Tickets for Ontario Place Cinesphere screenings are sold through Eventbrite. Doesn’t look like there is any reserved seating, so I guess it’s a free-for-all?
It was raining on our last night in NYC, and my wife and I didn’t want to spend it in our hotel room, so we braved the rain and headed to Times Square to catch a movie. We had reserved seats, so there was no rush. When we got to the AMC Empire 25, someone was in our seats. They said they had bought the same seats, but moved because the theatre was empty. A few minutes later, someone came in and told them they had purchased the seats they were sitting in, they gave the same excuse and moved. When it happened a third time, they up and left. Who is preventing people from paying to see one movie, then spending the rest of the day hopping from cinema to cinema? No security here.
During the film, the man next to me insisted on checking through his Facebook posts every ten minutes or so, and the people behind me kept having to update one another on the plot of the movie.
I honestly feel that the convenience of being able to stream virtually anything one wishes to watch has killed the respect people once had for the cinema.
Apparently, the Cinesphere is part of a revitalization project at Ontario Place, and it is scheduled to be part of TIFF this year as part of its Cinematheque programme. The first film scheduled to be screened is North of Superior, which was the first film shown there in 1971.
Not wanting to get married in a traditional church, my wife and I reached out to several movie theatres. Film.ca was the only one that would forego a matinee and rent us a theatre. (Cineplex wanted a ridiculous amount of money, and wanted us out of the room before noon) I’ll upload some photos to the photo section.
Visited the Kingsway tonight for the first time in years for a showing of Purple Rain. Since the last time I visited, they are now licensed to serve alcohol, and have a small café out front in the lobby area. Seating is very comfortable, and there are four armchairs at the rear of the main auditorium. Show up early for the “VIP” area.
Since the closing of the AMC 30, this theater has gone downhill. At least with the AMC so close by, Cineplex knew that customers who were dissatisfied with their service could easily go elsewhere. Now that they’re the only theater in the area, the level of service has dropped to a pathetic level.
I went with some family to a “Family Favourites” presentation of March of the Penguins last year. The movie started twenty minutes late with no explanation, and had to be re-started three times. Using my cellphone, I filmed the debacle, and was threatened by an usher, who had been alerted to my action by the projectionist, to delete the file from my phone.
I brought this to the attention of management, who offered to send me a pair of passes for the inconvenience…. I’m still waiting, almost a year later.
Currently operated as an independent cinema by Film.ca. Many upgrades have been done, the theater is all digital now. New, larger plusher seats have been added, affording better leg room.
Saw Jersey Boys in the new VIP over the weekend. Definitely an indulgence, and the $24.99 admission keeps the knuckle-dragging folk who need to talk during the movie at a minimum! It should be noted that these VIP theaters are not “screening rooms” but full-sized theaters with big, cushy reclining seats. These VIP’s make the VIP screening rooms at the Varsity look like utility closets.
In late 2002 / early 2003, the theater had a brief life as a school project. High School students would run the theater’s box office, work as ushers, operate the concession stand and even the projector on Monday nights. This afforded an opportunity to see films one may have missed during their theatrical run, but before their DVD release. I recall seeing Gangs of New York during this festival.
Movies that I saw here that stuck with me over the years, The Mysterious Monsters (a documentary from Sun Classic Pictures on bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and the Abominable Snowman), The Last Starfighter, E.T., and Where the Red Fern Grows.
I didn’t see many movies here, as it was across town. By the time I was going to the movies by myself, I would either walk to the Bramalea City Center or drive with friends here. I remember the feeling of driving across town to a single-screen cinema, only to find that the show you wanted to see was sold out.
Toward the end of their run, this theater would show many double-features in an attempt to improve business. The final movie shown here was a rather rowdy midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Rumor has it many in the audience knew this was the final show, and took to “assisting” in the demolition, tearing the seats from the floor.
I lived in the area (Eleventh Street) in the late 1970’s. I had no idea there was a cinema so close! I was ten years old, so my “world” extended from the Woolworth’s on Fifth Street to the variety store at the top of my street. Very rarely would I venture farther than either destination on my own.
Before I moved away, my friend’s mother and father decided to treat us to a movie, Battlestar Galactica. I was shocked to learn it was within a reasonable walking distance! If I’d known it was so close, I’d have probably spent a lot more of my allowance there while I lived in the area.
According to various sources, the “guts” of this theater are still there. The theater was gutted, but the space still exists behind the stores (Dollarama, PJ’s Pets) that exist in the hallway by that entrance.
The area was always housing. The building that once housed the Centennial Cinemas is now a Party City. Anyone who saw movies here would recognize it immediately. The theater had a brief life as an Indian cinema.
I like this theater, but they really need to work on security. Any time I’ve ventured there on a Saturday evening, there’s always a group of teenagers with nothing better to do than hang out there. They’ll pay for one movie, then stroll from theater to theater, disrupting those of us who’ve actually PAID to watch a movie.
Tickets for Ontario Place Cinesphere screenings are sold through Eventbrite. Doesn’t look like there is any reserved seating, so I guess it’s a free-for-all?
It was raining on our last night in NYC, and my wife and I didn’t want to spend it in our hotel room, so we braved the rain and headed to Times Square to catch a movie. We had reserved seats, so there was no rush. When we got to the AMC Empire 25, someone was in our seats. They said they had bought the same seats, but moved because the theatre was empty. A few minutes later, someone came in and told them they had purchased the seats they were sitting in, they gave the same excuse and moved. When it happened a third time, they up and left. Who is preventing people from paying to see one movie, then spending the rest of the day hopping from cinema to cinema? No security here.
