with “The Longest Day”, back to a six-day weekly schedule. The Lyceum Theatre did receive several short closures from here-and-there throughout the late-1960s, including a short July 1966 closure before reopening on August 3 of that year, and a six-week closure from March until June 1967. Operations seem to have continued to struggle into the early 1970s, with the theatre lacking the snack bar and open only three nights a week again.
In August 1973, a man with Huron County theater experience named John Schedler, assumed management in August 1973 with a big improvement of the Lyceum for over $20,000. Schedler also operated the Capitol Theatre in Listowel at the time. Here, the lobby received a big remodel, the box office being replaced, and the concession booth expanded. Almost half of the seats in the theater were ripped, the entire seating was replaced to bring in a better view of the screen. Schedler had an original partner in business who left the theater, and in 1976, he was joined in operating by Nelson Frank. Renovations were carried alongside updated CinemaScope lenses for projectionist Ward Robertson, and its schedule returned to its original seven-days-a-week weekly schedule.
Despite the video challenges, the Lyceum successfully operated throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s despite having a few management transitions. Ward Robinson’s family operated the Lyceum throughout the 1980s beginning in August 1981 and ending in 1993. After the Robinsons left, Dale Edgar became its last owner. Edgar operated the Lyceum for its last dozen years until its 2005 closure.
Opened with Ray Milland in “It Happens Every Spring” along with Disney’s Pluto in “Bubble Bee”, the Pete Smith Specialty “Fishing for Fun”, and a Fox Movietone Newsreel.
The Regent Theatre opened its doors on September 8, 1932 with Eddie Cantor in “Palmy Days” along with Paramount Sound News and several unnamed shorts including a cartoon, featuring Western Electric sound (Northern Electric in Canada). The Regent was the replacement of the Princess Theatre that operated from September 1907 until November 28, 1931, leaving the town without a movie palace for nearly 10 months. It was operated by the husband-and-wife team of Mr. and Mrs. H.J. Sutherland of St. Mary’s, who also operated theaters in Goderich, St. Mary’s, and Cobourg.
Information about the Regent as of 1932 goes as follows: The original auditorium was formerly occupied by two stores alongside an antiquated hall above before it was remodeled into a movie theater. Inside, it housed a 23x18ft stage, 306 blue air-cushioned seats, and yellow panels on the walls with light green moldings. There is also a cellar underneath the auditorium for an auxiliary heating plant or dressing rooms. Lastly, above the lobby is the projection room and the men’s restroom built in cement, and there is also an emergency exit door on the south side of the building from the projection room in case of fire or any other emergency.
Emerson Desjardines opened the Starlite Drive-In on June 29, 1955 with Doris Day in “Calamity Jane” (unknown if extras added).
Listowel resident and Dairyman Bob Marshall opened Huron County’s first drive-in theater on June 26, 1952 with June Haver in “The Daughter of Rosie O'Grady” along with an unnamed cartoon and a newsreel. This started life as the Llashmar Drive-In.
Marshall operated the theater until the husband-and-wife team of Lorne and Margaret Brown took over the theater and was renamed Brownie’s Drive-In on April 26, 1956, relaunching with Gregory Peck in “Purple Plain” along with an unnamed cartoon. For the next 32 years afterward, the Brownie’s was a family business, and during its later years, Lorne and Margaret’s son, Steve, and his sons operated the drive-in until its final closure on September 5, 1988.
Actual opening date is June 7, 2013, as a replacement of the Famous Players Lambton 9 nearby, which closed the previous day.
Judging by the 1984 aerial view, it appears that it was still operating in the mid-1980s.
1,217 seats (with 729 seats in Screen 1 and 488 seats in Screen 2). It was last operated by Cineplex Odeon.
Famous Players opened the City Centre Cinemas in 1971 with three screens and an original capacity of 1,176 seats.
The 60 Drive-In opened its gates on July 4, 1952 with James Stewart in “Broken Arrow” along with an unnamed cartoon and an unnamed short. It was first owned by Austin E. Allcorn of Poplar Bluff and managed by Les Snodgrass of Kansas City.
Correction: After Atkin Enterprises took over the Mustang in 1986, Atkin operated the Mustang for two more seasons until closing after the 1988 season. It was immediately demolished afterward.
The Capitol closed in 1971 when the twin-screen “Cinema du Centre 1 & 2” opened nearby, which would eventually become the Cinema V.
Correction: According to Vaughn Berry Photography, the Atomic Drive-In housed 284 cars. Much of the theater, including its screen, still stands into the early-2000s.
Opened on December 28, 2017.
Later renamed Mustang Drive-In. It was closed in the mid-1970s, and housed 300 cars.
The Auto View Drive-In opened on June 16, 1950, and was renamed the Ellsworth-Trenton Drive-In in June 1952.
The Badger Opera House opened its doors on June 6, 1904 with a live production of “The Charity Ball” starring the Florence Stone Company, and the Badger Theatre name was introduced in March 1910.
The Badger received several closures throughout 1956 and 1957, before closing as a movie theater that same year. The Badger became a special events house a short time afterward, presenting performing arts and special events for a couple years until February 5, 1959, when it closed for the final time with a performance of “Gypsy Troubadour” because of the building’s aging.
The Grand Theatre opened its doors on July 14, 1938 with Cary Grant in “Holiday” (unknown if extras added), featuring RCA Photophone sound, and operated continuously as a first-run house until 1972. During its final couple of years as a first-run house, the Grand also presented special events and rock concerts.
Actually, here’s a correction. When the Cosmo was given the streamline modern makeover in January 1948, the refresh only lasted two days and not a whole month. The Cosmo briefly closed for two days on January 14, 1948, because of it, and reopened two days later on January 16. The Cosmo was twinned on Thanksgiving Day 1977, renovated in February 2001, and a third screen added by the late-2000s.
This opened as the Destin Cinema 6 on April 10, 1987 by O'Neil Cinemas, as Destin’s first movie theater, launching in screen order with “Blind Date”, “Police Academy 4 - Citizens On Patrol”, Disney’s “The Aristocats”, “The Secret Of My Success”, “Hoosiers”, and “Lethal Weapon”. The original seating capacity is 1,500 seats, with two housing 350 seats, two housing 250 seats, and two housing 200 seats.