Tuesday marks the end of an era for many Maritime moviegoers. Come Thursday, 24 Empire Theatres locations in Atlantic Canada will be run by Cineplex, Canada’s largest cinema company.
The Ontario-based company says the takeover won’t affect prices in the foreseeable future and moviegoers will still get a break on tickets on Tuesdays.
“We are really excited to get started and to be opening these theatres under the Cineplex banner and we will be working really hard to provide our guests with a great experience,” says Michael Langdon of Cineplex Entertainment.
Tuesday is the last chance for movie fans to watch films in an Empire location. Cineplex will take over on Thursday and it may take a few days to get everything up and running again.
By Friday, the show will go on at every theatre in the Maritimes, but feelings about the takeover are mixed.
“Maybe a little feeling there of loss by being taken over by a big corporation like that, but other than that, we’d still come,” says moviegoer Don Heffler.
“It’s more the end of an era,” says Wayne Carter, who heads up the Atlantic Film Festival in Halifax. “Empire has been a fixture in Atlantic Canada for 30, 40 years.”
Carter says he doesn’t expect there to be any changes to the event under the new ownership.
“They are virtually a big part of every film festival across Canada so I don’t think we will be any different,” says Carter. “We will just be working with different people.”
There are also concerns about Halifax’s only single-screen theatre, the Oxford. Cineplex says the classic cinema will operate as it always has, but some people question losing local owernship.
“Once you have a national company like Cineplex operating all the theatres across the country, then there is less competition and less choice,” says moviegoer Maureen MacIsaac.”The consumer often loses out when there isn’t much competition.”
Under the deal, Cineplex paid $200 million for 24 theatre in Atlantic Canada and two in Ontario.
Empire donating money from last day to stabbing victim
On its last day under the Empire marquee, the theatre in New Glasgow is raising money for a man paralyzed in a stabbing.
Half of the money raised from Tuesday’s ticket sales will go to the Scott Jones Trust Fund to support his rehabilitation and recovery.
“I think it’s a great idea. I think it makes tone of sense,” says fundraiser co-ordinator Stephanie Cooper. “It’s a popular night at the movies. It’s the last night, so it’s really a nice sort of dedication to Scott and his family.”
The 27-year-old man was stabbed in downtown New Glasgow earlier this month. His friends and family believe Jones was targeted because he is gay.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Kelland Sundahl
