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Persistent Cinema

Burlington, Ontario · 1981–2009

Showcase Cinemas

An old six-screen movie theatre on Harvester Road. It's gone now, so I'm rebuilding it here, from the front doors to the back row.

Address

3325 Harvester Road, Burlington, ON L7N 3N2

Opened

March 6, 1981

Closed

April 12, 2009

Torn down

2011

Screens

6

Seats

1,066

Open in Google MapsHistory on Cinema Treasures
Showcase Cinemas newspaper banner: the triangle maple-leaf theatre logo, 3325 Harvester Rd, Burlington, phone 637-5677, inside a film-strip border.

Articles

Newspaper clipping headlined 'New cinemas opening', with a photo of the new Showcase Cinemas building on Harvester Road and its sign listing Kramer vs. Kramer, Superman and Star Wars.
The Post · Wednesday, March 4, 1981

Canadian Odeon Theatres add six new cinema screens with the opening of the new Showcase Cinemas in Burlington this Friday, (March 6).

Located at 3325 Harvester Road in Burlington, the Showcase Cinemas will bring the Canadian Odeon Circuit to 273 screens across Canada as construction and planning continues for further expansion of the circuit.

Cinemas No. 1 and No. 2 are equipped with 310 seats each. Cinema No. 1 has Dolby Optical Stereo Sound (4 channels) for ultimate quality sound reproduction. Cinemas No. 3 and No. 4 have 126 seats each, while Cinemas No. 5 and No. 6 have 100 seats each.

With Cinema No. 1 having Dolby Stereo Sound System, the remaining five have noise reduction and frequency expansion sound systems for complete sound reproduction.

The Showcase Cinemas are fully automated with modern projection equipment. The comfortable seating, with a combined total of 1072 seats is complimented by some 22,000 square feet of luxurious carpeting. The modern multi-cinema complex has ample parking facilities.

The manager of the new Showcase Cinemas is Mike Hogan, who transfers to Burlington after serving as manager of the Seaway Cinemas in Welland, Ontario.

Showcase Cinemas opens doors

Newspaper photo page headlined 'Showcase Cinemas opens doors': the brick exterior with its sign listing Fade to Black, All Night Long, Inside Moves, Lady and the Tramp, Touched by Love and Gloria; the concession stand topped by sketches of movie stars; projectionist Bill Broadley at a 35-mm projector; a smaller curtained auditorium; and one of the two large 310-seat auditoriums.
Weekend Post · Saturday, March 7, 1981 · Page 34 · Photos by Gary Yokoyama
  • The exterior of the Showcase Cinemas.
  • Sketches of movie stars line the top of the concession stand.
  • Projectionist Bill Broadley checks one of the eight 35-mm movie projectors at Showcase Cinemas. There is also a 16-mm machine for special screenings. The equipment is all fully automated.
  • The four smaller auditoriums seat 120 people each.
  • One of the two large auditoriums which seat 310 people each. This particular auditorium is equipped with the Dolby stereo sound system.

Movie box office boom

Top of a Burlington, Ontario newspaper Entertainment section dated Wednesday, January 7, 1987, with Vic Hyde's Show Notes column and the headline 'Movie box office boom': 'For Showcase Cinema on Harvester Road, Christmas week was by far the best week of the entire year.'
Wednesday, January 7, 1987 · “Movie box office boom” · Show Notes by Vic Hyde

Area residents starry eyed at expanding film choices

Hamilton Spectator article by Bob Hutton headlined 'Area residents starry eyed at expanding film choices', about Burlington growing to 20 movie screens, noting Showcase Cinemas on Harvester Road was the second six-screen movie house to open in the area in the past year, with quotes from Paul Hourigan of the Burlington Mall cinemas and Frank Kennedy of Odeon Theatres.
The Hamilton Spectator · Saturday, June 27, 1981 · By Bob Hutton

Grand opening tonight

Opening-night ad: 'The newest showplace in Burlington, Grand opening tonight, The Showcase Cinemas 6', with a map of Harvester Road and the address 3325 Harvester Road, Burlington, 637-5677, beside the six opening films: Fade to Black (Showcase 1), All Night Long (2), Inside Moves (3), Lady and the Tramp with The Mad-Capped Adventures of Mr. Toad (4), Touched by Love (5) and Gloria (6), with showtimes.
The Hamilton Spectator · Friday, March 6, 1981 · Page 52 · Opening night
Showcase Cinemas banner for Superman II, 'The adventure continues', starring Gene Hackman and Christopher Reeve, rated Parental Guidance, framed by film strips of classic movie faces.

