It’s perhaps fitting that doomsday movie 2012 will be among the films lighting up the screens at Park Plaza Theatre this evening. After the last patrons have filed out, the 21-year-old entertainment centre will close for good.
Georgia Sourtzis, communications manager with Cineplex Entertainment — the owner of the 5214 47th Ave. theatre, confirmed on Wednesday that the plugs are being pulled on the Park Plaza projectors, after 21 years.
“It was an older, sloped theatre and it didn’t reflect the calibre of theatre assets that we would like to offer our guests,” she said.
Cineplex Entertainment opened Galaxy Cinemas Red Deer in March 2008. That 10-screen theatre boasts stadium seating, wall-to-wall curved screens and digital surround sound, among other amenities.
Sourtzis said her company continuously evaluates its older theatres.
“In some cases we renovate and retrofit them where it makes good business sense, in other cases we don’t. We close them if there’s another newer theatre in the community.”
Park Plaza Theatre was built by Purnell & Sons in 1968. It was purchased by Famous Players — now part of Cineplex Entertainment — in 1988. Park Plaza has six screens.
All of its current employees have been offered jobs at Galaxy Cinemas, said Sourtzis.
She added that the theatre property has been sold to “a local business operator,” but declined to disclose details.
As of Wednesday, title remained in the name of Famous Players Co., which is part of Cineplex Entertainment.
Red Deer’s Uptown Cinema Centre, which was owned by competitor Landmark Cinemas, closed three months after Galaxy Cinemas opened. Park Plaza continued to operate, although its ticket prices were reduced.
That placed it in competition with discount theatre Carnival Cinemas, which also operates in Red Deer.
Carnival owner Bill Ramji said Park Plaza’s departure will result in a better market balance.
His theatre will continue to cater to one segment of the viewing public and Galaxy Cinemas will continue to serve another.
“This is a healthy environment for both of us.”
Ramji said he has a “fantastic working relationship” with Galaxy Cinemas and Cineplex Entertainment, with Carnival usually gaining access to first-run movies two to four weeks after they’ve left Galaxy Cinemas.
Uptown Cinema Centre, which operated for 40 years before it closed, remains vacant. Landmark president Brian McIntosh said the downtown property, which his company had leased, is for sale.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com