COVID-19 uncertainly forces Rainbow Cinemas in Saskatoon to close early

It’s the end of an era for cinema in Saskatoon.

There will be no encore movie for Rainbow Cinemas in Centre Mall after the threatre announced this week it has permanently closed.

“It’s been a wild ride, we’ve enjoyed every second of bringing the magic of movies to you and we have nothing but the deepest appreciation for your 25-years of patronage in Saskatoon,” said a post on Facebook.

The discount theatre was slated to close  May 20, when its lease expired with the mall. However, with theatres across the country facing an uncertain disruption due to COVID-19, the threatre decided to pull the plug early.

President of Magic Lantern Theatres Tom Hutchinson said he is sad about the closure, adding the threatre provided affordable entertainment for families.

“You could just step in there anytime you wanted and out of our eight screens there would be something that you’d want to see.”

“If it turned out to not be the best movie of the year you still only wasted $2 or $3 dollars. It was very popular.”

Hutchinson said the success of Rainbow in Saskatoon allowed the company to resurrect the vacant Roxy Theatre on 20th Street, which had fallen into disrepair.

“There’s never been a dime of civic grant money go into the Roxy because Rainbow paid for it all. “It has supported the operation of the Roxy and now leaves the Roxy as the legacy to the people of Saskatoon.”

Rainbow Cinemas opened in the Centre Mall 1995.