From the papers

Now Showing

  • Newspaper ad for Showcase Cinemas, Burlington, 3325 Harvester Rd., phone 637-5677, with the Canadian Odeon Theatres logo inside a film-strip border. A round map shows the theatre on Harvester Road between the QEW and Lakeshore Road near Walkers Line, and a box lists special matinee prices: adults and students $2.50, children $1.50, seniors $1.25.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Friday, March 20, 1981 · Special matinee prices
  • Newspaper ad for Showcase Cinemas, 3325 Harvester Rd., Burlington, phone 637-5677, with the Canadian Odeon Theatres logo. Cinema 1 shows The Empire Strikes Back in Dolby Stereo, rated Parental Guidance, with a drawing of Darth Vader; evenings 7:00 and 9:20, Saturday matinee 1:30.
    The Post · Wednesday, August 12, 1981 · The Empire Strikes Back in Cinema 1
  • Newspaper ad for Showcase Cinemas, 3325 Harvester Rd., Burlington, phone 637-5677, with the Canadian Odeon Theatres logo inside a film-strip border. Cinema 1 shows Alien, rated Restricted, with the glowing cracked egg and the line 'In space no one can hear you scream', plus Gene Shalit's quote calling it 'a corker, a walloper, a rouser, a screecher and a ton of fun'; evenings 7:00 and 9:20, Saturday matinee 1:30.
    The Post · Wednesday, September 30, 1981 · Alien in Cinema 1
  • Newspaper ad for Showcase Cinemas, 3325 Harvester Rd., Burlington, phone 637-5677, with the Canadian Odeon Theatres logo inside a film-strip border. It shows E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, rated PG, with the famous drawing of an alien finger and a child's finger about to touch; evenings 7:00 and 9:30, Sunday matinee 1:30.
    Saturday, August 7, 1982 · E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
  • Newspaper ad for Showcase Cinemas, 3325 Harvester Rd, Burlington, phone 637-5677, with the Canadian Odeon Theatres logo inside a film-strip border. It shows Gandhi starring Ben Kingsley and Candice Bergen, rated Parental Guidance, with a drawing of Gandhi and the line 'His triumph changed the world forever'; evenings 8:00 p.m. only, Sunday matinee 1:30.
    The Post · Wednesday, March 30, 1983 · Gandhi
  • Newspaper ad for Showcase Cinemas, 3325 Harvester Road, Burlington, phone 637-5677, with the Canadian Odeon Theatres logo inside a film-strip border. It shows Once Upon a Time in America, rated R, with four men in tuxedos; evenings 6:30 and 9:30, Sunday matinee 1:30.
    Saturday, June 2, 1984 · Once Upon a Time in America
  • Newspaper ad for Showcase Cinemas, 3325 Harvester Road, Burlington, with the Canadian Odeon Theatres logo inside a film-strip border. It shows Ghostbusters starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, rated PG, with the no-ghost logo and the line 'They're here to save the world'; evenings 7:00 and 9:30, Saturday, Sunday and Monday 1:30.
    Friday, June 8, 1984 · Ghostbusters · Bill Murray · Dan Aykroyd
  • Tall newspaper ad for The Princess Bride, a new film by Rob Reiner: Cary Elwes and Robin Wright in silhouette between stone columns before snowy mountains, under Joel Siegel's quote 'It's thrilling, exciting, very funny and absolute magic. Don't miss it!' and praise from Time, People, The Toronto Star, The Toronto Sun and Roger Ebert's 'Two big thumbs up!'. Rated Parental Guidance, now playing in Dolby Stereo at Cineplex Odeon Centre Mall (THX) and Showcase Burlington, 3325 Harvester Rd., 637-5677.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Friday, October 9, 1987 · The Princess Bride
  • Full-page newspaper ad for The Silence of the Lambs, starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins and Scott Glenn: Jodie Foster's pale face with a death's-head moth over her mouth, under the quote 'Not since Psycho has a film so tantalized audience terrors.' Rated Restricted. At the bottom, the Cineplex Odeon Cinemas logo and 'Now playing!' at Centre Mall and Showcase Burlington.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Saturday, February 16, 1991 · The Silence of the Lambs
  • Newspaper ad for Dances with Wolves: Kevin Costner in a long coat on a windswept prairie, under '12 Academy Award nominations including Best Picture'. Rated 14 Adult Accompaniment, an Orion Pictures release, in its 13th week at Centre Mall and Showcase Burlington, with the Cineplex Odeon cinema guide line.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Saturday, February 16, 1991 · Dances with Wolves, 13th week
  • Newspaper ad for Waterworld: Kevin Costner's face beside a moonlit sea with a trimaran sail, under 'Beyond the horizon lies the secret to a new beginning'. Rated 14 Adult Accompaniment, a Universal release, playing at Centre Mall, Upper James, Showcase Burlington (637-5677) and Fiesta Mall Stoney Creek.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Friday, July 28, 1995 · Waterworld
  • Tall newspaper ad headed 'Back on the big screen.' for Star Wars: The Special Edition, with Luke, Leia and Han above X-wing fighters, credits for Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing and Alec Guinness, and 'Presented exclusively in six track digital sound' at Cineplex Odeon Centre Mall, Upper James and Showcase Burlington. Starts today!
    The Hamilton Spectator · Friday, January 31, 1997 · Star Wars Special Edition, starts today
  • Cineplex Odeon Cinemaguide showtimes listing with matinee prices of $5.99 on weekends and $4.99 weekdays, a Star Wars banner offering free popcorn and Coke for the 50 best costumes at the first showing on Saturday, February 1st, and listings for Upper James, Centre Mall, Upper Canada Place and Showcase Burlington (3325 Harvester Rd., 637-5677), where Jerry Maguire, Star Wars, Meet Wally Sparks, Beverly Hills Ninja, The People vs Larry Flynt and Fierce Creatures were playing.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Friday, January 31, 1997 · Cineplex Odeon Cinemaguide with Showcase Burlington showtimes
  • Tall newspaper ad for The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition, with Darth Vader's helmet, the Emperor and TIE fighters, Roger Ebert's quote 'One of the great visual achievements in the history of cinema', and six-track digital sound at Cineplex Odeon Centre Mall, Upper James and Showcase Burlington. Below: Star Wars Special Edition still playing, and Return of the Jedi Special Edition starting Friday.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Thursday, March 13, 1997 · The Empire Strikes Back Special Edition
  • Newspaper ad for Return of the Jedi Special Edition, with Chewbacca, Jabba the Hutt, Yoda and an Ewok around the title, under Bob Strauss's L.A. Daily News quote 'A worthy finish to the most popular film cycle of all time.' Presented exclusively in six track digital sound at Cineplex Odeon Centre Mall, Upper James and Showcase Burlington; rated Parental Guidance.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Saturday, March 29, 1997 · Return of the Jedi Special Edition
  • Newspaper ad for Man on the Moon: Jim Carrey as Andy Kaufman in a spotlight before a stage curtain, under 'Hello, my name is Andy and these are my reviews', with quotes 'A comic wallop of a movie!', 'Exhilarating!', 'Brilliant!' and 'Two thumbs way up!'. Rated 14 Adult Accompaniment, now playing at Cineplex Odeon Upper James, Centre Mall, Showcase Burlington and Famous Players SilverCity Ancaster.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Saturday, January 8, 2000 · Man on the Moon
  • Newspaper clipping topped by the Showcase Burlington showtimes box (3325 Harvester Road, 905-637-5677) listing Stuart Little, Snow Falling on Cedars, Magnolia, Man on the Moon, Cider House Rules and Anna and the King, guide in effect until Thursday, January 13. Below, an Alliance Atlantis ad for Magnolia, 'Something for everyone!', with a magnolia flower, Toronto Film Critics Association Best Picture and Best Director P.T. Anderson, two Golden Globe nominations including Tom Cruise, now playing at SilverCity Ancaster, Upper James and Showcase Burlington.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Saturday, January 8, 2000 · Showcase Burlington showtimes and Magnolia
  • Gangs of New York ad: 'The best picture of the year! A hot-blooded and haunting epic for the ages' (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone), with Leonardo DiCaprio, Cameron Diaz and Daniel Day-Lewis above a New York skyline, award laurels, the tagline 'America was born in the streets', and 'Starts today!' at Cineplex Odeon Upper James, Famous Players Jackson Sq. and Cineplex Odeon Showcase Burlington.
    The Hamilton Spectator · Friday, December 20, 2002 · Gangs of New York, starts today

Photos

  • The brick front of Showcase Cinemas on Harvester Road after it closed, its marquee reading 'Theatre now closed', 'For other locations visit empiretheatres.com' and 'Thanks for 28 great years'.
    The marquee · “Thanks for 28 great years”
  • The wide main lobby with tall brick walls, a round dark disc hanging from the ceiling, the painted movie-star mural high on the left above the concession stand's framed star portraits, and a row of black doors at the far end.
    The main lobby
  • A long painted mural above the lobby showing film legends — Charlie Chaplin, a giant Oscar statue, John Wayne, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Darth Vader and John Travolta in his white Saturday Night Fever suit.
    The lobby mural
  • The lobby under the mural, with wooden doors standing open, tall brick pillars and a dark carpet with red and yellow squares.
    Lobby doors under the mural
  • The empty concession stand with red and yellow counters, topped by a row of framed black-and-white drawings of classic movie stars, with foam boards piled on the floor.
    The concession stand and its wall of stars
  • Close-up of four framed black-and-white pencil drawings of classic Hollywood stars in a wooden frame above the concession stand, against a deep red wall.
    The stars above the concession stand
  • The long hallway to the auditoriums, lined with gold walls, tall mirrors and ornate blue-and-cream wall sculptures above a dark blue lower wall, with a patterned carpet striped in red and yellow.
    The Hallway of Mirrors
  • A long dark back hallway lit by a few ceiling lights, glowing red at the far end from an exit sign.
    The back hallway
  • An emptied auditorium with blue walls and red panels of potted-plant artwork, its seats removed, wood scraps and an old door left on the floor in front of the stage.
    Auditorium with the seats removed
  • The bare front wall of an auditorium where the screen once hung, above a low brick stage and a red-patterned floor.
    Where the screen used to be
  • Close-up of the old light bulbs running along the edge of an auditorium stage.
    Stage-edge lights

Coming soon

Step Inside

Using these photos, the whole cinema will be recreated: the lobby, the concession stand, the hallways and the six auditoriums.

AI recreation · The Hallway of Mirrors