Famous News (Mar-Apr 1981)

We keep on & * building... Famous Brought 1980 to a Spectacular Close with the Grand Opening of Some New and Renovated Theatres Cumberland Four Cinemas On December 18, 1980 the Cumberland Four opened its doors in Toronto’s exclusive Yorkville District. As we reported in our last issue, the unique feature of the four cinemas is that they are housed in the same building as our new Head Office. The four cinemas have a combined seating capacity of 1,071 and feature some unusual surprises for theatregoers. On the outside of the theatre building, an animated band of neon fingers points to the entrance above which sit four television screens. The screens, which flash scenes of current features, will ultimately be linked up with four other Toronto theatres, (Imperial, Uptown, University and Towne) on a centralized cable service. Patrons will then be able to see promotions from all five cinemas. Upon entering the theatre, the eye is quickly captured by a theatre audience of stuffed dolls sitting atop a high platform. Cashier Karen Crow says most people react with a loud, ‘““Wow! look at the dolls,’’ when they walk in and spot the mannequins. The decor of the candy bar located in the long entrance hall is borrowed from art deco which, to architect Mandel Sprachman, Theatre audience observing Head Office staff at opening. signifies ‘‘the culmination of movie March/April, 1981 5