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Group continues efforts to save theatre space

With Rainbow Cinemas Sudbury set to cease operations on Aug. 29, a group of citizens is working hard to ensure the theatre's curtains aren't closed for good. The final movie set to be screened at the cinema, which starts at around 9 p.m.
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Rainbow Cinemas theatre in the Rainbow Centre Mall, which mostly plays second-run movies, will close Aug. 29. Photo by Heidi Ulrichsen.

With Rainbow Cinemas Sudbury set to cease operations on Aug. 29, a group of citizens is working hard to ensure the theatre's curtains aren't closed for good.

The final movie set to be screened at the cinema, which starts at around 9 p.m., is “Now You See Me” and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo and Woody Harrelson.

It's a thriller about a band of street magicians who rob from greedy corporations to give back to the public.

“I think that’s a fitting storyline for Rainbow to go out on,” said Beth Mairs, the Sudbury-based indie filmmaker who has spearheaded a local response to the threat of losing a downtown alternative to big blockbuster movies in Sudbury.

Those interested in saving the cinema are invited to attend a stakeholders' meeting Aug. 28 from 2-3:30 p.m. at Rainbow Cinemas.

A steering committee created after an initial meeting about the cinema last month is looking at the possibility of creating an alternative movie house in the space.

Also generally accepted was the potential for multiple uses for the theatre spaces including live entertainment, lecture halls and a gallery space.

“The mall management of Rainbow Centre is certainly warm to the idea of a local group maintaining the cinema running, but would prefer us to take on the entire space currently leased by Rainbow Cinemas, which includes six separate theatres,” said Mairs.

“It's simply not realistic for us to take on programming more than one or two screens, especially with a thrust towards independent festival-quality films local and foreign, including documentaries.

“This goal becomes more realistic once we have other parties to the table who want to help co-create a vibrant space downtown with us to serve multiple audiences and needs.”

The steering committee has cemented its belief that the best model for this local enterprise to move forward is a not-for-profit co-operative.

Ian Carlyle, a co-operative expert with the Conseil de la coopération de l’Ontario and one of the spokespeople for the local effort, has had encouraging meetings with community groups who are interested in using the theatre space by day.

“There is the unique opportunity to facilitate age-specific programming, as an example programming geared towards seniors in the mornings,” he said.

“Combine the fact that Sudbury has many cultural organizations of which each could benefit, such as a day devoted to a certain culture. Conventions, lectures, expositions and showcases are all possibilities for this space. This really has the potential to develop a unique economic driver to the Rainbow Centre.”

The steering committee has also met with the new Laurentian University School of Architecture with the hope that the school will adopt the cinema re-envisioning as a long-term project in downtown urban revitalization, one that could grow along with the first batch of students.


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Heidi Ulrichsen

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