Humber Cinemas, originally the Odeon Humber Theatre, was a movie theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The theatre was operated by the Odeon and Loews Cineplex chains until 2003. The theatre re-opened as an independent theatre in 2011 and operated until 2019 when it closed permanently. The theatre was located on Bloor Street just west of Jane Street.[1]
The Humber opened on January 27, 1948.[2] It was designed by architect Jay Isadore, originally seating 1200 patrons in one large auditorium, which was split into upper and lower auditoriums in the 1970s.[2] It was operated for decades by the Odeon cinema chain, was closed in 2003, abandoned, and re-opened by new owners in 2011, after a $350,000 renovation.[2][1] According to Doug Taylor, author of Toronto's Local Theatres of Yesteryear, operator Rui Pereira preserved the upper auditorium, but split the lower auditorium into four smaller auditoria.[3]
The reopening was a success, so local residents were concerned when Plazacorp, the sites owner, planned to tear down the building, to build high-rise condominiums.[4] Local city councillor Sarah Doucette asked Plazacorp to incorporate a replacement cinema into its designs.[5] The theatre permanently closed on May 30, 2019.[6]
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