They are keeping this one as Rio Can who is the property owner of the Scotiabank site has applied with the city to redevelop the site with condos and no word on replacing the cinema, so I am assuming they are keeping Varsity and Yong and Dundas as they are both still very busy venues for the chain
Also four screens? There was that rumour for the downstairs theatre was going to be split into 3 but would have thought if that was the plan wouldnt you have done it in the first place rather than spending all the ecess money into just the restoration?
The rumours from the previous closure were surrounding rent issues with the building owners (maybe too much of it went into the renos too fast?) And the fact that it reopened suggested all of that issue had been resolved I would have thought. But the fact it was the second time in just over a year and oddly enough pretty close to the time the first instance happened makes me kinda curious….
Disappointing if not surprising for the switch on the hardware bringing in the gear thats exclusive to the chain, guess we will find out in time for the Imax screens.
Heard the news very recently they were finally going to be starting on clearing the site for the construction of the condos. Will be interesting to go back to the area to take a look to see how it is going along.
In the case of AMC, was a business decision from the new Chinese ownership to shed its canadian interests to focus on getting stronger down in the States which is defintely unfortunate since which the possible exception of the digital Imax I much prefer the presentation and set up of a lot of the AMC chains and lack of ads as opposed to the CE. Think AMC was running a distant 3rd in attendance to Cineplex and Empire in terms of numbers.
One thing I am very interested in since I have taken advantage a lot of it in recent years is if the $6 promotion will carry over to Cineplex for the matinees.
I am defintely leary especially when it comes to the Yonge and Dundas as to changes to the feel of the theatre. I am sure the ETX theatre in the back at some point will be “changed” to the AVX. But only time will tell. As for the art house theatre idea now that the cumberland has closed and this deal now has come through it makes even more sense for Varsity to take over that mantra, so see what happens
Yeah I noticed in the adds at least the first week or two and the last few that its just one title again. Maybe building up the cash to finish downstairs?
No offence Milanp, sounds like you have attended TIFF at some point, but definitely didnt follow the Uptown story long enough as mentioned earlier. Tiff only ran the Uptown for a matter of days to finish the rental back in 2003, the year it closed and screened the final 20 films or so. But it was Famous, not TIFF, who ran/owned the building and abandoned it when the lease was up for other ventures when they and Cineplex were merging in the early Aughts. After the merger that was talk of a new multiplex under the One Bloor property but with the location of the Varsity, and now Cumberland along with the recession, that project was abandoned. Dont get me wrong I miss the venue loads too, but make sure to point the finger in the right direction.
Would make sense. They are just starting to break ground at the one Bloor site so there is still a slight chance whether it be Cineplex or Empire to enter a partnership to build a new complex there in the tower. Doubt Rainbow would have the capital to make the move and still a tad close to the Yonge and Dundas AMC to put one there.
From what I understand from working two of the Rainbow locations, one of them being Market Square, was that a lot of the former Cineplex employees pre merger from as far back in the 80’s went to the Rainbow chain, maybe part of the preference as to taking over the former sights. Plus availble leases etc
Yeah I am not surprised about the later two projects and would have been great to see them come to frutition. I guess you can say that the AMC venue that finally got built scared off the Imperial Project and the economy and delay in the condo building at Yonge and Bloor along with how active a venue Varsity is scared off any further building for multiplexes in the area (plus the fact they took over the lease for the Cumberland as well).
If I remember correctly that was probably before the merger of Famous and Cineplex so probably got scared off and wanted to build it where they had more control of the property. Now it would have made complete sense. That being said would have been branded as a Silvercity and I am not sure how the original name or theatre would have worked into it unless they tried a similar method of renos comprable to the Varsity.
Can kind of understand why the ones at Yonge and St Clair never got replaced since there is a over abundance at Yonge and Eglington with the Sulvercity, Canada Square and 2 rep houses as well on Mount Pleasent. But the Eg and York I still really miss terribly for the classic feel even though theres a oversaturation. I have a feeling unfortunately until there is more influx in those areas or development that there isnt going to be any multiplexes in those areas although now that the power plant is uspposedly shutting down at Dundas near Dixie and the land is all surveyed for a complex to be put in there, the property is just ripe and ready to go. The only theatre in the BeacheséDanforth area that seems to be thriving is the Fox although there is the Projection Booth that just opened near Broadview and Jarvis area which is supposed to be good.
