I have never been a real fan of indoor theatres, but the University was the exception. It featured a huge screen that I remember seeing “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on, and blew me away. This theatre was the pinnacle of showmanship, unlike the chintzy multiplex big box theatres of today. When you saw a movie at the University, it was an experience, not like just watching TV, like in the new theatres.
The Skyway 6 was a nice multiplex theatre that Famous opened in 1980. It was actually built on the site of Toronto’s first drive-in theatre named the Northwest Drive-in which was a single screen theatre that accommodated 1800 cars. The Skyway 6 was a nice theatre for it’s time. It combined the classic curtained theatres with big screens, along with offering the convenience of multiple choice of a multiplex. The last movie I saw there was “Teachers” Unfortunately, since the theatre was located on the airport strip, it tended to attract a rowdy, party crowd. It must have been the vibe left over from the Northwest drive-in. The building is now a steak restaurant called “Le Bifteck” (I think that is how it’s spelt).
This drive-in has an interesting past. It was operated by 20th Century theatres, and was located beside Pickering Town Centre. On the other side of Pickering Town Centre, there was another drive-in called the Bay Ridges which was operated by Canadian Odeon. 20th Century took Canadian Odeon to court alleging that the screen for the Bay Ridges was located too close to Hwy 401 by 6 inches! 20th Century won, causing Canadian Odeon to either move the screen for the Bay Ridges or close it. They opted to close it in 1974, leaving the Tepee to operate for years to come.
I could never understand what the attraction of this movie theatre was. I use the term “movie theatre” loosely here. It was more like an overglorified screening room complex. From the “bubblegum” decor, to it’s large screen TV screens, this place was not a venue I favored to see a movie in. The other theatre that was just like this one was the Scarborough Town Centre, which opened in 1980 & had 12 screens. During the Eaton Centre & Scarborough’s heyday, they were constantly busy from when they opened at 11am up until the last show at 10pm. $2.50 Tuesdays were another experience. The cheap price attracted a cheap patron. Pay duty police were hired because trouble broke-out at these theatres. In conclusion, I am not sad to see this theatre go. It was just a matter of time before the public discovered what a rip-off this style of theatre was.
I remember going to this drive-in in 1985. It was being leased by Cineplex-Odeon at the time. The snack bar was very plain, and the picture was not as clear at the other drive-in in Hamilton called the Starlight located in Stoney Creek. One thing I remember is the lot. It was gravel, but it was covered in weeds that were 2 feet high! Cineplex-Odeon didn’t renew the lease for the ‘86 season because they were not into operating drive-in theatres. Judging from how the Clappison was being operated, this was obvious.
This was a great drive-in! It was one of the last drive-ins constructed around ‘68 or '69 in Toronto. It was originally a single screen theatre when it opened, and held about 1200 cars. It was made a twin the same year the 400 was, back in 1978. The 7&27 seemed to be the forgotten drive-in of Toronto. Most people would go to the 400 first, then the 7&27 after if the 400 was sold out. I think this was largely due to location. The 7&27 was northwest of the city, unlike the 400, it was not close to a 400 series highway, and not central. The snack bar was huge in this theatre. It featured a horseshoe shaped concession counter, which was a design that was mean’t to speed up the process of cashing out patrons during intermission. When I went to this theatre through the '80s, there was nothing around it. By 1997, when the theatre closed, it was surrounded by homes, and a mall. I was sad to see this theatre go, like the 400, because there were a lot of great memories attached to this and the 400 Drive-ins.
I have very fond memories of this drive-in. It was the first drive-in that I attended back in 1984. I remember the movies, they were “Spring Break” & “Where the Boys Are ‘84”-two classics! When I heard the theatre was closing, I made sure to get some film for my camera and get pictures of both the 400 & 7&27 Drive-ins. These were the last of the huge screen drive-ins in Toronto. Going to the movies just has not been the same since this theatre closed. It’s one of a long list of drive-in that have disappeared from the Toronto area since the '70s & '80s. Other theatres were: Northwest, Northeast, Parkway, Dufferin, Brampton, Scarboro, Oshawa, Tepee, & Bay Ridges Drive-ins. In conclusion, it’s sad to see the 400 replaced by the Colossus theatre-it’s just not the same cool experience.
