Mayfair Theatre, Ottawa
mayfair theatre cinema located ottawa ontario canada ottawa oldest active movie theatre operating since operates independent repertory cinema theatre programming includes independent secondrun classic film noted double feature frequent screening cult film rocky horror picture show room mayfair surviving atmospheric cinema spanish revival form second theatre house kind constructed ottawa interior feature include four fauxbalconies two feature claytile canopy significant feature include stainedglass window proscenium arch painted ceiling decorative plastering wrought ironwork mayfair retained theatre clock used since inception unit feature blue illuminated numbering fred robertson retailer almonte mayfairs original owner mayfair opened december showing blue danube adult admission price cent matinee cent evening performance child admitted ten cent respectively blue danube completed threeday run mayfair presented first double bill bring em back alive x mark spot outset theatre sound system supplied northern electric montrealbased canadian theatre supply provided projection stage equipment first half century existence cinema remained robertson family ownership theatre later operated secondrun cinema numerous year late mayfair concentrated pornographic film phase lasted less two year october mayfair adopted repertory format following month keith davidson became theatre manager mayfair became known economical double feature introduced june five day week excluding sunday monday chineselanguage film would presented mayfairs ownership consisted several investor ottawabased mayfair cancelled planned showing videodrome april police threatened theatre obscenity charge handful citizen including maude barlow objected violent content film approved ontario board censor previously shown without incident nepean ontario director michael rubbo rented theatre three day early conduct fourwaller promotion film peanut butter solution fared poorly english canadian market major renovation resulted new concession stand box office space wider seat replaced original set approximately seat mayfairs regular admission price theatre membership available per year per year student time membership numbered double feature became available day april chineselanguage film discontinued sunday afternoon double feature also introduced time regular price double feature obtained annual membership featured film predominantly hit american production minority classic international film tom bergin became manager early davidson left pursue interest august local medium indicated theatre would close effective november date theatre would terminate membership program city ottawa declared theatre building heritage site ontario heritage act october designation prohibits outright demolition building public community concern closure mayfair interest heritage value resulted formation friend mayfair theatre loosely organized community group claimed several hundred member november new partnership consisting filmmaker lee demarbre ian driscoll projectionist film conservator paul gordon film scholar john yemen announced signed tenyear lease owner stephen ng new owner renovated facility new seating couch balcony digital video projection system new mm projector dolby digital sound system mm projector long play tower system seating capacity reduced mayfair reopened january film metropolis accompanied short subject local filmmaker theatre reopening accompanied renewed emphasis repertory role relaunch month thirteen ottawa premiere presented double bill limited tuesday night occasionally night midnight screening friday saturday night also introduced july two founding member new partnership john yemen paul gordon left group pursue project john yemen individual sent city proposal heritage designation summer makeup partnership lee demarbre programmer ian driscoll josh stafford currently mayfairs programming includes cult film family matinee independent film ottawa premiere local film festival late night presentation also became main venue ottawa international writer festival spring hosting reading lecture theatre also report continued success annual halloween screening rocky horror picture show mayfair opened threescreen cinema orleans december situated former empire six theatre facility location presented similar programming original mayfair location emphasis familyoriented film mayfair orleans location closed february lease cancelled due arrears rent following projection format supported mayfair mm projector includes dolby digital dts sound capability mm projector phillipskinoton video projector various format digital list ottawagatineau cinema list designated heritage property ottawa miguelez alain fall theatre near year going show ottawagatineau penumbra press isbn x ottawa south history project