Big time. I always found that coming back from LA and NYC, whenever I came back that Torontos film exhibition is defintely lacking, especially in the venues with all of the history. I am really intrigued with the evolution of the Bloor when they reopen under Hot Docs, and I am totally hoping someone else picks up where Rui left off with Humber to finish the retofit and adds some success with the venue.
I am defintely impressed with the AVX theatre in 18, great digital presentation and the 7.1 Dolby surround mix is one of the best sound systems I have found in the city for years outside of the Scotiabank IMAX and Cinesphere. The Digital 3d films especially in theatre 10 I normally go elsewhere or wait until a week or two into the run since intially it seems they keep getting the wrong digital print which doesnt properly fell the screen not just above and below but also on either side. Go AVX or go home methinks with this one.
Big time! I still remembered the expansion back in 1997 bringing the total up to 15 screens or so and them being pretty high end at the time and being equipped with the highest THX surround at the time. Only reason it was closed was strictly the lack of `Stadium Seating, and that was it. Could have defintely found a way to continue making it feasable for sure.
Quite bummed since the rennovations they were able to compete were actually quite good and was planning to go their once TIFF wrapped to see the progress in the basement since they had just opened that part of the space in late July, early August.
Yeah I was hearing from some of my friends who live in the area and also work the festival circuit that unfortunately was the standard couldnt keep up on the rent of the space hence the very sudden closure of the theatre. As to why that happened hard to say but I am imagining it was one of those situations might have moved too fast with the rennovations in the basement after opening…. Just a thought. But within a day or two the facebook group removed any mention of the Humber and affilated posts and created a brand new page for the Kingsway Theatre which is back to being their main focus.
Yeah since they took down the basics there by Power the closest ones are the Basics and No Frills by East Mall and Dundas, not bad for the driving set, but a little off the beaten track for the condo guys there.
Yeah one of my friends works for the ministry of housing and this announcement came across his desk, he actually lives at the Tridel block across the street and says its a shame. With it being the city owned land would have been at least great if a brand new project is just going to be built there it would be good for the former site to be finally brought down so they would have an easier time to flip it. Every time I drive by the theatre and keep seeing it wear further and further down getting pretty bummed.
They are keeping this one as Rio Can who is the property owner of the Scotiabank site has applied with the city to redevelop the site with condos and no word on replacing the cinema, so I am assuming they are keeping Varsity and Yong and Dundas as they are both still very busy venues for the chain
Also four screens? There was that rumour for the downstairs theatre was going to be split into 3 but would have thought if that was the plan wouldnt you have done it in the first place rather than spending all the ecess money into just the restoration?
The rumours from the previous closure were surrounding rent issues with the building owners (maybe too much of it went into the renos too fast?) And the fact that it reopened suggested all of that issue had been resolved I would have thought. But the fact it was the second time in just over a year and oddly enough pretty close to the time the first instance happened makes me kinda curious….
Disappointing if not surprising for the switch on the hardware bringing in the gear thats exclusive to the chain, guess we will find out in time for the Imax screens.
Heard the news very recently they were finally going to be starting on clearing the site for the construction of the condos. Will be interesting to go back to the area to take a look to see how it is going along.
Split half of the chain to cineplex and the other half to Empire
In the case of AMC, was a business decision from the new Chinese ownership to shed its canadian interests to focus on getting stronger down in the States which is defintely unfortunate since which the possible exception of the digital Imax I much prefer the presentation and set up of a lot of the AMC chains and lack of ads as opposed to the CE. Think AMC was running a distant 3rd in attendance to Cineplex and Empire in terms of numbers.
One thing I am very interested in since I have taken advantage a lot of it in recent years is if the $6 promotion will carry over to Cineplex for the matinees.
I am defintely leary especially when it comes to the Yonge and Dundas as to changes to the feel of the theatre. I am sure the ETX theatre in the back at some point will be “changed” to the AVX. But only time will tell. As for the art house theatre idea now that the cumberland has closed and this deal now has come through it makes even more sense for Varsity to take over that mantra, so see what happens
Yeah I believe Rainbow has a bunch of former Cineplex management running hence which is probably why the preference for venues taken over.
Yeah I noticed in the adds at least the first week or two and the last few that its just one title again. Maybe building up the cash to finish downstairs?
