Cineplex Cinemas Esplanade
200 W. Esplanade Street,
North Vancouver,
BC
V7M 1A4
200 W. Esplanade Street,
North Vancouver,
BC
V7M 1A4
2 people
favorited this theater
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According to the CBC article from 2021 and as shown in current Google Maps street views, the Esplanade Cinemas has been demolished for an apartment building, so its status should be changed to Demolished. Mention should also be made of what happened in the partial collapse of the former theatre during demolition work on the theatre at that time.
This cinema opened on December 21, 1990. Its opening films include The Bonfire of the Vanities, The Russia House, Three Men and a Little Lady, The Rookie, Look Who’s Talking Too, and Ghost. Cineplex Entertainment closed it on April 2, 2019, with its final films including Dumbo (also in 3D), The Beach Bum, The Hummingbird Project, Captain Marvel (also in 3D), How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (also in 3D), and Everybody Knows. They closed it as operations moved to Cineplex Park Royal & VIP in West Vancouver.
“1 person dead after building partially collapses at North Vancouver worksite”
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/building-collapse-north-vancouver-1.6152981
Many thanks for that video! Very sad to see. I still haven’t visited the new Park Royal location but hope to when the C-virus passes.
I am beyond overdue to post my photo gallery of this location and PROMISE I will get to it soon. I have pictures of all six theaters, both lobbies and many other areas of the theater when taken on the closing weekend of this location.
Construction fencing is up, demolition is imminent.
https://youtu.be/Zl9WA8s6vew
Appears they did nothing during the 2016 transition. Seats were the same and the place looked rather shabby. Got to see a show here “ The Beach Bum ” as a send off earlier this year.
Closing on April 2nd, 2019 as a newer Cineplex location is opening nearby at Park Royal Mall in West Vancouver.
Article: https://dailyhive.com/vancouver/north-vancouver-cinexplex-esplanade-theatre-closing-2019?fbclid=IwAR3IbLCC42JSdJdLmRSa0yaduztVMeyY5LTtxyyCY1rRfjFxih5lAjuFHoI
I imagine they won’t want to put too much money into an older theatre like this.
Much like the Orchard Park Kelowna renovation they will probably just update it to modern reclining seats, change the signage to Cineplex and maybe put new carpeting in.
I guess we’ll find out on October 14 when it re-opens.
Glad to hear that Cineplex is coming to the rescue, I hope they won’t mess with or change any of the Famous Players design features that still exist in this location. There aren’t that many like this one left in Canada.
Cineplex will take over this theatre according to its internal job listings. The theatre will be called “Cineplex Cinemas Esplanade” and they are currently hiring staff and management for this location. I do work for Cineplex.
The Landmark Esplanade has closed as of last month.
Landmark Cinemas Esplanade 6 – Roll Credits
My thought about this is the Esplanade may have closed because of some recent talk about a new multiplex being built at Park Royal Shopping Centre in West Vancouver. If true, then it’s likely that the new multiplex is probably already under construction and the Esplanade closed in order to make way for that.
I think the best example of this architectural era that is still open for business is the Cineplex Kildonan in Winnipeg, which from the pictures I have seen looks very similar to the old Richmond Centre 6.
They have re-branded it as Cineplex but the rest of it still looks intact…for now.
Ah yes the Famous Players streetscape theatre concept, these definitely became obsolete well before their time thanks to the stadium seating craze that took over the market place. It’s really a shame because these theatres were really well executed & thought out in their design and unifying theme principals. A concept that Gensler Group took and ran with for their Sony Theatres Lincoln Square complex in NYC which opened in November 1994. Petroff Partnership of Toronto help design these complexes along with the in house design department of Famous Players at the time. I wish there were design blueprints or architectural photos around that would help document these complexes better.
Station Square Famous Players was a good example too but I would have to respectfully disagree that it was the best example. Built in 1988, it was an earlier model that, I think, they improved upon in the following years.
Richmond Centre 6 had the high (24 foot?) ceilings that allowed the designers to install those tall, art-deco inspired neon entrance ways.
Sure, it wasn’t the “Stanley” on Granville but for a shopping mall multiplex theatre it was much better designed and thought-out than it probably needed to be.
I haven’t seen the interior of the Famous Players Prince George, but I imagine it may look very similar to Richmond Centre.
Unfortunately these were the last of the more elegant designs which eventually paved-way for the bloated, juvenile-inspired, kiddie-park designs that were Silver City.
Herman, don’t forgot about Station Square 7, that theatre was probably the best out of those builds.
I agree these were great-looking theatres they built the late 1980s, early 1990s.
The Richmond Centre 6 was probably the best local example with its elaborate use of neon signage and grand entrances to each cinema. It was demolished and replaced with a food court back in 2011.
Along with the Esplanade, the only other ones remaining that I know of are one in Kelowna, Prince Rupert and the Kildonan in Winnipeg.
I love these Famous Players 1980’s era “streetscape theatres.” Glad to see this one is still up and running.
Now renamed to Landmark Cinemas 6 Esplanade.
Does anyone know if Landmark is planning any remodeling?
I guess at this stage of the game it’s not worth plugging a lot of money into an old-school theatre.
MickeyDeez79 — You are correct the Empire brand was absolutely nothing compared to Famous Players. Empire were real cheap operators of theatres and they are finally getting out of the business. Empire Theatres actually started out as a partner of Famous Players in the Maritimes — Maritimes Theatres Limited as well as F. G. Spencer theatres Co. Limited.
It looks like Landmark Cinemas has now taken over the Esplanade 6 from Empire.
Plans have been announced by the Empire chain to sell the Esplanade 6 to Landmark Cinemas as part of Empire’s splitting of its theatres between Landmark (20 locations in western Canada and Ontario) and Cineplex Odeon (24 locations in Atlantic Canada and two in Ontario) as Empire quits the theatre business. Full story below:
Empire leaves movie theatre business with sale to Cineplex and Landmark
I surely did miss this theater when it was Famous Players. I remember my dad making me and my brother to this movie theater back in the day. I like this theater and I still occasionally go here with friends and my brothers, but I do not really like the Empire brand. Not that I hate it, but it does not hold a candle on Famous Players.
Boasts six 35mm projectors and two digital 3D projectors.
Here is a link to some photos of the Empire Esplanade 6 (that name just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it?) including auditoriums and seat counts.