Opened by Cinemark on August 23, 1996 as “Movies 10”. Starplex Cinemas took over the theater on May 19, 2006, and AMC took the theater over on December 16, 2015.
Its most likely that both the older Republic Theatre and the 1939-built Republic Theatre are separate theaters. The newer Republic Theatre’s building began construction in mid-May 1939 and opened on July 6, 1939 with “Blondie Meets The Boss” (unknown if extras added), featuring RCA Photophone sound.
The Republic Theatre closed on June 24, 1956 with “The Kentuckian” and “Battle Stations” (unknown if extras added, but an unnamed serial was presented the previous evening).
This is first known as the Cozy Theatre which operated as early as May 1920, and was renamed the Strand Theatre on April 4, 1925. It did receive short closures and focused more on vaudeville and special events between 1932 and 1934, before Mrs. E. Nolan took over the theater in August 1934, and reopened it that same month as a full-time movie theater.
The Strand most likely closed on January 27, 1957 with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in “Pardners” along with two unnamed cartoons.
I cannot find a single grand opening advertisement nor any articles, but I’m very deeply sure that the Sunset most likely opened on May 8, 1950 with Joan Bennett in “Housekeeper’s Daughter” along with an unnamed cartoon and an unnamed short.
The Preston Theatre opened its doors on January 23, 1941 with Clark Gable in “Comrade X” (unknown if extras added), and this was never known as the New Salem Theatre. It was closed on June 30, 1960 with Ray Danton in “The Rise And Fall Of Legs Diamond”.
Information about the Preston goes as follows: Outside the theater features the entire front entrance in black glass, with the theater’s name over the box office in ivory glass. The canopy, or the marquee, features red neon tubing with “PRESTON” on top of the V-shaped marquee, and below this are lighted boxes for display of feature titles, or possibly short subjects if there’s any more room if necessary, as an addition to the main feature. Inside the theater features two long aisles on either side being heavily specially designed carpeting. The aisles are sloped and are lighten by indirect lights from the chairs. To the left of the lobby that is attractively lighted with fluorescent tubes is the entrance to the ladies powder room, and on the right is the men’s room. The auditorium contains 600 Irwin blue leatherette upholstered seats with backs of a rust color velour with rayon stripe. The lighting effects along the wall include National fixtures permitting various color effects. The stage drapes are also rust color with a large curtain that was controlled from the projection booth and opens up the Walker Sound Screen. The entire general color scheme throughout is light tan, rust, and blue. Inside the projection booth contains Simplex 4-Star projections, and the entire building is fireproof.
Opened on October 4, 1950 with Vincent Price in “The Baron of Arizona” along with an unnamed cartoon, featuring Simplex installations. It appears operational into the mid-1980s.
The Melba Theatre opened its doors on August 15, 1934, featuring a 20x23ft stage with a 9x12ft screen. It was closed on January 22, 1940 when a fire and an explosion destroyed the entire theater just two hours before a scheduled showing of Joan Davis in “I’m Too Busy To Work” and Warner Baxter in “Road To Glory” along with an unnamed cartoon.
The fire was confirmed undetermined and happened at approximately 5:45 PM CT. Here’s a little context before the fire: A total of 45 minutes prior to the fire, manager Ralph Hurst turned on the neon lighting and the signs as the sun is in the middle of setting, getting to a good start. Hurst went back home to his family afterward to eat dinner. When he left the building, he noticed that there’s no sign of smoke or fire in the building, nor in the projection booth. The stoves are found close tight just as they left by Hurst. The prints of the two movies and the cartoon are completely destroyed by the flames. A short time after the fire, an explosion went through, breaking the windows in the booth and the flames shooting out of the window. Nearby buildings, including the Connor Variety store and its post office (known as the Postmaster Anglum) suffered damage as well.
Both the Grand and the Gaiety are two separate theaters. The Grand operated as early as 1912, while the Gaiety opened its doors on November 6, 1929 with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in “Fast Life” along with an unnamed comedy short and an unnamed scenic film. The Gaiety was renamed the Cawlfield Theatre in 1957, and most likely closed on January 7, 1962 with Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”.
General Cinema operated the Richland Mall Cinema until December 20, 1990, and was taken over by Cinemark the following day. This lasted until its May 23, 2004 closure.
The father-and-son team of Abe and Lou Consky are the original owners of the Fenelon, who also operated theaters in Minden and Haliburton. It was still open in 1987.
Here’s a fun fact for you Vogel, Toronto is not the only city in Canada that had a movie theater called the “Kum-C”. There is another “Kum-C Theatre” in Moncton, New Brunswick, that unfortunately was destroyed by a morning fire on December 17, 1951.
Opened on August 31, 1935 with “Gold Diggers Of 1935” and “Two Heads On A Pillow” (unknown if extras added). It was very short-lived, closing during World War II (likely around 1943) and last operated as a church before closing on May 27, 1945.
Opened as the Park Theatre on August 4, 1913, and was renamed the Lansdowne Theatre on September 6, 1936. After closing as a movie theater in 1958, the former theater became a special events house that also host boxing matches throughout the 1960s.
Opened on February 28, 1973 as the Jerry Lewis Cinemas, and was renamed the Graceland Twin Cinema on June 26, 1973.
Opened by Cinemark on August 23, 1996 as “Movies 10”. Starplex Cinemas took over the theater on May 19, 2006, and AMC took the theater over on December 16, 2015.
Its most likely that both the older Republic Theatre and the 1939-built Republic Theatre are separate theaters. The newer Republic Theatre’s building began construction in mid-May 1939 and opened on July 6, 1939 with “Blondie Meets The Boss” (unknown if extras added), featuring RCA Photophone sound.