No offence Milanp, sounds like you have attended TIFF at some point, but definitely didnt follow the Uptown story long enough as mentioned earlier. Tiff only ran the Uptown for a matter of days to finish the rental back in 2003, the year it closed and screened the final 20 films or so. But it was Famous, not TIFF, who ran/owned the building and abandoned it when the lease was up for other ventures when they and Cineplex were merging in the early Aughts. After the merger that was talk of a new multiplex under the One Bloor property but with the location of the Varsity, and now Cumberland along with the recession, that project was abandoned. Dont get me wrong I miss the venue loads too, but make sure to point the finger in the right direction.
Now makes sense for the closure, just to finish with the downstair renos before the Xmas rush. Looking forward to see the finished product.
Would make sense. They are just starting to break ground at the one Bloor site so there is still a slight chance whether it be Cineplex or Empire to enter a partnership to build a new complex there in the tower. Doubt Rainbow would have the capital to make the move and still a tad close to the Yonge and Dundas AMC to put one there.
From what I understand from working two of the Rainbow locations, one of them being Market Square, was that a lot of the former Cineplex employees pre merger from as far back in the 80’s went to the Rainbow chain, maybe part of the preference as to taking over the former sights. Plus availble leases etc
Yeah I am not surprised about the later two projects and would have been great to see them come to frutition. I guess you can say that the AMC venue that finally got built scared off the Imperial Project and the economy and delay in the condo building at Yonge and Bloor along with how active a venue Varsity is scared off any further building for multiplexes in the area (plus the fact they took over the lease for the Cumberland as well).
If I remember correctly that was probably before the merger of Famous and Cineplex so probably got scared off and wanted to build it where they had more control of the property. Now it would have made complete sense. That being said would have been branded as a Silvercity and I am not sure how the original name or theatre would have worked into it unless they tried a similar method of renos comprable to the Varsity.
Can kind of understand why the ones at Yonge and St Clair never got replaced since there is a over abundance at Yonge and Eglington with the Sulvercity, Canada Square and 2 rep houses as well on Mount Pleasent. But the Eg and York I still really miss terribly for the classic feel even though theres a oversaturation. I have a feeling unfortunately until there is more influx in those areas or development that there isnt going to be any multiplexes in those areas although now that the power plant is uspposedly shutting down at Dundas near Dixie and the land is all surveyed for a complex to be put in there, the property is just ripe and ready to go. The only theatre in the BeacheséDanforth area that seems to be thriving is the Fox although there is the Projection Booth that just opened near Broadview and Jarvis area which is supposed to be good.
Big time. I always found that coming back from LA and NYC, whenever I came back that Torontos film exhibition is defintely lacking, especially in the venues with all of the history. I am really intrigued with the evolution of the Bloor when they reopen under Hot Docs, and I am totally hoping someone else picks up where Rui left off with Humber to finish the retofit and adds some success with the venue.
I am defintely impressed with the AVX theatre in 18, great digital presentation and the 7.1 Dolby surround mix is one of the best sound systems I have found in the city for years outside of the Scotiabank IMAX and Cinesphere. The Digital 3d films especially in theatre 10 I normally go elsewhere or wait until a week or two into the run since intially it seems they keep getting the wrong digital print which doesnt properly fell the screen not just above and below but also on either side. Go AVX or go home methinks with this one.
Big time! I still remembered the expansion back in 1997 bringing the total up to 15 screens or so and them being pretty high end at the time and being equipped with the highest THX surround at the time. Only reason it was closed was strictly the lack of `Stadium Seating, and that was it. Could have defintely found a way to continue making it feasable for sure.
Quite bummed since the rennovations they were able to compete were actually quite good and was planning to go their once TIFF wrapped to see the progress in the basement since they had just opened that part of the space in late July, early August.
Yeah I was hearing from some of my friends who live in the area and also work the festival circuit that unfortunately was the standard couldnt keep up on the rent of the space hence the very sudden closure of the theatre. As to why that happened hard to say but I am imagining it was one of those situations might have moved too fast with the rennovations in the basement after opening…. Just a thought. But within a day or two the facebook group removed any mention of the Humber and affilated posts and created a brand new page for the Kingsway Theatre which is back to being their main focus.
Yeah since they took down the basics there by Power the closest ones are the Basics and No Frills by East Mall and Dundas, not bad for the driving set, but a little off the beaten track for the condo guys there.
Yeah one of my friends works for the ministry of housing and this announcement came across his desk, he actually lives at the Tridel block across the street and says its a shame. With it being the city owned land would have been at least great if a brand new project is just going to be built there it would be good for the former site to be finally brought down so they would have an easier time to flip it. Every time I drive by the theatre and keep seeing it wear further and further down getting pretty bummed.