Cinema Theatre
1355 Main Street E,
Hamilton,
ON
L8K 1B5
1355 Main Street E,
Hamilton,
ON
L8K 1B5
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: 20th Century Theaters, Famous Players, Supreme Theatres
Architects: John P. MacKay, William D. MacKay
Firms: MacKay Brothers
Previous Names: Main Theater, Community Theatre
Nearby Theaters
The Main Theater was opened on June 22, 1925. It was operated by Joseph Stempski. Later operated by Supreme Theatres. Seating was listed at 588. In August 1938 it was renamed Community Theatre and closed in 1950. On April 23, 1951 it was reopened as the Cinema Theatre by 20th Century Theatres.
By the early-1980’s it was twinned and the theatre was last operated by Famous Players and closed on May 23, 1982.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 16 comments)
The Gregory was noted as a former name of the Cinema Theatre. There may have been some confusion because Gregory was the name of the family that ran this theater (and others, possibly). The Cinema had other former names, but the Gregory may not have been one. The theater nearby on Kenilworth Street, just north of Main Street, was not called the Gregory. It was the Windsor Theatre. After being closed for a number of years, it was reopened as the Rex Theatre (late 1970’s?). It had a “family” film policy, but it was not successful and I recall it didn’t last long. And it was the last time this building was used as a theater.
There is no listing on this site for the Windsor/Rex Theatre. There were at least 32 movie theaters (separate and individual) in Hamilton over the years. There may be a few other early movie theaters or nickelodeons that existed and are not accounted for. There was a storefront movie theater opposite the old City Hall. A theater on King Street (near James St.) had a vertical VAUDEVILLE sign, but I have not been able to find any information on it. As movies developed, many early theaters or cinemas didn’t last long and are probably forgotten.
The building on Kenilworth, just north of Main Street, is being converted and has been under construction for over a year now. It appears work has been halted (because of the season or otherwise?). This structure appears to be one building, but it is two distinct buildings. The Windsor Theatre existed in the building on the left (or the North side). There is a photo of the Windsor in one of the Hamilton picture books. The original wall between the two buildings exists, but the outer walls seem to have been rebuilt inside the former outer walls/shell. The original Northern brick wall of the Windsor Theatre still exists. The original exit doors (along the North wall) are bricked up and can be currently seen. There is nothing left of the original Windsor interior. It has been through many changes since it was last used as a movie theater. I was told (by a worker, I think) that the buildings will be of mixed use: a banquet hall, stores and offices. Nothing was mentioned to me about apartments or housing. I have not heard of the “Cinderella”, and I doubt that this building dates back to the late “teens”. More research will tell…
This was just an old Twinex Theatre (Twentieth Century Theatres) that Famous Players closed as fast as they could. Twentieth Century Theatres were an operating partner of Famous Players Canadian Corporation. This was NEVER an important theatre!
The Windsor and the Rex are the same theater. There was probably ten-to-fifteen years between the time the Windsor closed and the Rex opened. As to the difference in the seating numbers, I assume the Rex seating may have been refigured or the seats may have been removed when the Windsor closed. Both the Windsor and the Kenilworth were smaller neighborhood theaters. The Kenilworth has been a Ukranian Community Center since the l970’s and still retains a lot of the original interior decor. The floor has been levelelled and some apartments have been added to the south side of the building. I recall walking up Kenilworth Avenue in the mid-1980’s and the Kenilworth Theatre building was open for a “casino” afternoon (cards, crown & anchor, etc.) and I was able to have a look inside. I entered the Windsor one time (a long time ago) and an AA meeting or some kind of encounter group was in session…oops!
More info on the Windsor/Rex. The April 2013 comment by mortonbg is correct. Gregory is a former name of the Windsor Theatre. In a newspaper ad from a 1937 Spectator, the theater at 16 Kenilworth is named Gregory.
In the 1944 Vernon’s Hamilton Directory, the theater is named Windsor (under THEATRES). In the alphabetical listings (under Windsor), it states: “ Theatre Mrs Jean Gregory mgr 16 Kenilworth av n (no punctuation, as written). In the 1959 Vernon’s Directory, the theater is not listed under THEATRES. The alphabetical listing states: ” Theatre Bldg 16 Kenilworth av n . I don’t know if the theater was open at this time.
I worked at the old Cinema in 1976 & 7 as manager. It was a small and quiet theatre that that showed mostly family entertainment. Old equipment from the silent film days littered the backstage area. It had two small apartments over the front of the building and the projection booth had to be reached from a door on the side of the building.
I worked at “The Cinema” from July 1977 until it closed in 1984. First as an usher and then as an usher/cleaner. Most of the movies were Disney or PG but when there was a lull in releases they would put R movies in. The one stable fixture at the Cinema was Florence Airth. She worked as a cashier and Assistant Manager for 30 years. When there was a cartoon playing we would have 5 shows a day and sell out 4 of them. It was a cash cow over the summer, Christmas and March break.
Great memories and a great part-time job for a student.
The Main opened on June 22nd, 1925. Grand opening ad posted.
Main theatre opening 20 Jun 1925, Sat The Hamilton Spectator (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) Newspapers.com
Renamed Community on August 22nd, 1938, with little fanfare. Ad posted.
Closed in 1950 and reopened as Cinema on April 23rd, 1951 as 20th Century theatres takes it over. It closed during the weekend of May 23rd, 1982.