Globe Cinema

393 Portage Avenue,
Winnipeg, MB R3B 0G9

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rivest266
rivest266 on November 16, 2020 at 2:32 pm

This opened on September 17th, 1987. Grand opening ad posted. It closed on June 15th, 2014. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/globe-cinema-closing-at-portage-place-in-winnipeg-1.2671952

theatrefan
theatrefan on November 16, 2020 at 1:30 pm

I noticed in the YouTube video that grandcameo posted this cinema already had the new Famous Players logo and the “Street of Theaters” design with each auditorium having the separate movie palace names of Alto, Rio & Bijou. Was this a prototype for Famous Players? The first cinema that I thought opening with this design was the Gateway 6 in Brampton in October 1988, the Portage Place opened a year earlier. Is there anyone who worked either for Famous Players or Petroff Partnership on this site that would know the prototype status of this cinema?

grandcameo
grandcameo on October 11, 2020 at 9:23 am

I was wrong about the seats being swapped.

Cinema 1 had blue seats with a green/teal theme on the marquee/doors, cinema 2 had red seats and a red theme, while cinema 3 had grey-green seats with a blue theme.

You can see so in this news video from opening day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsNPfL2EUv8

I wonder if there was some kind of mix-up with the seats though? You would think since the red seats went in the red auditorium, then they should’ve had the blue seats in the Bijou (#3)?

grandcameo
grandcameo on January 5, 2015 at 5:50 am

This should now be changed to closed.

Seating counts under Famous Players: Alto (#1) 532 Rio (#2) 371 Bijou (#3) 297

Not sure what Landmark’s seating counts were, but it looks like they swapped seats in the Alto and Bijou when they took over and increased legroom.

grandcameo
grandcameo on March 27, 2005 at 4:53 pm

FilmExhibitor, please drop me an e-mail at my username at hotmail dot com. I’m posting my e-mail like that to block out spamware that searches the internet for addresses.

Thanks!

FilmExhibitor
FilmExhibitor on February 20, 2005 at 9:41 pm

Also grandcameo, you’re correct. C2 & 3 were never 70MM capable (largely because of the absence of 70MM product when refurb’s were optioned and deliberated).

FilmExhibitor
FilmExhibitor on February 20, 2005 at 8:45 pm

I was the General Manager for Famous Players when we closed this cinema (as Portage Place) and later went on to work for Landmark Cinemas to re-open it as The Globe. I was pleased to help give back such a viable and beautiful theatre to the city of Winnipeg. Truly this is the only premier facility in the downtown of Winnipeg for film exhibition.

grandcameo
grandcameo on February 13, 2005 at 12:18 pm

When it was a Famous Players theatre, the projection booth equipment was as follows:

Cinema 1: “ALTO"
Xebex Supersol 4kw Lamphouse
Cinemeccanica VIC 8 35/70mm Projector
Strong ALPHA 35/70mm Platter
GS Showman II Automation *(later replaced to CineQ Automations)

Cinema 2: “RIO"
Xebex Hi-Beam III 3kw Lamphouse
Cinemeccanica VIC 8 (35mm only) Projector
Strong ALPHA Platter
GS Showman II Automation *(later replaced to CineQ Automations)

Cinema 2: “BIJOU"
Xebex Hi-Beam III 3kw Lamphouse
Cinemeccanica VIC 8 (35mm only) Projector
Strong ALPHA Platter
GS Showman II Automation *(later replaced to CineQ Automations)

I’m almost 100% certain that Famous never updated C2 or C3 for 35/70mm.

If all of their equipment remained in the building when Landmark took over, then it must still be there.

grandcameo
grandcameo on February 3, 2005 at 1:33 pm

This theatre has a combined total of around 900 seats now.