The downtown Strand Theatre would eventually close two months after the Skylark’s closure, leaving Tillsonburg without a movie house for a short period of time until the launch of the Broadway Cinemas, which opened during the mid-1990s.
A 1985 aerial view shows the theater most likely with its screen and glory, but looks like it appeared to be closed as a small building was placed between the screen and the traces. The screen was gone by 1996 and was replaced by a building. As of 2026, half of the traces were turned into parking lots and the original sign appears to still stand but a little customized.
A person named Kenneth Stanton confirms that his father built the Leamington Drive-In shortly after building the Twilite Drive-In in Hyde Park that opened in May 1953, as well as selling the Twilite to Dydzak Theaters that same year. His partner operated another drive-in in Courtland (east of Tillsonburg) called the Skylark Drive-In that was owned by Herbert McLuhan, who survived a Mount Forest plane crash on August 15, 1954.
Most likely opened on June 23, 2000, despite no grand opening advertisement being found. This was also the first movie theater to operate in Leamington since the closure of the Vogue Theatre in February 1989, which will have its own CT page soon.
Dickinson Theatres opened the Dickinson Theatre on September 13, 1935 with Jessie Matthews in “Evergreen” and Norman Foster in “Behind The Evidence” along with Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony “The Big Bad Wolf” (or the partial sequel to “Three Little Pigs”), featuring installations of RCA Victor Sound.
It was renamed the Kansan Theatre on October 8, 1939, and was taken over by Commonwealth Theatres. It was closed on July 6, 1947 with Spencer Tracy in “Boom Town” (unknown if extras added).
The Dreamland Theatre opened at the Harrison building as a relocation from a previous location on October 13, 1910. Commonwealth Theatres took over the Dreamland in July 1935. The Dreamland once turned into a nightmare after it suffered arson fire damage on the early morning hours of July 12, 1956 caused by a 17-year-old boy.
It reopened right afterward but had a short closure on June 1, 1968. It reopened on October 25, 1968, and was last managed by the husband-and-wife team of Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Duncan before closing for the final time on May 23, 1970 with “Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun” and “Coogan’s Bluff”.
The Rocket Drive-In opened its gates on April 10, 1953 with Arthur Franz in “Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder” along with an unnamed cartoon and an unnamed comedy.
It was closed on July 27, 1967 with Walt Disney’s double feature of “The Shaggy Dog” and “The Absent-Minded Professor” when its 70x90ft screen and marquee sign were destroyed in a windstorm. Commonwealth Theatres, its last operator, replied that it may rebuild the theater, but it never happened. Scheduled showings of “In Like Flint”, “Ride The High Wind”, and “Hombre” were also canceled.
Edited from my March 25, 2025 (12:49 PM) comment and update:
I accidentally explained the history of the Vogue Theatre in Leamington, which as of this comment’s date, doesn’t have a CT page yet. Leamington’s Vogue will have its own CT page soon.
The Vogue Theatre in Stratford was located on Ontario Street, and first opened as the Odeon Theatre as part of the Odeon Theatres Canada chain in the 1940s. It was renamed the Vogue Theatre soon afterward. Stratford’s Vogue was still open in 1986, but was most likely closed in the late-1980s. And I don’t have any evidence if Stratford’s Vogue was once operated by Premiere Theatres Canada or not.
Opened as a twin with “What’s Up Doc” in Screen 1 and Disney’s double feature of “Swiss Family Robinson” and “101 Dalmatians” in Screen 2. It expanded to five screens on February 9, 1977 when three more screens were added.
Most likely closed on November 28, 1953 with Clark Gable in “Mogambo” (unknown if extras added). The building was already placed on sale as of September 1957.
Taken over by SBC in 1969.
Taken over by SBC in 1969.
Opened on October 22, 1948, and originally housed 1,447 seats.
The downtown Strand Theatre would eventually close two months after the Skylark’s closure, leaving Tillsonburg without a movie house for a short period of time until the launch of the Broadway Cinemas, which opened during the mid-1990s.
Taken over by SBC Theatres in 1969.
Any additional information on the Capitol would be greatly appreciated, and will be updated as soon as we get information.
Operated as early as 1973. It was still open in the mid-1990s.
