The ByTowne Cinema is a one-screen repertory movie theatre located in Ottawa, Ontario, The cinema is one of Ottawa's main venues for independent and foreign films. The 650-seat cinema is located on Rideau Street at Nelson, several blocks east of the Rideau Centre. It was closed on December 24, 2020, with a final week of screenings shown on February 26 to March 7, 2021.

History

The one-screen cinema was built by Hyman Berlin throughout the fall and winter of 1946; it opened on February 10, 1947 as the Nelson Theatre.

After many successful years of operation, the Towne Cinema closed in June 1989 and was renovated into retail space.

1988–2020, 2021–: The ByTowne Cinema

On October 1, 1988, Bruce White and Jean Cloutier reopened the cinema, renamed the ByTowne, in honour of Bytown, Ottawa's original name until January 1, 1855, and because it was the second cinema for the owners of the Towne Cinema on Beachwood Avenue. The ByTowne Cinema began showing alternative and repertory films, with different films each day.

The cinema was sold to new owners Daniel Demois and Andy Willick from Toronto, who reopened it under the same name on September 8, 2021.

Timeline of theatre operations

;Beechwood Avenue

  • The Linden Theatre (1947–1968)
  • The Towne Cinema (1968–1989)

;Rideau Street

  • The Nelson Theatre (1947–1988)
  • The ByTowne Cinema (1988–2020)
  • The ByTowne Cinema (2021–present)

Ownership

Beginning at the Towne Cinema, Jean Cloutier, who was an usher, was asked to become a manager by the former operator of the Towne. Also, Bruce White began as a graphic designer for the Towne Cinema's programme. In 1983, Cadieux sold the Towne Cinema to Jean Cloutier and Bruce White.

The Towne and the ByTowne operated simultaneously for 9 months, with slightly different programs. In June 1989, White moved the entire operation to the ByTowne and closed the Towne Cinema.

After the ByTowne cinema was closed in December 2020, it was sold to new owners Daniel Demois and Andy Willick, who reopened it under the same name in September 2021.

Renovations

The cinema was built in 1946 by the prolific architects Harold Kaplan and Abraham Sprachman.

In the fall of 2011, the cinema installed a Christie digital projector, although its two 35mm projectors remained operational.

Showings

Hollywood hits

"El Cid", "2001: A Space Odyssey" and "The Exorcist", made their debut at the cinema. Later on, the cinema hosted big box-office bestsellers such as "Jaws", "Raiders Of The Lost Ark", "Star Trek", as well as some of their sequels.

Other popular films displayed at the cinema, but not limited to:

  • 12 Years A Slave
  • The Adventures of Tintin
  • Ferdinand
  • Gone Girl
  • The Help
  • La La Land
  • The Perks of Being A Wallflower
  • Jesus Christ Vampire Hunter

Musicals

"The Sound Of Music", showed for a long period in 1965, is amongst some of the previously shown musicals. Subsequently, many other notable musicals, like "Funny Girl" and "Willy Wonka& the Chocolate Factory" were screened.

Threat to Canadian repertory cinemas

Repertory cinemas, such as the ByTowne and Mayfair Theatre, show Canadian and foreign films that other major chains will not. However, over the past years, repertory theatres have been having financial difficulties. Especially with the new rules set by Hollywood distributors, it is even harder for repertory cinemas to sustain. For example, Buena Vista Pictures prohibits the showings of Disney films for family matinees in repertory theatres.

The ByTowne Cinema produced most of their profit on Canadian and independent foreign films. Owner Bruce White explained, "we book most of our films from distributors that are Canadian owned. This is not to say that we never do business with the Americans, but the extra grief that they generate is inversely proportionate to the amount of business that we do". White also added that "Disney isn't worth the hassle" and trying to change the minds of the big companies is pointless.