This theatre was originally known as Allen’s Danforth, but when the Allens Theatres went bankrupt, Sam Bloom and Sam Fine (B & F) Theatres, purchased this from the Clarkson Co Receivers. B & F Theatres were operating partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation and showed movies in 20 luxurious neighbourhood theatres. B & F Close to Home Theatres!!!
The Park Theatre in Welland was operated by Twentieth Century Theatres, a Famous Players operating partner, but the Capitol in Welland was a 100% Famous Players Theatre!!
I was there in `1997 when this theatre actually opened by United Artists and I got a free movie and a free chocolate bar so I remember it well! NO stadium seating at a time when stadium seating was being introduced throughout North America!!
Hamilton United another operating partner of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, owned by Bernie Braydon and the Braydon family ended up with this theatre eventually!
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!!
Durham Theatre Operation — During the many many times I visited Durham, each of the competing theatres played the same films day & date or at the same time. Films would play at Carmike, South Square, etc.all at the same time!
CAPITOL 6 VICTORIA Built by Famous Players Canadian Corporation around late 70’s early 80’s. This theatre’s aisle carpet was custom made for Famous Players by Axminister in England — and this carpet is called BLUE RANDOM. We had about 6 other styles of carpet for our theatres!!
This theatre was a Twentieth Century Theatre operated by N. A. Taylor and Associates as a partnership with Famous Players Canadian Corporation, hence the name PARAMOUNT!!
Built and operated by Wilby-Kincey Paramount Theatre operating partner, then ABC theatres, then Plitt, then Cineplex Odeon after purchasing Plitt, then closed!!
This theater was likely built by the Wilby-Kincey chain who were the designated Paramount operating partner for this area. Wilby-Kincey then ABC then Plitt.
One of my favourite Famous Players theatres. This theatre was a partnership operation between the Durham family of Shaunavon Saskatchewan and Famous Players Canadian Corporation. It was operated jointly from 1930 to 1990 approximately. Famous would book the theatre and the Durhams would manage it and the profits would be split in equal shares!! Before the Plaza theatre was built, it was a dance hall owned by the Durham family. This theatre is without a doubt family owned and operated longer than any other theatre in Canada and possibly North America. The citizens of Shaunavon Saskatchewan are very lucky to have the Durham family looking after their entertainment needs. The Plaza Theatre has just recently converted to digital projection; so a bright and good future has been assured for years to come!!
HEY DRIVE-IN GIRL You said it closed down because of the fact that Famous Players owned it. It closed down because it was no longer profitable as a drive-in property. Please do not attack the proud company FAMOUS PLAYERS CANADIAN CORPORATION, LIMITED. We were proud to belong to this wonderful organization that completely dominated movie theatres in Canada in the last century!!
This theatre was a partnership between local interests and Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The local interests had a company called Northland Theatres Limited!!
Sorry mntwister If your grandfather worked for Rothstein theatres it would be impossible for him to book any Famous Players Theatres as they had their own bookers that worked out of the Toronto head office!!
I managed the Algoma Theatre in Sault Ste Marie for a short time in 1979. This was then known as The Odeon Theatre and Mrs. Gayle Ostrowski was the manager. Nice memories!
I remember old Dickie Dalhouse. I did not like him at all. He got his job through his friend Manager Sebastian Lopez who was at Cedarbrae Cinemas. Dickie’s first theatre as Manager was the Eve Cinema at Bloor and Bathurst!!
This was a B & F (Bloom and Fine) Theatre. They were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation and operated some lovely neighbourhood theatres in Toronto. The Academy was the only one of their theatres that was a hole!
This theatre and others were originally called PARAMOUNT. What a damn shame that Scotia Bank actually got naming rights to these theatres as part of a marketing ploy. THE ROYAL BANK was Famous Players Canadian Corporation’s bank of choice!!!
Loew’s and Shea’s in Toronto were operating partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. When the contracts for the theatre partnership were signed each of the parties agreed that if Famous Players so desired, they had the right to close any of the theatres at any time. Chuck, that is real power I hope you understand that!!
I know Russ Bovin was a great showman and Loew’s operated some great theatres. We had two right in Toronto, AND that artwork would have been passed to the local Loew’s managers and then down to your home office. By the way The Loew’s Uptown Theatre in Toronto was pooled with Famous Players Canadian Corporation and booked by Famous Players. The profits were split in equal shares. The reason is because Loew’s had only two theatres in Toronto, and Famous Players had all the rest which isn’t exactly a strong position to be in. The Loew’s Yonge Street Theatre at 189 Yonge showed all the great MGM classics in Toronto, while Famous Players showed all the MGM product across the country. Maybe you can understand how Loew’s got ahold of some Famous Players advertising material.
This theatre was originally known as Allen’s Danforth, but when the Allens Theatres went bankrupt, Sam Bloom and Sam Fine (B & F) Theatres, purchased this from the Clarkson Co Receivers. B & F Theatres were operating partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation and showed movies in 20 luxurious neighbourhood theatres. B & F Close to Home Theatres!!!
