Historic Theatre Welcoming Back Moviegoers for First Time in Years
For the first time in years, Ontario is welcoming people back to the Cinesphere at Ontario Place to watch movies at the iconic theatre, year-round.
Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism Culture and Sport, will be at Ontario Place this evening to announce that this weekend will mark the official reopening of the Cinesphere with regular, year-round screenings using IMAX’s new, state-of-the-art laser projection.
Ontario Place will also be partnering with charitable organizations to develop a new program that will help introduce the Cinesphere to new audiences by providing free movie tickets to local community groups. The program begins this November with 50 tickets being given to Kids Up Front.
The Cinesphere, which already has the technology to show IMAX® 70 mm film, has been upgraded with a new 60-foot by 80-foot curved screen that will offer an immersive experience for moviegoers. Improvements have also been made to the lobby, theatre lighting and acoustics. As a cultural heritage landmark, the Cinesphere will continue to undergo renovations to enhance the movie-going experience while retaining its historic significance.
Movie screenings will continue as part of Ontario Place’s winter programming, which includes the site’s final Ontario150-themed activities. Winter at Ontario Place will run from early December to mid-March and feature a winter light exhibition with illuminated installations by local artists, as well as skating on a synthetic ice rink and other activities.
Reopening the Cinesphere is just one of the ways the province is transforming Ontario Place and welcoming visitors back to the site. This summer, the Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trailopened, converting 7.5 acres of parking lot into spectacular new green space to the waterfront.
Transforming Ontario Place into a year-round, public destination is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.
Quick Facts
- Fall and winter weekend screenings begin with Dunkirk (2017), Beauty and the Beast (2017), as well as other recent blockbusters.
- Graeme Ferguson’s North of Superior was the first IMAX documentary film commissioned for and screened at the Cinesphere and helped put the IMAX format on the map.
- Opened in 1971, the Cinesphere is the world’s first permanent IMAX theatre.
- IMAX with Laser is a dual 4K projection system equipped with a new optical engine and suite of IMAX-owned technologies that provide audiences with the sharpest, brightest, clearest and most vivid digital images, combined with a whole new level of immersive 12-channel audio.
- In 2014, the province designated the Cinesphere as a structure of cultural heritage value.
Additional Resources
Quotes
“For years, Ontario Place has been a cultural centrepiece and a hub for activities and attractions for us to enjoy. With the reopening of the Cinesphere, I’m excited to welcome back eager visitors to the iconic theatre and encourage people to take part in the fun activities that Ontario Place has to offer. With year-round programming, the newly transformed Cinesphere will be a space to revisit great memories from years past, and a place to create new memories for years to come.”
“The Cinesphere has retained its legacy and now will leave a new mark at Ontario Place. With the latest IMAX® with Laser technology coupled with IMAX 70mm film capability, the Cinesphere is one of Ontario’s most unique theatres. Whether it is film screenings, conferences or events, our historic geodesic dome is back.”
Penny Lipsett
“Home to the world’s first permanent IMAX® theatre, the historic Cinesphere at Ontario Place was renowned for delivering awe-inspiring experiences that helped begin the legacy IMAX is known for today. Today, we are excited to team up with Ontario Place to re-launch the Cinesphere with our next-generation laser technology, which will immerse audiences in vivid images and sound like never before. Together, we look forward to launching the next chapter in cinematic experiences for generations to come.”
Mark Welton
Leave a Reply