Dollar Cinema
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The Dollar Cinema, located in Montreal, Quebec, is a twin screen movie theater that offers a less expensive alternative to multiplex cinemas in the city. Originally inspired by the Dollar store concept, the theater once offered admission and concessions at the cost of one dollar (plus taxes) however admission cost has since increased, making the name and theme superfluous in nature. At present ticket admission is $2.30 (taxes included). Films presented are second-run, however most are recent enough that they are shown prior to home DVD release.
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[edit] Overview
[edit] Location and theatre
The theatre is housed within the Decarie Square Mall, what can be categorized as a dead mall, on the outskirts of Montreal's English-speaking Cote-Des-Neiges. Major nearby landmarks are the Decarie Expressway and the Hippodrome de Montreal. It is within walking distance of the Namur metro station.
The theater's Cinema-1 has 350 seats, and Cinema-2 has 650 seats and a small stage. While the theater is of a classic style of same level row seating, flat screens and early 1980's decor, the sound system in both cinemas has been upgraded to DTS surround with newer more comfortable seating installed.
[edit] Films shown
Five mainstream Hollywood films are played seven days a week. Attempts at showing repertory films were made, but proved unpopular and have since been dropped in favour of recent second-run films for the most part. The stage in Cinema-2 has been used on occasion for amateur live-performances using audience participation, usually during special fund raising events.
[edit] Food concessions
An amateur run food concession stand--from the same counter tickets are sold--is available to movie patrons, mostly consisting of vending machine types of food and beverages (e.g. pre-packaged chocolate bars, candy, canned sodas). Popcorn however is made the same day and served in small paper brown-bags. All concessions are still currently priced at $1.00 plus tax--the only sales item currently preserving the "dollar" theme.
[edit] Web site
Dollar Cinema runs and maintains a web site, allowing its patrons to access movie show times, theatre information, movie reviews and previews, as well as directions, a photo gallery of recent events held at the cinema and pictures of the theatre taken by freelance photographer Christopher Zanti, and an mp3 version of the cinema's theme song.
The web site came under criticism after its redesign in 2005. The site, which is unique in offering movie fans an interactive forum, was blasted by visitors who found the redesign to be less than professional. Since then it has once again been revamped. It now offers all of the features mentioned above in a more sleek and easy to read format. It also has a link to various other sites and for a time featured a movie-themed column written by Toronto freelance writer Zoey Castelino entitled The Red Carpet.
[edit] History
The theater, originally opened in 1977, was owned and operated by the Cineplex Odeon chain, until it closed in 1997. Since that time, three independent businesses have made attempts to reopen the theatre as an alternative cinema--two have failed. At present Bernie Gurberg, the current owner, operates it under the name "Dollar Cinema" (contrary to the name however, only food consessions are priced at one dollar).
- 1977 - Opens as "Odeon Decarie Square", under ownership of Odeon
- 1984 - Renamed "Cinema Decarie Square", after Cineplex Odeon merger
- 1997 - Cineplex-Odeon ceases operation/shutsdown location; sold off to independent owner and becomes second-run theatre
- 1998 - Closed down
- 2000 - New owner reopens theatre for Hindi films
- 2002 - Closed down, again
- 2004 - Reopened as "Dollar Cinema", film admission being only $1.00 plus tax
- 2007 - Dollar theme abolished (now $2.30 ticket admission); theatre no longer unique
