rivest266 on September 29, 2023 at 1:45 pm

Opened by Canadian Theatres on December 20th, 1974. Grand opening ad posted.

Jason Whyte on October 26, 2021 at 9:21 pm

Some quick updates after a visit just a day after TIFF 2021 ended:

The first four rows in #8 have all been removed but none of the rows have changed their lettering, so it now begins in Row E. Not sure why this was done, but it definitely has taken out some of the more undesirable seats.

Previously I mentioned that the screen in #8 was permanently set to 2.20:1 for 70mm, but the screen has now been remasked and fixed at 2.39:1. I saw SHANG-CHI here and it really was a great presentation in front row E center!

This location also frequently offers 9:30-10am showtimes throughout the week, which is a rarity in Canada.

Jason Whyte on April 11, 2020 at 6:25 pm

This is one of my favourite venues to see a movie in Toronto, and I always visit the theater to see a movie around TIFF.

Some history: It opened as a dual auditorium in 1974 at the top floor of the Manulife Center with one large theater (formerly #2) with over 600 seats, and one smaller auditorium (about 300 seats). It was a big premiere venue for many titles for decades, including the first theater in Toronto to play STAR WARS on #2.

In 1998, Cineplex Odeon expanded the venue with six additional screens, and a year later added their first VIP cinemas in Canada. These are located to the left of the main lobby as you enter. Theaters #1-6 had what Cineplex called at the time “Sightline Seating” but is pretty standard stadium seating in the rear section of the theater like most theaters built in the era.

More renovations have happened here from the mid 2010s: All the original screens in the VIP auditoriums and in #1-7 masking and screens were removed for larger, floating screens were installed along with updated leather rocking seats. A few rows in theaters #1-6 are “Prime Seats” which are reservable wide leather seats and cost a few extra dollars over regular admission. While the seat count is moderate, all of the screens are of pretty large size in good sized rooms. A really great place for a big screen experience.

Because of this 1998 renovation, the original auds #1 and #2 became #7 and #8, and you can tell much of the original theater is still there which is a nice touch to the place. It’s great to see old and new in this location retaining its history. The seating for #8 is now at 465 from about 600 originally.

7 is still the original flat sloped small auditorium, and #8 has also remained the same slope. #8 is capable of projecting 70mm and has a fixed 2.20:1 screen in the auditorium. Scope and flat movies play within this frame so there will either be letterboxing on digital formats. #8 also has retained the original 1998 European style seats which are a bit worn, and I’m hoping this auditorium updates its seating one day.

While the theater is of course fully accessible and getting into the original cinemas are a breeze, #7/8 are a touch more difficult. As the Varsity twin was not accessible when it opened in 1974, a special hallway was built in the 1998 renovation to the left of aud #7 entrance. Anyone needing to use a wheelchair or need a barrier free access would need would need to find a manager, open the accessible door and go all the way around the perimeter of the auditorium and enter through the exit doors at the front of either #7 or #8.

Seat Counts as of September, 2019 (provided by LCBO notices posted on all auditorium doors):

1: 205

2: 229

3: 226

4: 179

5: 150

6: 147

7: 220

8: 465

VIP: 30, 30, 30, 24

I have added many photos of my visits over the years onto this gallery! Again, it’s nice to see a theater with many decades of history nicely expanded and renovated over the years and will continue to remain open for quite some time.

rivest266 on March 1, 2014 at 3:30 pm

Uploaded the 1974 and 1997 grand opening ads in the photo section for this cinema.