Lincoln Theatre
386 St. Paul Street E,
St. Catharines,
ON
L2R 3N1
386 St. Paul Street E,
St. Catharines,
ON
L2R 3N1
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Famous Players
Architects: Jay I. English
Functions: Office Space
Previous Names: Lincoln Cinema
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News About This Theater
- Jun 18, 2010 — "Jaws"... Happy 35th!
- May 14, 2010 — Please Post Today, May 14 --- "Jaws," Happy 35th
The Lincoln Theatre was opened on May 16, 1939 with Deanna Durbin in “3 Smart Girl Grow Up”. It had 750 seats, and was operated by Famous Players. It was closed by Famous Players in January 1981. It briefly reopened under independent management and in 1983 it became the Lincoln Cinema which closed on April 28, 1984 with Rick Moranis in “Strange Brew”. This theatre is still standing today, but has been converted into office space.
Contributed by
Chad Irish
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Recent comments (view all 14 comments)
The photo linked to in the post above is dated 1982 which suggests the 1980 closing date (mentioned in the intro at top of page) is incorrect.
That photo probably has the correct date because the movie, On Golden Pond is dated 1981. After Famous Players closed the theatre at the end of 1980, the new building owner, Gary Clemenson of Gary’s Give Aways next door tried unsucessfully to run the theatre and show movies for a year or two.
This theatre was a partnership between a lawyer, Mr. Fleming and Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The theatre’s Manager was a man named Roy Miller who took over the lawyer’s share when the lawyer passed on.
Roy Miller was in partnership with Famous until his death. His widow retained ownership of the building but Famous Players took over sole operations until Dec.31,1980 (side note to Dave Dymond:I managed this theatre from 1977 until the end of 1980
Les Mitchell managed the big Capitol Theatre in St. Catharines and told me one time there was never a bigger prick than Roy Miller!
The article at http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/2012/10/02/old-lincoln-theatres-silver-screen-gets-a-second-life suggests the theatre lasted until 1987.
The Lincoln has since been extensively renovated and now serves as office space, as seen in its current Google Maps street view.
Grand opening ad posted.
Closed or stopped placing ads in the Standard in 1984.
Some information about the Lincoln as of 1939 goes as follows: The original marquee is semi-circular topped by the light-up “Lincoln” letters. The front of the theater featured shiny vitrolite and glassy plates of multiple colors. The lobby featured green-neon showcases and thick wine-colored carpet leading into a spacious foyer. There were single indirect lights built into the ceiling. In a large basin is a fountain, aglow with hidden lights. One of the most unusual and unique things about the Lincoln Theatre is a small pond with several goldfish swimming unconcernedly located on the opposite side of the fountain and the restrooms.
Famous Players closed the Lincoln Theatre in January 1981, but reopened days later under independent operator. It ran a mix of various movie functions throughout the remainder of the early-1980s, but in early 1983, it was briefly renamed “Lincoln Cinema”. It closed in April 1983 and reopened in November 1983 by new ownership, and the theater’s original Lincoln Theatre returned.
The Lincoln closed for the final time on April 28, 1984 with “Strange Brew”.