@Jeff Knoll- Thanks for that information on the Showcase and its correct history. I apologize to you for my obviously wrong assumptions about Encore’s interest in Showcase. I wish you had been successful in acquiring the Showcase. I think the value that your Encore Cinemas provides movie fans is great.
I thought it odd that Empire was running a second run theatre too. Was it part of the agreement with Cineplex to keep it second run? It must have been frustrating to not have been able to purchase it, but I’m glad to know that you tried and kept on trying until it was closed. However, I’m more excited to read that Upper Canada Place will continue. I love that place, even when it was a Cineplex.
By the way, I was at the Showcase on closing night and took some pictures, the ones of the theatres were less than impressive, but one of the shots of the wall mural came out decent enough. Well I’ve got to go watch the Avon Theatre’s marquee continue to deteriorate until it falls off.
It is a shame. As I think the Showcase has a couple of screens with DTS and another two with Dolby Surround and ample parking. However, it was always a poor location for a theater and who knows what the tax rate is on the large parking lot.
It has been showing mostly second run features the last few years. However, they were the only cinema in the Hamilton/Burlington area, except for possibly the Westdale and maybe the Movie Palace, that showed art-house movies. I saw Sharkwater and JCVD at Showcase, they didn’t play anywhere else in the area as I recall.
I’m not sure about Encore taking it over as the Showcase might be too close to their Oakville Mews cinemas for first run features and is definitely too close to their Upper Canada Place cinemas for second run. In fact I got a recent e-mail from Encore looking for people to join a club so they could convert one of the screens in Oakville to digital so they could show 3-D movies, so I doubt they would be very interested in the Showcase.
As for Upper James, well that’s a head scratcher, as the theater is only 10 years old, with ample date friendly restaurants nearby. A friend said she was told that Cineplex plans a Playdium type complex there, but I was hoping Empire would take it over.
Empire Theatres is closing down the Showcase Cinemas on April 12, 2009.
Too bad. I like the place even if it’s a strip mall type theatre. However, it’s in an out of the way location with poor signage and doesn’t get many customers, but at least you could always get a parking spot.
@Jeff Knoll- Thanks for that information on the Showcase and its correct history. I apologize to you for my obviously wrong assumptions about Encore’s interest in Showcase. I wish you had been successful in acquiring the Showcase. I think the value that your Encore Cinemas provides movie fans is great.
I thought it odd that Empire was running a second run theatre too. Was it part of the agreement with Cineplex to keep it second run? It must have been frustrating to not have been able to purchase it, but I’m glad to know that you tried and kept on trying until it was closed. However, I’m more excited to read that Upper Canada Place will continue. I love that place, even when it was a Cineplex.
By the way, I was at the Showcase on closing night and took some pictures, the ones of the theatres were less than impressive, but one of the shots of the wall mural came out decent enough. Well I’ve got to go watch the Avon Theatre’s marquee continue to deteriorate until it falls off.
Thanks for clearing that up.
It is a shame. As I think the Showcase has a couple of screens with DTS and another two with Dolby Surround and ample parking. However, it was always a poor location for a theater and who knows what the tax rate is on the large parking lot.
It has been showing mostly second run features the last few years. However, they were the only cinema in the Hamilton/Burlington area, except for possibly the Westdale and maybe the Movie Palace, that showed art-house movies. I saw Sharkwater and JCVD at Showcase, they didn’t play anywhere else in the area as I recall.
I’m not sure about Encore taking it over as the Showcase might be too close to their Oakville Mews cinemas for first run features and is definitely too close to their Upper Canada Place cinemas for second run. In fact I got a recent e-mail from Encore looking for people to join a club so they could convert one of the screens in Oakville to digital so they could show 3-D movies, so I doubt they would be very interested in the Showcase.
As for Upper James, well that’s a head scratcher, as the theater is only 10 years old, with ample date friendly restaurants nearby. A friend said she was told that Cineplex plans a Playdium type complex there, but I was hoping Empire would take it over.
Empire Theatres is closing down the Showcase Cinemas on April 12, 2009.
Too bad. I like the place even if it’s a strip mall type theatre. However, it’s in an out of the way location with poor signage and doesn’t get many customers, but at least you could always get a parking spot.
The Avon Theater building recently was put up for sale.