End of an Era

Just got back from the very last screening at the Royal cinema. The Royal was one of the Festival Cinemas, a mini-chain of second run theatres in Toronto. Unfortunately, the owner who kept the chain alive as a labour of love died two years ago and his family have finally decided to pull the plug on the business. When I heard this news, several weeks ago, I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. The theatres have been an important part of my life since I was a teenager and the Sweetie and I usually see at least one or two films a week at them.

To celebrate the passing of the Festivals, all the theatres were showing classic films tonight. I was torn. The Revue was showing Lawrence of Arabia; The Royal, on the other hand was showing 2001: A Space Odyssey. Lawrence is my favourite film ever, but the Royal is the theatre where we've spent the most time, where we know the staff best, in a neighbourhood we love (Little Italy). So, I sacrificed seeing El Aurens one more time in favour of the HAL 9000, and I'm glad I did.

Tim, the house manager and a really nice guy, did a very nice tribute to the staff of the theatre and I actually got a little misty-eyed. And one of the sons of the former owner was there to say thanks to the audience and to let us know that they've sold theatre to a company who's going try to keep it open as a theatre. (They're turning it into a post-production house for during the day, and showing films at night.) Fingers crossed that they do as good a job programming films as the staff of the Festivals did.

And shayheyred, this is just for you: sitting directly behind me for the screening was...Don McKellar! Weird. And he's a seat-kicker. (So, what do you say in a situation like that? I loved you in The Drowsy Chaperone and Slings & Arrows, but could you please quit kicking my seat?)