It most likely closed on January 4, 2026, since it happened on a Sunday.
A 1985 aerial view shows the theater most likely with its screen and glory, but looks like it appeared to be closed as a small building was placed between the screen and the traces. The screen was gone by 1996 and was replaced by a building. As of 2026, half of the traces were turned into parking lots and the original sign appears to still stand but a little customized.
Opened on November 13, 1914 with Florence La Badie in “The Million Dollar Mystery” (unknown if extras added).
The Strand closed in November 1992, exactly two months after their nearby drive-in, the Skylark Drive-In, also closed that year.
A person named Kenneth Stanton confirms that his father built the Leamington Drive-In shortly after building the Twilite Drive-In in Hyde Park that opened in May 1953, as well as selling the Twilite to Dydzak Theaters that same year. His partner operated another drive-in in Courtland (east of Tillsonburg) called the Skylark Drive-In that was owned by Herbert McLuhan, who survived a Mount Forest plane crash on August 15, 1954.
Most likely opened on June 23, 2000, despite no grand opening advertisement being found. This was also the first movie theater to operate in Leamington since the closure of the Vogue Theatre in February 1989, which will have its own CT page soon.
Dickinson Theatres opened the Dickinson Theatre on September 13, 1935 with Jessie Matthews in “Evergreen” and Norman Foster in “Behind The Evidence” along with Walt Disney’s Silly Symphony “The Big Bad Wolf” (or the partial sequel to “Three Little Pigs”), featuring installations of RCA Victor Sound.
It was renamed the Kansan Theatre on October 8, 1939, and was taken over by Commonwealth Theatres. It was closed on July 6, 1947 with Spencer Tracy in “Boom Town” (unknown if extras added).
The Dreamland Theatre opened at the Harrison building as a relocation from a previous location on October 13, 1910. Commonwealth Theatres took over the Dreamland in July 1935. The Dreamland once turned into a nightmare after it suffered arson fire damage on the early morning hours of July 12, 1956 caused by a 17-year-old boy.
It reopened right afterward but had a short closure on June 1, 1968. It reopened on October 25, 1968, and was last managed by the husband-and-wife team of Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Duncan before closing for the final time on May 23, 1970 with “Journey To The Far Side Of The Sun” and “Coogan’s Bluff”.
The Rocket Drive-In opened its gates on April 10, 1953 with Arthur Franz in “Rainbow ‘Round My Shoulder” along with an unnamed cartoon and an unnamed comedy.
It was closed on July 27, 1967 with Walt Disney’s double feature of “The Shaggy Dog” and “The Absent-Minded Professor” when its 70x90ft screen and marquee sign were destroyed in a windstorm. Commonwealth Theatres, its last operator, replied that it may rebuild the theater, but it never happened. Scheduled showings of “In Like Flint”, “Ride The High Wind”, and “Hombre” were also canceled.
Opened on May 5, 1950 with Elizabeth Taylor in “Life With Father” (unknown if extras added).
Most likely opened in the early-1990s.
Opened in 2021. Its current functions are classic, independent, and second-run.
Edited from my March 25, 2025 (12:49 PM) comment and update:
I accidentally explained the history of the Vogue Theatre in Leamington, which as of this comment’s date, doesn’t have a CT page yet. Leamington’s Vogue will have its own CT page soon.
The Vogue Theatre in Stratford was located on Ontario Street, and first opened as the Odeon Theatre as part of the Odeon Theatres Canada chain in the 1940s. It was renamed the Vogue Theatre soon afterward. Stratford’s Vogue was still open in 1986, but was most likely closed in the late-1980s. And I don’t have any evidence if Stratford’s Vogue was once operated by Premiere Theatres Canada or not.
Most likely closed in 1989.
Closed on August 31, 1978 with “Star Wars” and “The Longest Yard”.
Actual closing date is February 26, 1930.
Opened as a twin with “What’s Up Doc” in Screen 1 and Disney’s double feature of “Swiss Family Robinson” and “101 Dalmatians” in Screen 2. It expanded to five screens on February 9, 1977 when three more screens were added.
Most likely closed on November 28, 1953 with Clark Gable in “Mogambo” (unknown if extras added). The building was already placed on sale as of September 1957.