What happened to Silver City?

[the_only_turek_fan]

http://www.calgarymovies.com/theatres/default.asp

It's not listed under the Theatres. It is also not listed in the newspaper. What happened to it?

I dont want to go to Crowfoot. That place sucks.

[ken0042]

The theatres in Shawnessy (The Colessium) are now called "Galaxy."

Maybe they got renamed as well?

[cheung31]

I think the Colessium is now part of Empire Theatres ( www.empiretheatres.com ), but why have they not changed the signs for months?

and according to the site, they took another one at Country Hills, if that's Silver City, then i guess that's what happened.

[calf]

yea, Silver City is now Empire Studios 16. Weird

http://www.calgarymovies.com/theatre...asp?id=9952016

[@theCBE]

I noticed it too a couple weeks ago.

Anyone know if they will still honor silver city movie passes or gift certificates?
I'd rather not drive down to chinook or westhills

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Empire expanded out of Atlantic Canada?!?!?!?

I had no idea, Sobey's trying to own the whole country now?

[snappyk]

Who owns Empire? I didn't even know about the name change, last week it was still silver cities.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by @theCBE

Anyone know if they will still honor silver city movie passes or gift certificates?

What does it say on the gift certificates? If it says "Famous Players" then you'll have to go to a Famous Players theatre.

[calf]

Originally Posted by snappyk

Who owns Empire? I didn't even know about the name change, last week it was still silver cities.

Empire Theatres are owned by Empire Company Ltd. ECL also owns Sobeys, and some real estate companies

[the_only_turek_fan]

Thanks calf.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by ken0042

What does it say on the gift certificates? If it says "Famous Players" then you'll have to go to a Famous Players theatre.

nope, my cousin works there and according to him they'll take them till the end of the month but will tell you "this is the last time we'll take these".

[GreenTeaFrapp]

It's probably the result of Cineplex Odeon buying Famous Players (i.e. Coliseum, Silver City, Paramount). Because they were the dominant two movie theatre operators in Canada, the government mandated that Cineplex Odeon sell off some of the theatres on competition concerns.

[Incinerator]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

It's probably the result of Cineplex Odeon buying Famous Players (i.e. Coliseum, Silver City, Paramount). Because they were the dominant two movie theatre operators in Canada, the government mandated that Cineplex Odeon sell off some of the theatres on competition concerns.

Yes, and those gift certs you buy from AMA will only work at Sunridge, Crowfoot, Chinook and the old Coliseum from now on. Not SilverCity anymore.

[Patek23]

Originally Posted by Incinerator

Yes, and those gift certs you buy from AMA will only work at Sunridge, Crowfoot, Chinook and the old Coliseum from now on. Not SilverCity anymore.

anything Ciniplex,Famous Players will be taken. AirMiles are also supposed to end at the end of the month.

[fredr123]

From wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famous_Players_theatres

In 2004, Famous Players Theatres locations in the Maritimes, none of which were branded-concept theatres, were sold to the region's dominant exhibitor, Empire Theatres. Canadian Odeon locations in the region had been sold to Empire in the late 1970s or early 1980s, prior to the former's acquisition by Cineplex Odeon Cinemas.

On June 13, 2005, Cineplex Galaxy Cinemas Announced its Acquisition of Famous Players Theatres from Viacom for $500 million or about US$397 million. This deal was completed July 22. To satisfy competition concerns, on August 22 the sale of 27 locations in Ontario and western Canada to Empire Theatres was announced; seven locations, all in Quebec, remain for sale, as are the assets of Alliance Atlantis Cinemas.

And in case all that wasn't confusing enough, there's this list:

After divestitures relating to the Famous Players Theatres Acquisition, Cineplex Galaxy Cinemas Will Operate 130 locations with 1267 screens in locations fron British Columbia to Quebec. They can be organized as follows:

• Cineplex Odeon Cinemas: The company's most widespread banner, generally indicating a more expansive movie house with a wide variety of movies and concessions available, although locations run the gambit from small mall multiplexes to large, ultra-modern locations. Many locations in smaller markets are being renovated into or replaced by Galaxy locations.
• Galaxy Cinemas: Cineplex's predominant brand in mid-sized markets which house little or no competition. Essentially a slightly smaller version of Silvercity, these locations feature ten or more screens, branded concessions and stadium-style seating.
• Famous Players Theatres: Traditional theatres with small numbers of screens and traditional concessions. A number of these locations still operate in downtown or mall locations across Canada, although many have been replaced or supplanted by larger-format theatres.
• Famous Players Silvercity: Famous Players sub-banner; mid- to large-size locations found in many cities not large enough to support a Coliseum or Colossus, or in smaller neighbourhoods of major cities. Similar to Galaxy, above.
• Famous Players Coliseum: Famous Players sub-banner; round, stand-alone locations often found in the suburbs of major cities (in the Toronto suburbs of Scarborough and Mississauga, the Montreal suburb of Kirkland, and the west end of Ottawa). Coliseum was the first of the branded concepts introduced by Famous Players. These locations are usually slightly larger than Silvercity theatres and feature additional branded concessions. Previously, there was a Coliseum in Calgary, which has recently been acquired by Empire Theatres and rebranded as the Studio 12 MacLeod Trail.
• Famous Players Colossus: Famous Players sub-banner; stand-alone megaplex locations even larger than Coliseums; they were opened in response to similar-sized cinemas being opened in Canada by AMC Theatres. Locations are in Laval, Vaughan and Langley, which are respectively suburbs of Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.
• Famous Players Paramount: Famous Players sub-banner; flagship downtown locations in cities such as Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. These locations will be rebranded by April 22, 2006, pursuant to a short term licence from Viacom's Paramount Pictures unit, which owns the Paramount brand.
• Famous Players Imax Theatres: Famous Players IMAX with eight story screens and stadium seating.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

yep Empire Theatres is owned by the Sobey's family (the grocery people) from Stellerton NS. They also own well Sobey's, as well as Big 8 (generic pop company for those who've every drive on the TransCanada by Stellerton you'll see the corporate headquarters and the Big 8 bottling plant. Other companies are Crombie a realestate company that owns shopping malls in the Maritimes at least (anything with (City Name Here) Shopping Centre is owned by them atleast out here).

They also own the corner store chain "Needs" as well as "Lawton's Drugs". I had no idea about the expansion out West. A lot out here is owned by them.

[mykalberta]

Why one earth did they buy those theatres in Edmonton, they are easily the worst in the city.

Strange.

MYK

[RogerWilco]

Originally Posted by mykalberta

Why one earth did they buy those theatres in Edmonton, they are easily the worst in the city.

Strange.

MYK

It was the Canadian government that told Empire which theatres they were allowed to buy and forced Odeon/Players to sell.

[I-Hate-Hulse]

Here's the original news release on the matter:

http://www.ccnmatthews.com/news/rele...tionFor=552651

I don't think it was a case of the Govt saying which exact theatres went to whom. They would have required a divestiture, but I'd bet the exact theatre breakdown was more of a negotiation between Cineplex and Empire, trading off some crappy ones (ie Edm locations), for prime ones like Silvercity / Colisuem in Calgary (which are #2 & 3 IMHO in the city)

If you're really curious, you can read the Tribunal's ruling here....
http://www.ct-tc.gc.ca/english/CaseD...=68&CaseID=257