Bay Theatre
91 Chapel Street,
Nanaimo,
BC
V9R 5G8
91 Chapel Street,
Nanaimo,
BC
V9R 5G8
2 people
favorited this theater
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Famous Players, Landmark Celebrity Cinemas
Previous Names: Fiesta Twin Theatre, Fiesta Square Cinema
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This theatre went through openings and closings like water. Initially opened on October 26, 1972 by Famous Players with seating listed at 740 in its two auditoriums. It opened as the Fiesta Twin Theatre with “The French Connection ” and “What’s Up Doc?”. Closed on March 1,, 1992 and reopened again on February 5, 1993 by Landmark Celebrity Cinemas as the Bay Theatre. It closed again on June 8, 2000, was reopened again on May 11, 2001. Closed the final time on January 25, 2002.
It was demolished in August 2013.
Contributed by
Chuck
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
There are additional pictures on this theatre’s entry at CinemaTour: View link
A local live theater company was using the former cinema to stage their productions, but has since moved on.
The company listed above as Landmark Celebrity Cinemas (which took over the Bay Theatre after Famous Players closed it) is actually called Celebrity Cinemas, a company that once owned the Towne Cinema in Vernon and was listed by that name in the Film Canada Yearbook. Celebrity Cinemas was an affiliate company of Landmark Cinemas of Canada.
The Bay Theatre’s days may now be numbered, as it was recently reported that the roof above Cinema One at the Bay caved in in stages, first on May 8, then again on June 5, as the result of neglect and lack of maintenance by its current owner. Nanaimo city council announced that a remedial action order had been approved on June 10, and the owner has 30 days from the date of the order to either ensure the building’s soundness or have it torn down, or the city will have it demolished at the owner’s expense. Full story below:
Old Bay Theatre now needs to be demolished
Status should now read demolished. The Bay Theatre was torn down this past week, as reported in this article:
Old Theatre on Chapel Street Demolished
My Dad Alex Barclay opened as manager the Fiesta Twin Theatres Oct 26 1972.
Grand opening ad in the photo section.
The Fiesta was closed by Famous Players on March 1, 1992, with its final shows featured below: