#5 - Theatre closes but later saved
In May the Landmark Cinemas Tower Theatre in Yorkton officially closed its doors for good. Landmark Cinemas announced that four movie theatres would be closing, including the one in Yorkton.
Bill Walker, the CEO of Landmark Cinemas Canada, talked about the company’s decision.
“It’s been a difficult road in a lot of the secondary markets for theatres for quite an extended period of time. Even pre-pandemic theatres in these small towns were certainly having some difficult times. I think the pandemic for us ultimately just highlighted some of those challenges and as we look towards the recovery. We look at the capital that’s required to sustain a successful operation; there in Yorkton, it’s ultimately not an investment that we are going to be able to afford and make,” he said. “As the business has evolved and consumer experience expectation evolves, some of these single-screen markets just don’t work anymore.”
Walker said it wasn’t a decision that they came to lightly.
“It’s always difficult when we have to close some of these cinemas because many people have had their first dates, their first movies with their kids, and these experiences that they remember fondly, and it’s difficult to see those leave small communities.”
He added that he hopes that someone will come and buy the movie theatre from them so the residents of Yorkton can once again enjoy movies.
And, in October that is exactly what happened as movie fans were happy to learn the Tower Theatre would be re-opening.
Under new management – Magic Lantern Theatres -- significant upgrades took place at the theatre on Second Ave. in the city which closed its doors earlier this year.
“We’re restoring the original building,” Katrina Chapman, operations supervisor on the project explained at the time of the work being carried out.
As for how the theatre will operate, Chapman said there “will be no major changes” at least for the initial opening.
The theatre will open with one screen, but Chapman said the new ownership has interest “in a bigger expansion in the next year, or two . . .There is an eye to expansion with additional screens.”
The theatre maintained its familiar name.
“The name has such history, why would we change it,” said Chapman.
In the meantime, theatre goers are now able to enjoy some improved aesthetics including upgraded seats which will include slider seats.
Current work also includes upgraded sound.
“We’ve upgraded the speakers,” said Chapman.
And, there will be an improved concession area, offered Chapman.
As for what they plan to screen, Chapman said they will be looking to new releases, but added “you’re not going to see every movie with one screen,” and movies might not open locally the day of the release.
“But we’ll try to mitigate that the best we can,” she said.
The company that is doing the work now owns 11 theatres, including the Rainbow in Regina, the Capital in North Battleford, the Aurora in Meadow Lake and the Roxy in Saskatoon.
“We’re really good at this. We serve a lot of rural communities,” said Chapman. “. . .We believe in community management. We want to have a theatre you can be proud of, both.
