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Hamiltons Theatres
So I did some research on hamilton, and, to date, from the 1930s to present, hamilton operated over FIFTY theatres (this includes movie theatres)
They are listed below: 01) HAMILTON, ON – Avalon Theatre – 197 Ottawa St – 1945 – film theatre – 762 seats – closed 1965 - see Avon http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...0774/large.png 02) HAMILTON, ON – Avon Theatre – 195 Ottawa St – 1969 – film theatre – 663 seats – closed 1987 - see Avalon HAMILTON, ON – Bennett Vaudeville Theatre – 1908 – see Savoy https://c1.staticflickr.com/2/1515/2...3293ddf9_b.jpg HAMILTON, ON – Savoy Theatre – 24 Merrick – circa 1906-07 – opened as Bennett Vaudeville Theatre – 977 seats – closed 1955 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...4982/large.jpg 03) HAMILTON, ON – Broadway Theatre – 251 King St E – film theatre – renamed from Pussycat – 437 seats – closed 1990 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...7550/large.jpg 04) HAMILTON, ON – Burlington Hotel Ballroom – used for theatricals 1828 05) HAMILTON, ON – Capitol Theatre – designed by Thomas W. Lamb – opened 1917, as Loew’s Theatre. The name was changed by the new owners in 1922. The theatre closed as a movie house in 1971, but was briefly revived in 1972 as Starvin’ Marvin’s Burlesque Palace. Starvin' Marvins later moved to the delta theatre. This venture was unsuccessful, and the 2259-seat auditorium was demolished. The lobby section now houses a restaurant – see also Loews http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...5686/large.jpg HAMILTON, ON – Loews Theatre – 103 King Street East – built 1917 (2268 seats) by Thomas W. Lamb, as a vaudeville and moving picture house – name changed to Capitol in 1922 and closed in 1971 – auditorium was demolished 1973 but the front section was converted to a restaurant – see also Pantages – was Hamilton’s largest theatre and 218th theatre in Loew’s chain https://primary-niume.scdn2.secure.r...f6e4b_post.jpg HAMILTON, ON – Starvin’ Marvin’s Burlesque Palace - 103 King Street East - 1972-1973 - Starvin' Marvins later moved to the delta theatre – see Capitol Theatre http://i.imgur.com/i5vgH5L.jpg"]http...om/i5vgH5L.jpg http://i.imgur.com/H5s8kQg.jpg http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0011960.jpg 06) HAMILTON, ON – Century Theatre – 12 Mary St –film theatre – 1945 – 858 seats – closed 1988 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...3692/large.jpg HAMILTON, ON – Lyric Theatre – film theatre – 1935 – 722 seats – closed 1940 HAMILTON, ON – Kenmore Cinema – 434 King St E – film theatre – 1935 – 647 seats total – closed 1960 http://urbanicity.ca/wp-content/uplo...ry-large-4.jpg 07) HAMILTON, ON – Copps Coliseum – 101 York Boulevard – (17,500 seats) – now First Ontario Centre http://hockey.ballparks.com/NHL/Hami...ewinterior.jpg 08) HAMILTON, ON – Centre Mall 8 Theatres – 1145 Barton – 1989 – film theatre – closed 2001 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...189/large.JPEG 08) HAMILTON, ON – Centre Twin – 1145 Barton – film theatre – opened 1969 – 615 and 742 seats – closed 1985 09) HAMILTON, ON – Cinema – 1355 Main St E – film theatre – 1959 – twinned 1975 – 588 seats – closed 1983 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...6409/large.jpg 10) HAMILTON, ON – Cinema Italia – 1964 – film theatre – 1945 – 770 seats – showed Italian films – closed 1965 11) HAMILTON, ON – Cinesex and Peep Show – 61 King St. E – built 1948 as Singer Sewing Company – later Palace Billiards and Amusement Arcade 12) HAMILTON, ON – Community Theatre – 1355 Main East – 1940 – film theatre – closed 1955 http://www.thestarlite.ca/pics/movie.../community.jpg 13) HAMILTON, ON – Delta Theatre – 1087 Main St E – film theatre – 1935 – 972 seats – closed 1980 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...6183/large.jpg 14) HAMILTON, ON – Dofasco Centre for the Arts (Formerly The DuMaurier Centre/Theatre Aquarius/Hamilton Place) – 190 King William St HAMILTON, ON – Hamilton Place – opened 1973 (renamed duMaurierLtd. Centre) HAMILTON, ON – Ronald V. Joyce Centre For the Performing Arts at Hamilton Place – seating for 2181 patrons in the Great Hall, and 350 in the Studio Theatre – 10 MacNab Street S. – see Hamilton Place http://tourismhamilton.com/wp-conten...reAquarius.jpg 15) HAMILTON, ON – Downtown Theatre – film theatre – 1955 – James Street – 853 seats – closed 1960 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...3371/large.jpg HAMILTON, ON – Granada – see Grand Opera House – 102 James St – 1940 – closed 1955 – 1017 seats HAMILTON, ON – Grand Opera House –(1880-1930s) – James and Gore – 1226 seats – see also Opera House – opened with The Brook 1880 – renovated 1905 to 1780 seats – converted to Granada Theatre – demolished 1962 16) HAMILTON, ON – Empire Theatre – 424 Barton St – film theatre – 1935 – 892 seats – closed 1955 http://www.thestarlite.ca/pics/movietheatres/empire.jpg 17) HAMILTON, ON – Gregory Theatre – Main and Kenilworth – film theatre – 1935 – 481 seats – closed 1940 18) HAMILTON, ON – Hamilton Conservatory for the Arts - James Street South - and there occupied a key role in the cultural life of Hamilton for … heart of downtown Hamilton, has been revived http://historicalhamilton.com/media/images/12.jpg 19) HAMILTON, ON – Hyland Theatre – 190 King St E – film theatre – 1959 – 977 seats – closed 1985 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...2696/large.jpg 20) HAMILTON, ON – International Cinema – 251 King William St – film theatre – 1969 – renamed Pussycat 1970 – 450 seats – closed 1988 HAMILTON, ON – Pussycat Theatre – 251 King William – renamed from International Cinema 1975 and renamed Broadway 1979 – film theatre – 666 seats – showed porno films 21) HAMILTON, ON – Jackson Square – James and King – film theatre – 1973 – 691 and 424 seats – became sixplex 1989 (1867 seats total) – only theatre left in downtown core https://dynamicmedia.zuza.com/zz/m/o....6_Gallery.jpg 22) HAMILTON, ON – Kenilworth Theatre – 241 Kenilworth St – film theatre – 1935 – 647 seats – closed 1960 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...9886/large.jpg 23) HAMILTON, ON – Lime Ridge 4 – 999 Upper Wentworth – film theatre – 1981 – 1000 seats total – closed 2001 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...2411/large.jpg 24) HAMILTON, ON – Lyceum Theatre – 326 Concession – film theatre – 1935 – 675 seats – closed 1940 https://dynamicmedia.zuza.com/zz/m/o...16_Gallery.jpg HAMILTON, ON – Zoetic – 526 Concession Street – film theatre – 2013 – 710 seats - also known as Movie Palace & the Mountain Theatre http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...9630/large.jpg HAMILTON, ON – Mountain Theatre – 526 Concession – film theatre – 1945 – 709 seats – closed 1970 25) HAMILTON, ON – Main Theatre – film