During the film, the man next to me insisted on checking through his Facebook posts every ten minutes or so, and the people behind me kept having to update one another on the plot of the movie.
I honestly feel that the convenience of being able to stream virtually anything one wishes to watch has killed the respect people once had for the cinema.
Looks like it’s been closed for some time.
http://drive-ins.com/gallery/xxtsuns/sunset-drive-in-theater-dryden-on
Given the size of the renovated building, I can’t see this being a five-screen cinema. Can anyone confirm the number of screens?
Apparently, the Cinesphere is part of a revitalization project at Ontario Place, and it is scheduled to be part of TIFF this year as part of its Cinematheque programme. The first film scheduled to be screened is North of Superior, which was the first film shown there in 1971.
http://www.blogto.com/film/2017/08/tiff-reopening-ontario-place-cinesphere/
This theatre closed permanently as of March, 2017. The entire block is scheduled for re-zoning.
Now operated by Imagine Cinemas.
https://imaginecinemas.com/cinema/carlton-cinema/
Now operated by Imagine Cinemas.
https://imaginecinemas.com/cinema/market-square/
Imagine Cinemas also operates the Carlton, Market Square and Promenade Mall in the GTA.
Not sure when this happened, but Rainbow no longer operates the theatres at the Woodbine Center. They are now run by Imagine Cinemas.
https://imaginecinemas.com/cinema/woodbine-centre/
Not wanting to get married in a traditional church, my wife and I reached out to several movie theatres. Film.ca was the only one that would forego a matinee and rent us a theatre. (Cineplex wanted a ridiculous amount of money, and wanted us out of the room before noon) I’ll upload some photos to the photo section.
Visited the Kingsway tonight for the first time in years for a showing of Purple Rain. Since the last time I visited, they are now licensed to serve alcohol, and have a small café out front in the lobby area. Seating is very comfortable, and there are four armchairs at the rear of the main auditorium. Show up early for the “VIP” area.
Since the closing of the AMC 30, this theater has gone downhill. At least with the AMC so close by, Cineplex knew that customers who were dissatisfied with their service could easily go elsewhere. Now that they’re the only theater in the area, the level of service has dropped to a pathetic level.
I went with some family to a “Family Favourites” presentation of March of the Penguins last year. The movie started twenty minutes late with no explanation, and had to be re-started three times. Using my cellphone, I filmed the debacle, and was threatened by an usher, who had been alerted to my action by the projectionist, to delete the file from my phone.
I brought this to the attention of management, who offered to send me a pair of passes for the inconvenience…. I’m still waiting, almost a year later.
Currently operated as an independent cinema by Film.ca. Many upgrades have been done, the theater is all digital now. New, larger plusher seats have been added, affording better leg room.
Article on the Loft Cinemas' most popular era, as the “Rio”.
http://www.blogto.com/film/2015/03/torontos_last_grindhouse_rises_again/
Closed for the season as owners weigh the decision as to whether to convert to digital or remain closed.
Saw Jersey Boys in the new VIP over the weekend. Definitely an indulgence, and the $24.99 admission keeps the knuckle-dragging folk who need to talk during the movie at a minimum! It should be noted that these VIP theaters are not “screening rooms” but full-sized theaters with big, cushy reclining seats. These VIP’s make the VIP screening rooms at the Varsity look like utility closets.
In late 2002 / early 2003, the theater had a brief life as a school project. High School students would run the theater’s box office, work as ushers, operate the concession stand and even the projector on Monday nights. This afforded an opportunity to see films one may have missed during their theatrical run, but before their DVD release. I recall seeing Gangs of New York during this festival.
Movies that I saw here that stuck with me over the years, The Mysterious Monsters (a documentary from Sun Classic Pictures on bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and the Abominable Snowman), The Last Starfighter, E.T., and Where the Red Fern Grows.
I didn’t see many movies here, as it was across town. By the time I was going to the movies by myself, I would either walk to the Bramalea City Center or drive with friends here. I remember the feeling of driving across town to a single-screen cinema, only to find that the show you wanted to see was sold out.
Toward the end of their run, this theater would show many double-features in an attempt to improve business. The final movie shown here was a rather rowdy midnight showing of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Rumor has it many in the audience knew this was the final show, and took to “assisting” in the demolition, tearing the seats from the floor.
I lived in the area (Eleventh Street) in the late 1970’s. I had no idea there was a cinema so close! I was ten years old, so my “world” extended from the Woolworth’s on Fifth Street to the variety store at the top of my street. Very rarely would I venture farther than either destination on my own.
Before I moved away, my friend’s mother and father decided to treat us to a movie, Battlestar Galactica. I was shocked to learn it was within a reasonable walking distance! If I’d known it was so close, I’d have probably spent a lot more of my allowance there while I lived in the area.
According to various sources, the “guts” of this theater are still there. The theater was gutted, but the space still exists behind the stores (Dollarama, PJ’s Pets) that exist in the hallway by that entrance.
The Medical Center & Walk-in Clinic are located on the opposite side of the mall. The cinema was located closer to where Jysk is now located.
The area was always housing. The building that once housed the Centennial Cinemas is now a Party City. Anyone who saw movies here would recognize it immediately. The theater had a brief life as an Indian cinema.
I like this theater, but they really need to work on security. Any time I’ve ventured there on a Saturday evening, there’s always a group of teenagers with nothing better to do than hang out there. They’ll pay for one movie, then stroll from theater to theater, disrupting those of us who’ve actually PAID to watch a movie.