Elgin Theatre, Dual-screen cinema on Elgin Street, Ottawa, Canada
The Elgin Theatre was a dual-screen cinema on Elgin Street in Ottawa with a combined seating capacity of around 1000 seats. The building housed two separate screening rooms that could operate independently.
The cinema opened in 1937 and became North America's first dual-screen theatre in 1947 when a second projection room was added. This conversion set a new standard for cinema design in the region.
The theatre served as a social gathering place in downtown Ottawa where audiences came together for film entertainment. It shaped the city's entertainment life for many decades.
The theatre was located in downtown Ottawa and was easy to find due to its prominent street location. Visitors should be aware that the building closed in 1994 and is no longer in operation.
Owner Nat Taylor created an innovative concept in 1957 where new releases played in one theatre while successful older films showed in the other at the same time. This dual programming strategy was an unusual and effective business approach for that era.
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