theatre – 1935 – 685 seats – closed same year 26) HAMILTON, ON – Main West 2 – 1605 Main St – film theatre – 1984 – 456 seats total– closed 1985 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...0282/large.png 27) HAMILTON, ON – Majestic Theatre http://www.thestarlite.ca/pics/movie...s/majestic.jpg 28) HAMILTON, ON – Mechanics’ Hall 29) HAMILTON, ON – Odeon Theatre – 156 King St. E – film theatre – 1973 – twinned – Also known as the Lincoln Alexander Centre - 1197 seats total – closed 1991 https://www.meetingsbooker.com/image...r-Centre-3.jpg 30) HAMILTON, ON – Opera House – James Street – 1000 seats – early 1900s – served as brief stop-overs for touring companies on way to longer, more profitable runs in larger towns and cities 31) HAMILTON, ON – Palace Theatre – 137 King St East – 1935 – 2007 seats – closed 1970 http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0011962.jpg HAMILTON, ON – Pantages Theatre – designed by Thomas Lamb – see Palace Theatre – opened and closed about 1935 http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0011961.jpg 32) HAMILTON, ON – Playhouse – 177 Sherman – film theatre – 1935 – 666 seats – closed 1985 33) HAMILTON, ON – Queen’s Theatre – 1065 Barton E – film theatre – 1935 – 937 seats – closed 1955 34) HAMILTON, ON – Regent Theatre – 150 Locke – film theatre – 1935 – 618 seats – closed 1955 35) HAMILTON, ON – Reo Theatre – 170 Parkdale – film theatre – 1935 – 555 seats – closed 1985 36) HAMILTON, ON – Rex Theatre – film theatre – 1969 – 484 seats – closed 1970 37) HAMILTON, ON – Roxy Theatre – film theatre – 1955 – 750 seats – closed same year 38) HAMILTON, ON – Royal Metropolitan Theatre – 1853 – John Nickinson Stock Company 39) HAMILTON, ON – Royal Theatre – 95 King St. W – film theatre – 1935 – 428 seats – closed 1945 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...png?1386345311 40) HAMILTON, ON – Staircase Café – 27 Dundurn St – film theatre – 2004 http://i1.wp.com/ihearthamilton.ca/w...inge2016-7.jpg 41) HAMILTON, ON – Star Theatre – burlesque house https://i.imgur.com/Uotv4wk.jpg"]htt...om/Uotv4wk.jpg 42) HAMILTON, ON – State Theatre – 758 Barton E – film theatre – 1949 – 558 seats – closed 1965 - Also known as the Towne theatre http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...7862/large.JPG 43) HAMILTON, ON – Strand Theatre – 761 King St. E – film theatre – 1930 – 558 seats – closed 1970 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...jpg?1376362038 44) HAMILTON, ON – Tivoli Theatre – 110 James Street N. – film theatre – 1940 – 200 seats – closed 1990 http://www.nationaltrustcanada.ca/si...%2C%201944.jpg HAMILTON, ON – Colonial Theatre – 1909-1913 – known as Wonderland, Princess and Tivoli – 1909-1913 HAMILTON, ON – Princess Theatre – film theatre – also known as Wonderland, Colonial and Tivoli – 1913-1925 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...3876/large.png 45) HAMILTON, ON – York Theatre – 761 King St. E – film theatre – 1945 – 448 seats – closed 1985 http://photos.cinematreasures.org/pr...jpg?1353058626 46) HAMILTON, ON – Westdale Theatre – 1014 King Street W. – film theatre – 1930 – ??? seats – closed 2017 https://i.cbc.ca/1.1883878.138077615...photo3-620.jpg ----- Feel free to post any images you may have of any of these theatres. |
Nice work! Not sure if you have been to the Cinema Treasures website, but it may interest you and you could contribute any new information that you find.
