I used to pay 25 cents to see five movies at the Linden. The crowd was always very rowdy. Often, in the winter, drunks from the El Ropo Tavern (at Beechwood and Charlevois — where the Shell Service Station stands today) would pay their 25 cents to enter the Linden and stay warm. Once, during a Three Stooges marathon, I asked the girls sitting on the row in front of us to shut up so that I could hear the movie, and one of them turned around and punched me in the face, knocking out one of my front teeth. Such fond memories!
Contrary to what is indicated by Chad Irish, it was the Rideau Theatre (formerly the Princess Theatre) that was located at Rideau and Dalhousie. The Français Cinema was located on the west side of Dalhousie Street about half way between George Street and York Street. When it first closed in 1961, its marquee indicated “closed for repairs” and for about a year, it continued to do so. I had therefore assumed that it would be re-opening, but it never did. It was eventually demolished and later on the entire block of Dalhousie between George and York became the site of a Holiday Inn.
Contrary to what is indicated by Alain Miguelez, the Rideau Theatre was not torn down. It was simply closed. The building still stands on the Southwest corner of Rideau and Dalhousie. The building that was torn down to make way for the Dalhousie Street extension was the building that housed Pascal’s Hardware (previously Loblaws)
I used to pay 25 cents to see five movies at the Linden. The crowd was always very rowdy. Often, in the winter, drunks from the El Ropo Tavern (at Beechwood and Charlevois — where the Shell Service Station stands today) would pay their 25 cents to enter the Linden and stay warm. Once, during a Three Stooges marathon, I asked the girls sitting on the row in front of us to shut up so that I could hear the movie, and one of them turned around and punched me in the face, knocking out one of my front teeth. Such fond memories!
My most vivid memory of the Rialto is buying a 25 cent hot dog, taking a bite and pulling a filthy piece of string out of my mouth.
There seems to be some disagreement as to whether the building is now standing. It is not. It was demolished.
Contrary to what is indicated by Chad Irish, it was the Rideau Theatre (formerly the Princess Theatre) that was located at Rideau and Dalhousie. The Français Cinema was located on the west side of Dalhousie Street about half way between George Street and York Street. When it first closed in 1961, its marquee indicated “closed for repairs” and for about a year, it continued to do so. I had therefore assumed that it would be re-opening, but it never did. It was eventually demolished and later on the entire block of Dalhousie between George and York became the site of a Holiday Inn.
Contrary to what is indicated by Alain Miguelez, the Rideau Theatre was not torn down. It was simply closed. The building still stands on the Southwest corner of Rideau and Dalhousie. The building that was torn down to make way for the Dalhousie Street extension was the building that housed Pascal’s Hardware (previously Loblaws)