![]() In 1981, three more auditoriums were added to the complex, bringing the total to 21, and the total number of seats to over 2000. A year or two later, the tickets were colour-coded, with eye-catching directional signs on the theatre walls to guide people to the appropriate auditorium. No tickets were sold after a film began, preventing interruptions during viewings. By employing these machines, and by staggering the times the movies started, crowding was reduced. ![]() Computerized ticket-vending machines were installed and it was possible to purchase tickets in advance, even a day or two ahead. A cafe and bistro were included, offering a wide variety of foods. Parkdale mall movies movie#Patrons were able to gather before attending a movie or linger after a film. Designed to resemble a “Common Room,” Canadian art was displayed on the walls. The main lobby was capable of holding 200 people. The aisles were on both sides of the auditoriums, which meant that no seats were jammed against the walls. Few patrons seemed to notice, as the auditoriums were attractive and the seats comfortable. A rear projection system was employed to screen the films, which caused the edges of the pictures to be slightly blurred. The auditoriums were grouped into four sections, located on two different floors. When it opened on Tuesday, April 17, 1979, it contained 18 auditoriums, each containing 50 to 100 seats-about 1500 seats in total-the largest movie-theatre complex in the world at that time. The Cineplex Odeon Eaton Centre was a natural extension of the multi-screen concept. Nathan Taylor also had experience with operating multi-screen complexes, as he had opened one in Ottawa and had previously divided the Uptown Theatres into the Uptown Five. Thus, increased revenues were generated without increasing costs for rent, taxes, and heating. Multi-screen complexes allowed theatre owners to screen several movies in the same building, catering to the different tastes of viewers. He also had considerable experience in converting large theatre auditoriums into smaller venues, as he had redesigned the Hollywood, Imperial, and Loew’s Uptown Theatres into multi-screen complexes. He had designed theatres for several decades, having been the architect for many theatres across Canada and also had restored the Elgin/Winter Garden Theatres. They coined the word “Cineplex” for the theatre-a contraction of “cinema complex.” Mandel Sprachman was hired as the architect. Parkdale mall movies series#To create the theatre complex, the huge space below the parking garage was converted into a series of small theatres, all under the same roof. It was in the heart of the city at Yonge and Dundas and easily accessible by public transportation. They formed the Cineplex Odeon Corporation in 1979, as they realized the possibilities of the space in the Eaton Centre as a site for a movie-theatre complex. In the basement of the garage was a 25,000 square-foot space that attracted the attention of Nathan A. On the northwest corner of the Eaton Centre was a ten-storey parking garage. The new mall was instantly popular with Torontonians and attracted thousands of tourists as well. When the Eaton Centre opened in 1979, the area south of Dundas was revived. In the 1970s, the downtown section of Yonge Street had deteriorated, especially between College and Dundas Streets. Use of this site signifies agreement to terms of service.City of Toronto Archives, Series 881 Fl. © 1995-2022 Vision Entertainment Services. CinemaTour is not affiliated with any cinema or circuit. Their presence here does not imply any endorsement of CinemaTour by those organizations. Their inclusion here is for the benefit of the reader and for the benefit of the particular organization, but they are, in fact, the copyrighted property of those organizations. Some documents, images and logos contained in these documents belong to various organizations and corporations. As such, articles may contain errors, bias, duplication, or need to be cleaned up. ![]() ![]() The content of this website is a research work in progress and is being provided to the public for informational purposes only. Return to the top of this page or Return to the main page The current Hollywood Star Cinemas sits on the site of the original cinema. General Cinema operated this theatre until October 6, 1994. The three-screen Parkdale Cinema was opened in 1977 by General Cinema Corp., which spent $2 million building it, and the first movies on the bill were "Pete's Dragon," "Joseph Andrews" and "Saturday Night Fever." Previously operated by: General Cinema Theatres CinemaTour - Cinemas Around the World - Parkdale Mall Cinema, Beaumont TX Welcome to CinemaTour! Sign In ![]()
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