Paradis Cinema
8215 Rue Hochelaga,
Montreal,
QC
H1L 2L2
8215 Rue Hochelaga,
Montreal,
QC
H1L 2L2
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Additional Info
Previously operated by: Associated Theatres, Cinemas Guzzo, Cineplex Odeon
Previous Names: Capri Cinema, Maxi-I
Nearby Theaters
The Capri Cinema opened in 1954. It was owned in 1968 by Cinemas Bernard La Have, Inc. It was closed in 1969. On November 11, 1972, it was reopened and renamed Maxi-I. Vincenzo Guzzo, the founder of le Cinemas Guzzo took this theatre over and renamed it the Paradis Cinema on April 9, 1974. It was the theatre in the Cinemas Guzzo chain. It is split up into three screens on August 3, 1977.
This theatre was booked by France-Film from about 1974-1985, then Cineplex Odeon until 1998.
First-run French language movies were shown until it was closed on November 20, 2009.
Contributed by
Mike Rivest
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Recent comments (view all 6 comments)
I upload the grand opening ad as a triplex as well as the ad for its Maxi-I era.
Rotting away: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.714822485243457.1073741853.451057244953317&type=1
Creation of Cinemas Guzzo
Creation of Cinemas Guzzo Sat, Oct 28, 2000 – 160 · The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Quebec, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Rotting away: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/cinema-paradis-mercier-hochelaga-maisonneuve-1.5367299
The Cinéma Paradis in Montreal’s east end has been boarded up for a decade, collecting a mix of spray paint and urban grime while the borough strives to revitalize the area.
Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough Mayor Pierre Lessard-Blais says the CEO of Cinémas Guzzo, Vincenzo Guzzo, can no longer ignore the theatre his father bought in 1974, which launched the family empire.
What will be proposed for the derelict building and when is still anybody’s guess, but there are plenty of ideas floating around the community.
The local merchants' association wants more commercial space for Hochelaga Street as the strip becomes increasingly vibrant, while a tenants' advocacy group says the old building should be replaced by much-needed social housing.
As for the mayor, he envisions a residential complex with commercial space on the ground floor, but no matter what, he said the first step is for Guzzo to submit a plan.
“We are very open to having proposals from him,” said the mayor. “The citizens are tired. They just want a good project here. And I think it could be something good for the neighbourhood.”
Just this year, eight new businesses have opened on the street, according to Lessard-Blais, who attributes that economic resurgence to borough initiatives.
While the area shows signs of returning to its former glory, he said the building is “pulling the neighbourhood down.”
No matter what, it’s up to the building owner — not the borough — to come up with a plan, he said.
More dates and corrections:
The Capri cinema opened in 1954, although it is difficult to track its early years as no advertisements were placed at that time. From 1956 to 1958, it appeared in the Associated Theatres listings. During the 1960s, Cinémas Bernard La Have, Inc. took over the cinema, transitioning it to show French movies. The cinema closed in 1969. On November 11th, 1972, it reopened as Cinéma Maxi I. It then reopened again on April 5th, 1974, as Cinéma Paradis, showcasing French-language adult movies and marking the first location for Cinémas Guzzo. On August 12th, 1977, the cinema was refurbished and reopened with three screens. Finally, it closed on November 20th, 2009.
Maxi I grand opening ad posted.
La Presse reports that’s its up for sale. https://www.lapresse.ca/actualites/grand-montreal/2025-09-16/le-cinema-paradis-mis-en-vente-apres-16-ans-de-decrepitude.php
“Abandoned for sixteen years, the Cinéma Paradis is for sale. Its deterioration caused a public outcry four years ago.
The land is listed on the Centris platform for $1,679,000, excluding taxes. The City of Montreal estimates the building’s value at $913,900.
“This property offers strong potential for a mixed commercial and residential project with zoning […] allowing for retail, offices, clinics, and housing,” the ad states.
Since its closure in 2009, the former cinema has never seen a second life. Yet, it is located at the busy corner of Hochelaga and Liébert streets. The Maison de la culture de Mercier is located in the area.
The building belonged to the Guzzo family since 1974, until its sale to Denmar Investments last July. “We no longer wanted to develop the land ourselves, so we accepted an offer,” explained Vincent Guzzo in an interview with La Presse, without providing details of the agreement.
Under the protection of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act, the Guzzo group was forced by the court, at the end of 2024, to cede control of most of its activities to an interim receiver. Its debts are said to total more than $100 million.
“We had a dispute with our main bank. We had a coordination problem with various other creditors, and we had to pass on certain opportunities that we could have had if we had had more time,” explained Mr. Guzzo.
Status quo Over the years, Cinéma Paradis has been the subject of litigation between the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve borough and the Guzzo family. In 2010, a project to build offices there was nixed.
In 2019, Vincent Guzzo attempted to build a five- to six-story rental building there. Zoning limits its height to only three stories.
“I would only have made my budget if I built six stories,” notes Mr. Guzzo. “Of all the cities I’ve had dealings with, the administration is the worst. It was truly unmanageable, converting this cinema into something profitable.”
At the time, Mr. Guzzo had repeatedly attacked the city in a media effort to complete his project. Mayor Pierre Lessard-Blais responded by publishing an open letter on social media.
“I’m not the type to settle my scores in public, but when faced with an individual who thinks he’s above all else, what do you do?” “ he wrote, condemning Mr. Guzzo’s "arrogance.”
“How can he believe that municipal bylaws apply to everyone except him?” he asked. “By not taking responsibility as a property owner and allowing his building to deteriorate for years, he is above all showing contempt for his neighbors. We are all fed up with this lack of civic-mindedness and consideration. The building’s lack of maintenance creates an ugliness that no one needs.”
A Piece of History Although it is “undeniably in poor condition,” the Cinéma Paradis is an important witness to the history of Mercier, and even of Quebec, “since it was the cinema that launched the Guzzo empire,” considers Olivier Dufresne, historian and director of the Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve History Workshop.
The establishment opened in 1954 under the name Cinéma Capri. It was Tétreaultville’s first movie theater.
“We hope that the developers and the borough will be sensitive to this history and make the necessary efforts to assess whether certain elements have conservation value. I’m thinking in particular of the cinema sign,” he noted in a written exchange with La Presse.
The future of Cinéma Paradis was a hot topic in 2021. Two petitions collected a total of over 2,000 signatures. One demanded the preservation of the cinema, and the other its conversion into social housing.
Citizens criticized the presence of vermin on the premises and an accumulation of vandalism."