This theatre was built by an independent, then Cineplex Odeon operated it for a while, then Norman Stern operated it for a few years and now another indie has it!!
The Classic Theatre in Cobalt, Ontario was owned and operated by Premier Operating Corporation, an operating partner of the dominant Famous Players Canadian Corporation circuit, and showed movies from the 20’s up to about 1970. This theatre was solely a movie house until about 15 years ago when it was thoroughly restored and used as a performing arts centre for the community. During the hey day of movies there were actually 3 movie theatres in Cobalt. Premier Operating (Famous Players) had another theatre called the Bijou which they kept closed and ready to re-open anytime should some fool decide to open as opposition to them!!
Look folks you need to understand a few things about AMC coming into the Canadian market. First off the Canadian market is very mature and was divided up years ago, there was absolutely NO chance for a 3rd large chain in the smaller tough Canadian market. Secondly. when AMC entered Canada, they hired a former executive of Famous Players to choose the locations for their new cinemas. They most always were put in locations head to head against Famous Players Canadian Corp. Thirdly, AMC was arrogant enough to build their theatres exactly like America, not considering that Canada is different in many ways. They DID NOT consider that Canada is a much much tougher country to operate in than United States. Finally, in Canada Famous Players and Cineplex Odeon had all the booking power unlike AMC, so AMC wasn’t able to get the best films like FPCC and Cineplex Odeon. THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF THIS WAS THAT AMC SHOULD NEVER NEVER HAVE ENTERED CANADA. When AMC was bought by the Asians, the very first thing they did was close or sell off their Canadian theatres. I hope you understand this now!!
Jason, well said. The original manager of this theatre was a veteran Famous Players manager from Victoria whose family owned lots of real estate and property in the Victoria area. When I get his name I will post it!
The Paramount (formerly Daylight) in Saskatoon as well as the atmospheric Capitol Theatre were built and jointly operated by the Daylight Theatre Company Limited (owners Butler and Byers family) jointly with Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The Daylight Company was originally in partnership with the Allen Family. When the Allens went bankrupt, the receiver sold their interest in these theatres to Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The local families had to approve the sale.
Famous Players Canadian Corporation did build and operate this very plain triple theatre for a few years. Empire Theatres took this over when Cineplex bought Famous Players and had to divest of a few situations. Now that Cineplex has bought Empire Theatres, this will now be a Cineplex theatre. I don’t believe Cinelex will operate this theatre too long, because it is not modern enough for today’s ompetitive theatres. When Empire operated this they sold the tickets at the candy bar which is very low class.
The Rideau Theatre was just an old Twentieth Century Theatres dump!! When the Rideau would report the day’s business to the Capitol Square Cinemas, they would call in and say Rideau Dump calling. The Rideau was old run-down and not a great place to watch a movie!! Twentieth Century Theatres were operating partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation who eventually bought out Twentieth Century Theatres in 1969.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOROTHY!! I have seen pictures of you in BOXOFFICE magazine and I saw you in the movie that was made about the Loew’s Kings Theater in 1979. Loew’s was lucky to have a person of your calibre as one of their Managers!!
AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!
This drive-in and most of the others in Toronto area were owned and operated by Twentieth Century Theatres, an operating company in association with the great Famous Players Canadian Corporation Limited!!
The Bayview was operated by Twentieth Century Theatres which are NOT part of the FOX empire. Twentieth Century Theatres were operating partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, the company that controlled almost all important theatres in Canada!!
This is NOT the Elgin Theatre in Ottawa. This is the ELGIN THEATRE in Toronto, which was originally built by Loew’s and it features an upper theatre called the Winter Garden.
This theatre was really neat. I loved how they made a small tunnel to the front theatre and illuminated it with Tivoli lighting. They were very independent and proud. They used REAL BUTTER and popped their popcorn in extra virgin olive oil. Saw many movies here!!
The Frederick Twin was built and operated by Premier Theatres who dominated Kitchener/Waterloo. They were affiliated with Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
The Palace Theatre was operated by Hamilton United Theatres of which the estate of George Stroud was the primary shareholder, and Famous Players Canadian Corporation. Famous Players would book the theatre and then after expenses were met would split the profits in equal shares. Famous would not guarantee the results. The other big theatres in the Hamilton United Group were Capitol and Savoy. Mr. George Stroud must have been a very wealthy man!
Unbelievable that Empire actually closed this one. They showed they didn’t care when they sold off all their theatres to Cineplex. I have read just recently that some of the AMC theatres in Canada were just closed completely if they weren’t sold to Cineplex!
Nice photographs Jon. I love the one of the candy lady with the old-fashioned BUTTER MAT!! Those old fashioned BUTTER SERVERS had a bowl that would rotate and lights that were animated and would flash on and off. That picture is a real beauty. You were very lucky to work at a place like that! I too worked at Famous Players Jon, maybe you remember my name! Cheers!
This theatre was built by an independent, then Cineplex Odeon operated it for a while, then Norman Stern operated it for a few years and now another indie has it!!
This theatre was under the direction of Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
Litchfield operated a small 6 plex in Raleigh, North Carolina called Mission Valley. It was very nice but later United Artists Theatres took it over!!
The Classic Theatre in Cobalt, Ontario was owned and operated by Premier Operating Corporation, an operating partner of the dominant Famous Players Canadian Corporation circuit, and showed movies from the 20’s up to about 1970. This theatre was solely a movie house until about 15 years ago when it was thoroughly restored and used as a performing arts centre for the community. During the hey day of movies there were actually 3 movie theatres in Cobalt. Premier Operating (Famous Players) had another theatre called the Bijou which they kept closed and ready to re-open anytime should some fool decide to open as opposition to them!!
Look folks you need to understand a few things about AMC coming into the Canadian market. First off the Canadian market is very mature and was divided up years ago, there was absolutely NO chance for a 3rd large chain in the smaller tough Canadian market. Secondly. when AMC entered Canada, they hired a former executive of Famous Players to choose the locations for their new cinemas. They most always were put in locations head to head against Famous Players Canadian Corp. Thirdly, AMC was arrogant enough to build their theatres exactly like America, not considering that Canada is different in many ways. They DID NOT consider that Canada is a much much tougher country to operate in than United States. Finally, in Canada Famous Players and Cineplex Odeon had all the booking power unlike AMC, so AMC wasn’t able to get the best films like FPCC and Cineplex Odeon. THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF THIS WAS THAT AMC SHOULD NEVER NEVER HAVE ENTERED CANADA. When AMC was bought by the Asians, the very first thing they did was close or sell off their Canadian theatres. I hope you understand this now!!
Jason, well said. The original manager of this theatre was a veteran Famous Players manager from Victoria whose family owned lots of real estate and property in the Victoria area. When I get his name I will post it!
This CAPITOL THEATRE was opened by Famous Players Canadian Corporation in 1981.
The Paramount (formerly Daylight) in Saskatoon as well as the atmospheric Capitol Theatre were built and jointly operated by the Daylight Theatre Company Limited (owners Butler and Byers family) jointly with Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The Daylight Company was originally in partnership with the Allen Family. When the Allens went bankrupt, the receiver sold their interest in these theatres to Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The local families had to approve the sale.
Famous Players Canadian Corporation did build and operate this very plain triple theatre for a few years. Empire Theatres took this over when Cineplex bought Famous Players and had to divest of a few situations. Now that Cineplex has bought Empire Theatres, this will now be a Cineplex theatre. I don’t believe Cinelex will operate this theatre too long, because it is not modern enough for today’s ompetitive theatres. When Empire operated this they sold the tickets at the candy bar which is very low class.
The Rideau Theatre was just an old Twentieth Century Theatres dump!! When the Rideau would report the day’s business to the Capitol Square Cinemas, they would call in and say Rideau Dump calling. The Rideau was old run-down and not a great place to watch a movie!! Twentieth Century Theatres were operating partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation who eventually bought out Twentieth Century Theatres in 1969.
It was said that old Dickie Dalhouse carried a gun.
Was one of the Famous Players Theatres at one time!!
Louis Novy was a partner of Interstate Theaters in the Paramount Theatre in Austin!
Western Mass. Theaters Inc. was an operating partner of Paramount-Publix Theaters Corporation!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOROTHY!! I have seen pictures of you in BOXOFFICE magazine and I saw you in the movie that was made about the Loew’s Kings Theater in 1979. Loew’s was lucky to have a person of your calibre as one of their Managers!! AGAIN, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY!!!
This theatre originally called The Studio, was a unit of Twenthieth Century Theatres, an operating partner of Famous Players Canadian Corporation!!
This drive-in and most of the others in Toronto area were owned and operated by Twentieth Century Theatres, an operating company in association with the great Famous Players Canadian Corporation Limited!!
The Bayview was operated by Twentieth Century Theatres which are NOT part of the FOX empire. Twentieth Century Theatres were operating partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, the company that controlled almost all important theatres in Canada!!
Harry L. Nace was a Paramount Theater operating partner in this territory!!
This is NOT the Elgin Theatre in Ottawa. This is the ELGIN THEATRE in Toronto, which was originally built by Loew’s and it features an upper theatre called the Winter Garden.
This theatre was really neat. I loved how they made a small tunnel to the front theatre and illuminated it with Tivoli lighting. They were very independent and proud. They used REAL BUTTER and popped their popcorn in extra virgin olive oil. Saw many movies here!!
The Frederick Twin was built and operated by Premier Theatres who dominated Kitchener/Waterloo. They were affiliated with Famous Players Canadian Corporation.
The Palace Theatre was operated by Hamilton United Theatres of which the estate of George Stroud was the primary shareholder, and Famous Players Canadian Corporation. Famous Players would book the theatre and then after expenses were met would split the profits in equal shares. Famous would not guarantee the results. The other big theatres in the Hamilton United Group were Capitol and Savoy. Mr. George Stroud must have been a very wealthy man!
Unbelievable that Empire actually closed this one. They showed they didn’t care when they sold off all their theatres to Cineplex. I have read just recently that some of the AMC theatres in Canada were just closed completely if they weren’t sold to Cineplex!
Nice photographs Jon. I love the one of the candy lady with the old-fashioned BUTTER MAT!! Those old fashioned BUTTER SERVERS had a bowl that would rotate and lights that were animated and would flash on and off. That picture is a real beauty. You were very lucky to work at a place like that! I too worked at Famous Players Jon, maybe you remember my name! Cheers!