The Republic Theatre closed on June 24, 1956 with “The Kentuckian” and “Battle Stations” (unknown if extras added, but an unnamed serial was presented the previous evening).
Gone by the early-1980s.
Opened on December 27, 1912.
This is first known as the Cozy Theatre which operated as early as May 1920, and was renamed the Strand Theatre on April 4, 1925. It did receive short closures and focused more on vaudeville and special events between 1932 and 1934, before Mrs. E. Nolan took over the theater in August 1934, and reopened it that same month as a full-time movie theater.
The Strand most likely closed on January 27, 1957 with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis in “Pardners” along with two unnamed cartoons.
Operated as early as 1916, and was first known as the New Electric Theatre.
I cannot find a single grand opening advertisement nor any articles, but I’m very deeply sure that the Sunset most likely opened on May 8, 1950 with Joan Bennett in “Housekeeper’s Daughter” along with an unnamed cartoon and an unnamed short.
The original Lyric operated as early as 1911.
The Preston Theatre opened its doors on January 23, 1941 with Clark Gable in “Comrade X” (unknown if extras added), and this was never known as the New Salem Theatre. It was closed on June 30, 1960 with Ray Danton in “The Rise And Fall Of Legs Diamond”.
Information about the Preston goes as follows: Outside the theater features the entire front entrance in black glass, with the theater’s name over the box office in ivory glass. The canopy, or the marquee, features red neon tubing with “PRESTON” on top of the V-shaped marquee, and below this are lighted boxes for display of feature titles, or possibly short subjects if there’s any more room if necessary, as an addition to the main feature. Inside the theater features two long aisles on either side being heavily specially designed carpeting. The aisles are sloped and are lighten by indirect lights from the chairs. To the left of the lobby that is attractively lighted with fluorescent tubes is the entrance to the ladies powder room, and on the right is the men’s room. The auditorium contains 600 Irwin blue leatherette upholstered seats with backs of a rust color velour with rayon stripe. The lighting effects along the wall include National fixtures permitting various color effects. The stage drapes are also rust color with a large curtain that was controlled from the projection booth and opens up the Walker Sound Screen. The entire general color scheme throughout is light tan, rust, and blue. Inside the projection booth contains Simplex 4-Star projections, and the entire building is fireproof.
Opened on October 4, 1950 with Vincent Price in “The Baron of Arizona” along with an unnamed cartoon, featuring Simplex installations. It appears operational into the mid-1980s.
Still open in 1965.
Opened with Bob Burns in “Alias The Deacon” (unknown if extras added). The Colonial Theatre fire happened on Christmas Day 1939, not 1949.
The Melba Theatre opened its doors on August 15, 1934, featuring a 20x23ft stage with a 9x12ft screen. It was closed on January 22, 1940 when a fire and an explosion destroyed the entire theater just two hours before a scheduled showing of Joan Davis in “I’m Too Busy To Work” and Warner Baxter in “Road To Glory” along with an unnamed cartoon.
The fire was confirmed undetermined and happened at approximately 5:45 PM CT. Here’s a little context before the fire: A total of 45 minutes prior to the fire, manager Ralph Hurst turned on the neon lighting and the signs as the sun is in the middle of setting, getting to a good start. Hurst went back home to his family afterward to eat dinner. When he left the building, he noticed that there’s no sign of smoke or fire in the building, nor in the projection booth. The stoves are found close tight just as they left by Hurst. The prints of the two movies and the cartoon are completely destroyed by the flames. A short time after the fire, an explosion went through, breaking the windows in the booth and the flames shooting out of the window. Nearby buildings, including the Connor Variety store and its post office (known as the Postmaster Anglum) suffered damage as well.
Both the Grand and the Gaiety are two separate theaters. The Grand operated as early as 1912, while the Gaiety opened its doors on November 6, 1929 with Douglas Fairbanks Jr. in “Fast Life” along with an unnamed comedy short and an unnamed scenic film. The Gaiety was renamed the Cawlfield Theatre in 1957, and most likely closed on January 7, 1962 with Walt Disney’s “Sleeping Beauty”.
The Million Dollar Theatre also made an appearance in the music video for Genesis’s “Tonight, Tonight, Tonight” in 1987.
After Cannon operated the Wakefield for a decade, the ABC name returned in 1996. Lasting for a year, before closing in mid-to-late-1997.
General Cinema operated the Richland Mall Cinema until December 20, 1990, and was taken over by Cinemark the following day. This lasted until its May 23, 2004 closure.
Operated as early as 1984.
The father-and-son team of Abe and Lou Consky are the original owners of the Fenelon, who also operated theaters in Minden and Haliburton. It was still open in 1987.
Here’s a fun fact for you Vogel, Toronto is not the only city in Canada that had a movie theater called the “Kum-C”. There is another “Kum-C Theatre” in Moncton, New Brunswick, that unfortunately was destroyed by a morning fire on December 17, 1951.
Closed in late-June 1970.
Operated as early as 1917, and closed in late-1987.
Opened on August 31, 1935 with “Gold Diggers Of 1935” and “Two Heads On A Pillow” (unknown if extras added). It was very short-lived, closing during World War II (likely around 1943) and last operated as a church before closing on May 27, 1945.
Opened as the Park Theatre on August 4, 1913, and was renamed the Lansdowne Theatre on September 6, 1936. After closing as a movie theater in 1958, the former theater became a special events house that also host boxing matches throughout the 1960s.