Cinema Treasures (Hamilton, Ontario) |
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You're missing the Westdale Theater
Westdale 1074 King St. W. Opened in 1935 L. Rosefield and in 1980 CEC Holdings and in later years Ontario Theatres Group owned the Westdale, which had 593 seats and it showed art films. Now owned by a local not-for-profit known as the Westdale Cinema Group (WCG) and undergoing renovations to reopen in 2018. http://buildingmagic.ca/home/ Quote:
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My photos of Lyric theatre:
2009 https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2089/...00b90ef9_b.jpgLyric Theatre by Matt, on Flickr The auditorium also in 2009. Above the holes in the drop ceiling where the sun was shining through was the original height of the auditorium complete with balcony, walls still adorned with wallpaper from it's 1913 opening. https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4037/...e98d38e4_o.jpgLyric Theatre (1913-2010) by Matt, on Flickr Original backstage area. Stairway downstairs to basement dressing rooms and boiler room. You can also see a rigging platform to the upper right. This area was about 6-7 stories tall with very steep wooden staircases and scaffolding ascending to a single roof hatch. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2582/...9d2cbb82_o.jpgLyric - Backstage by Matt, on Flickr Demolition the following year https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4028/...31997d5c_o.jpgA Century Ends by Matt, on Flickr Also the Tivoli from about 2008. Still looks about the same and water damage aside, the auditorium is in excellent condition. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2253/...043c2a58_o.jpgLet's all go to the lobby by Matt, on Flickr |
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Also I have it at 1114 king st west - is it 1114 or 1174? Not that it matters much hehe.. |
I like your enthusiasm for theatres! I love them myself.
I think Hamilton is in major need of some more. Surprised the Cineplex in Ancaster and on the Stoney Creek Mountain still don't have VIP theatres. They're pretty great! Hopefully they happen soon. I think Cineplex would be smart to put another theatre Downtown somewhere. I'm sure that will happen in the next 10 years with the rapid development that's currently ongoing. |
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The silvercities pretty much killed all the other theatres as they were single screen theatres mostly. And you know me - hamilton's history is my big interest :) I wish I could have been around to see the giant opera theatres of king st when they still existed.. :( |
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True, love the grand style of the old school theatres. I'm a big fan of the Winter Garden in Toronto. Hope we can see some old theatres be saved and revitalized. People would appreciate them! |
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toronto is the only one who has some of the original burlesque theatres left. And of course nothing like that will ever ever be built ever again - the scale, design requirements artisan requirements and just overall cost and maintenance will just never work again. It's sad that nothing new will ever have the intricate stonework that the past had.. Thomas Lamb was a visionary. at least Westdale is getting restored to it's original look, but it's a small theatre in comparison. Hamilton had 2 of the biggest theatres in all of canada. the Capitol theatre and the Palace Theatre, both on king st. one holding 3600 people, the other 2400 people.. |
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Hopefully Westdale can be restored in a classy way. Would be nice for the city and that area. I always liked that theatre. Sucks how those other large venues went to crap. I think it shows the economic disparity Hamilton was in at the time, considering they couldn't restore them. |
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It would be even worse now because now people have their mobile devices to entertain themselves. Westdale is going to be restored to back how it was when it first opened in the 1900s - they are doing tests to see if they can come up with original traces of the colour, as all the photos of its heyday are of course in black and white.. |
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People still love the theatre. Especially in Hamilton. We have so many art lovers. It's beautiful! I think they would've still been successful today. At the time they were demolished, they probably couldn't afford to keep them in operation any longer. If they were still in operation, I think we would see them do good business. More indie film showcases and performances. Just my opinion. Who really knows. |
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Perhaps you and your family could attempt a rebuild of one of the old demolished grande opera houses? Or in a new location - lots of vacant properties still ;) - when was the last time a new grande opera house was built? maybe make it a fusion - the center being a grande opera house and around it movie theatre screens -a grande opera house silvercity LOL :P |
came across this beautiful video from an animation called "leap/ballerina" and I thought it was a beautiful example of what our original theatre experience would have been like:
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this is a good thread. but it is a bit depressing. Hamilton doesn't have an Opera company anymore.
What I do love about Buffalo is Shea's. Did something proper and saved it. I remember reading once Hamilton was somewhat of a theatre capital. http://k53.pbase.com/o6/30/250930/1/...6Mb.SBSB01.jpg https://www.broadway.org/galleries/2...falo,%20NY.jpg |
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Many of those buildings are still there they have been re purposed for other uses. The Hyland, Kenmore and Empire buildings still exist. That's just to name a few. I'll go through the list later and list some more.
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