M A R C H 2 0 1 9 | T H E AT R E I S S U E C O M P L I M E N TA R Y
Reviving Hamilton’s oldest operating theatre When John Tutt opened Waterloo’s Princess Twin Cinemas in 2005, the term ‘twin cinema’ simply referred to the theatre being able to show two different movies at the same time. With the grand opening of the Playhouse Cinema this month, the term twin cinema has come to mean something a little different for Tutt — operating independent cinemas in two separate cities. Originally built in 1914, the Playhouse Cinema was a destination for working class Hamiltonians back when Barton Street enjoyed a level of vibrancy similar to what James Street North is today. The theatre’s stage made it a popular place for vaudeville until switching to an Italian cinema in the 1960s. During the 1990s, a live theatre company purchased the property in an effort to return the cinema to live performances but failed to rejuvenate the space, vacating the premises shortly after. The city then stepped in by purchasing the property and selling it to City Kidz Ministry in 1998. City Kidz is a charity that provides programming for low-income children and the theatre made for a good home for continues on page 15
THE COMMUNITY THEATRE THAT COULD
THE HEIGHT OF AMBITION
HOW THE WESTDALE THEATRE WAS BROUGHT BACK
DO HAMILTONIANS HAVE A FEAR OF BUILDING TALL?
HAMILTON'S MOST UNIQUE JAPANESE DINING EXPERIENCE
WHAT'S IN HAMILTON'S BEER FRIDGE?
TRUST THE CHEF ON THIS ONE
HAMILTON'S T.J. MCGIBBON STARS IN NETFLIX'S THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH THE YOUNG ACTRESS
A GUIDE TO HAMILTON-BREWED CRAFT BEER
TFSA CHEAT SHEET THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR 2019