The Park Theatre in Welland was operated by Twentieth Century Theatres, a Famous Players operating partner, but the Capitol in Welland was a 100% Famous Players Theatre!!
I was there in `1997 when this theatre actually opened by United Artists and I got a free movie and a free chocolate bar so I remember it well! NO stadium seating at a time when stadium seating was being introduced throughout North America!!
During the 30’s through the 50’s this theatre was operated jointly by Fanchon & Marco and The Arthur Family together in partnership!
Hamilton United another operating partner of Famous Players Canadian Corporation, owned by Bernie Braydon and the Braydon family ended up with this theatre eventually!
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!!
Durham Theatre Operation — During the many many times I visited Durham, each of the competing theatres played the same films day & date or at the same time. Films would play at Carmike, South Square, etc.all at the same time!
CAPITOL 6 VICTORIA Built by Famous Players Canadian Corporation around late 70’s early 80’s. This theatre’s aisle carpet was custom made for Famous Players by Axminister in England — and this carpet is called BLUE RANDOM. We had about 6 other styles of carpet for our theatres!!
Chuck1231 I am from Canada. but spent lots of time in Raleigh/Durham North Carolina.
I looked at all the photographs of the interior auditorium lobby and candy bar and I have to say it is one of the nicest small town theatres around!!
This theatre was a Twentieth Century Theatre operated by N. A. Taylor and Associates as a partnership with Famous Players Canadian Corporation, hence the name PARAMOUNT!!
Built and operated by Wilby-Kincey Paramount Theatre operating partner, then ABC theatres, then Plitt, then Cineplex Odeon after purchasing Plitt, then closed!!
This theater was likely built by the Wilby-Kincey chain who were the designated Paramount operating partner for this area. Wilby-Kincey then ABC then Plitt.
Harry L. Nace was an operating partner of Paramount-Publix Theaters!!
One of my favourite Famous Players theatres. This theatre was a partnership operation between the Durham family of Shaunavon Saskatchewan and Famous Players Canadian Corporation. It was operated jointly from 1930 to 1990 approximately. Famous would book the theatre and the Durhams would manage it and the profits would be split in equal shares!! Before the Plaza theatre was built, it was a dance hall owned by the Durham family. This theatre is without a doubt family owned and operated longer than any other theatre in Canada and possibly North America. The citizens of Shaunavon Saskatchewan are very lucky to have the Durham family looking after their entertainment needs. The Plaza Theatre has just recently converted to digital projection; so a bright and good future has been assured for years to come!!
Les Mitchell managed the big Capitol Theatre in St. Catharines and told me one time there was never a bigger prick than Roy Miller!
HEY DRIVE-IN GIRL You said it closed down because of the fact that Famous Players owned it. It closed down because it was no longer profitable as a drive-in property. Please do not attack the proud company FAMOUS PLAYERS CANADIAN CORPORATION, LIMITED. We were proud to belong to this wonderful organization that completely dominated movie theatres in Canada in the last century!!
This theatre was a partnership between local interests and Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The local interests had a company called Northland Theatres Limited!!
Sorry mntwister If your grandfather worked for Rothstein theatres it would be impossible for him to book any Famous Players Theatres as they had their own bookers that worked out of the Toronto head office!!
I managed the Algoma Theatre in Sault Ste Marie for a short time in 1979. This was then known as The Odeon Theatre and Mrs. Gayle Ostrowski was the manager. Nice memories!
I remember old Dickie Dalhouse. I did not like him at all. He got his job through his friend Manager Sebastian Lopez who was at Cedarbrae Cinemas. Dickie’s first theatre as Manager was the Eve Cinema at Bloor and Bathurst!!
This was a B & F (Bloom and Fine) Theatre. They were partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation and operated some lovely neighbourhood theatres in Toronto. The Academy was the only one of their theatres that was a hole!
This theatre and others were originally called PARAMOUNT. What a damn shame that Scotia Bank actually got naming rights to these theatres as part of a marketing ploy. THE ROYAL BANK was Famous Players Canadian Corporation’s bank of choice!!!
Loew’s and Shea’s in Toronto were operating partners of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. When the contracts for the theatre partnership were signed each of the parties agreed that if Famous Players so desired, they had the right to close any of the theatres at any time. Chuck, that is real power I hope you understand that!!
I know Russ Bovin was a great showman and Loew’s operated some great theatres. We had two right in Toronto, AND that artwork would have been passed to the local Loew’s managers and then down to your home office. By the way The Loew’s Uptown Theatre in Toronto was pooled with Famous Players Canadian Corporation and booked by Famous Players. The profits were split in equal shares. The reason is because Loew’s had only two theatres in Toronto, and Famous Players had all the rest which isn’t exactly a strong position to be in. The Loew’s Yonge Street Theatre at 189 Yonge showed all the great MGM classics in Toronto, while Famous Players showed all the MGM product across the country. Maybe you can understand how Loew’s got ahold of some Famous Players advertising material.