I have never been a real fan of indoor theatres, but the University was the exception. It featured a huge screen that I remember seeing “Raiders of the Lost Ark” on, and blew me away. This theatre was the pinnacle of showmanship, unlike the chintzy multiplex big box theatres of today. When you saw a movie at the University, it was an experience, not like just watching TV, like in the new theatres.
The Skyway 6 was a nice multiplex theatre that Famous opened in 1980. It was actually built on the site of Toronto’s first drive-in theatre named the Northwest Drive-in which was a single screen theatre that accommodated 1800 cars. The Skyway 6 was a nice theatre for it’s time. It combined the classic curtained theatres with big screens, along with offering the convenience of multiple choice of a multiplex. The last movie I saw there was “Teachers” Unfortunately, since the theatre was located on the airport strip, it tended to attract a rowdy, party crowd. It must have been the vibe left over from the Northwest drive-in. The building is now a steak restaurant called “Le Bifteck” (I think that is how it’s spelt).
This drive-in has an interesting past. It was operated by 20th Century theatres, and was located beside Pickering Town Centre. On the other side of Pickering Town Centre, there was another drive-in called the Bay Ridges which was operated by Canadian Odeon. 20th Century took Canadian Odeon to court alleging that the screen for the Bay Ridges was located too close to Hwy 401 by 6 inches! 20th Century won, causing Canadian Odeon to either move the screen for the Bay Ridges or close it. They opted to close it in 1974, leaving the Tepee to operate for years to come.
I could never understand what the attraction of this movie theatre was. I use the term “movie theatre” loosely here. It was more like an overglorified screening room complex. From the “bubblegum” decor, to it’s large screen TV screens, this place was not a venue I favored to see a movie in. The other theatre that was just like this one was the Scarborough Town Centre, which opened in 1980 & had 12 screens. During the Eaton Centre & Scarborough’s heyday, they were constantly busy from when they opened at 11am up until the last show at 10pm. $2.50 Tuesdays were another experience. The cheap price attracted a cheap patron. Pay duty police were hired because trouble broke-out at these theatres. In conclusion, I am not sad to see this theatre go. It was just a matter of time before the public discovered what a rip-off this style of theatre was.
I remember going to this drive-in in 1985. It was being leased by Cineplex-Odeon at the time. The snack bar was very plain, and the picture was not as clear at the other drive-in in Hamilton called the Starlight located in Stoney Creek. One thing I remember is the lot. It was gravel, but it was covered in weeds that were 2 feet high! Cineplex-Odeon didn’t renew the lease for the ‘86 season because they were not into operating drive-in theatres. Judging from how the Clappison was being operated, this was obvious.
This was a great drive-in! It was one of the last drive-ins constructed around ‘68 or '69 in Toronto. It was originally a single screen theatre when it opened, and held about 1200 cars. It was made a twin the same year the 400 was, back in 1978. The 7&27 seemed to be the forgotten drive-in of Toronto. Most people would go to the 400 first, then the 7&27 after if the 400 was sold out. I think this was largely due to location. The 7&27 was northwest of the city, unlike the 400, it was not close to a 400 series highway, and not central. The snack bar was huge in this theatre. It featured a horseshoe shaped concession counter, which was a design that was mean’t to speed up the process of cashing out patrons during intermission. When I went to this theatre through the '80s, there was nothing around it. By 1997, when the theatre closed, it was surrounded by homes, and a mall. I was sad to see this theatre go, like the 400, because there were a lot of great memories attached to this and the 400 Drive-ins.
I have very fond memories of this drive-in. It was the first drive-in that I attended back in 1984. I remember the movies, they were “Spring Break” & “Where the Boys Are ‘84”-two classics! When I heard the theatre was closing, I made sure to get some film for my camera and get pictures of both the 400 & 7&27 Drive-ins. These were the last of the huge screen drive-ins in Toronto. Going to the movies just has not been the same since this theatre closed. It’s one of a long list of drive-in that have disappeared from the Toronto area since the '70s & '80s. Other theatres were: Northwest, Northeast, Parkway, Dufferin, Brampton, Scarboro, Oshawa, Tepee, & Bay Ridges Drive-ins. In conclusion, it’s sad to see the 400 replaced by the Colossus theatre-it’s just not the same cool experience.