What Happened to the OTHER Movie Theaters at West Edmonton Mall?

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In West Edmonton Mall's lifetime, there have been 32(!) cinema screens in operation at one time or another. The mall had cinemas from Canadian Odeon Theaters, Famous Players, Cineplex Odeon, and finally Cineplex Corporation.
West Mall 5, Cinemas 6, West Mall 8, and Silver City, made up an impressive offering of film viewing options at the Greatest Indoor Show on Earth.
Footage Courtesy of:
@LakeNipissing
@ExitThrutheGiftShop
Christina B
Eric JM
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Matthew “That BEM Guy”
PO Box 42013 Millbourne
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0:00 Introduction
1:42 WEM's First Cinemas
3:28 West Mall 5
5:30 WEM in 1983
6:38 West Mall 8
8:53 WEM's Iconic Era
9:17 Encore 6
10:14 Silver City
12:12 Closures

[@hollye142]

Took me at least half an hour to watch this 14min video because I couldn’t stop pausing at the maps and pictures

[@stickynorth]

Ditto. I'm still trying to find PDF's of the old mall maps to find out where certain chains were back in the day...

[@AlexMoenR]

My biggest memory of West Mall 8 was that Nintendo of Canada held an event in there in early 1993 called the “Super NES Mega Screen Meltdown”. I remember playing SNES games on the big screen as a kid, including a pre-release version of Star Fox. It’s the stuff of nostalgic childhood dreams for me, for obvious reasons.

[@jdubz1841]

As a JP high schooler, nothing beat heading to WEM after class, hitting up the dollar store over and grabbing cheap candy then seeing a $2 movie on toonie Tuesday. I also think I remember the Odeon 6 had a mix and match candy wall? Like a bulk barn before bulk barn. Good memories 🥰

[@brandonsummers1308]

As a fellow jp high schooler, we use to skip last period and go the movie thestre and arcade. Good times

[@DanoFSmith-yc9tg]

Bulk barn has been around since like the 60's, at the very least the early 80's, as I've known of them all my life. "Before bulk barn" ? Fairly sure the 60's and 80's came before the early 90's

[@JackOfHearts44]

Nothing better than waking up to α classic style BEM video, you’re awesome man. Thanks for all the research and effort. You’re α gem in this city

[@Decade8Media]

Thanks for this very well produced look into West Ed's cinematic past. You never fail to satisfy my inner mall geek.

[@mikeross880]

Long live “Canadian Odeon Theatres”

[@noahthompson9930]

always wondered what was there before the skatepark, always seemed like such a strange setup, makes perfect sense now

[@strangenorth]

Great video dude, I have many memories of these old mall theatres - although I'm glad Scotiabank theatre is still going strong, best in the city!

[@stickynorth]

If I could have my way I'd move all those existing attractions out of the old theatre spaces and revive them as movie palaces with different themes. One for VIP 18+ movies, one as a discount theatre, one for indie and foreign films... Although I never got to visit WEM 5 or WEM 6, I did love the Cineplex 8 in Phase III and saw many films in those late 80's pastel coloured theatres... And I really miss them. To me there's still nothing that beats going to the mall food court then seeing a movie...

[@DaSuDanesi]

I didn't get to go to it many times, but Encore 6 was definitely a great option that I wish still existed. Not a lot of options for cheap theatre viewings these days.

[@bluetarantulaproductions6179]

8:06 Those red neon lights on the left side of the screen was me and my buddies favorite arcade "Circuit Circus"! I freaking miss that arcade! Many, upon many good memories have come from that place for my friends and I.

[@BostonHorticulture]

HOW ENJOYABLE! my first job out of high school in 1990 was at W Ed Ph 1 Dairy Queen Food Court. LOVED IT. My cousin worked in Ph3 Levi 1850. It took us 20 minutes to find each other- cell phones were still not normally used. GOOD TIMES❤❤ I love that Dragon at the theater. I returned years LATER and they were dismantling it. That Mall has so many good memories. My kids love the Waterpark so much❤

[@M_D93]

I like how, aside from discussing the movie theatres in the mall, discussing how innovative WEM was back in the 80s. This mall partially inspired me to come up with a mall idea. It’s multi-themed and has quite a few established stores like Lush, Hot Topic, Spencer’s Gifts, the Gap, H&M, Build a Bear, Toys R Us, Apple Store, and GameStop, along with many local stores and a bazaar marketplace. Most of the stores, especially established stores, are in the ice and snow and tech themed areas. Dining options are very wide in this mall too, mostly in the fire and volcanic themed area, but also in other areas. Cuisines in the entire mall range from Portuguese (Nando’s), Indian and Middle Eastern, vegan, Memphis style BBQ, Japanese, seafood (Red Lobster) and much more, and this is not just limited to the multi themed food court. There are other interesting attractions like a botanical garden, canals similar to Venice and the Venetian, a Mirage like volcano, cacti, a pirate dinner theatre, a haunted house, a gothic nightclub, an arcade, and a movie theatre. What this mall has in common with WEM are the ice rink, the underground aquarium, and a multi themed hotel. Differences do include that the sea animal show is underground and the swimming area is solely for recreational activities as opposed to just being a water park (though there are some water slides). There are also educational aspects to the mall like information on the botanical garden plants, a fire safety workshop and a memorial to fire disasters, a kiosk about deserts and its plants in the world, a coding workshop, and a tech exhibition dedicated to 90s tech. This is a concept I have been coming up with for a while and I hope it comes to light.

[@owellafehr5191]

Cool to see this breakdown of all the Mall's theatres! I remember all of them except for West Mall 5. As a kid, I saw Peter Pan 2 and Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron at Encore 6, and Finding Nemo, Stuart Little 2, Night at the Museum, and Prince Caspian at West Mall 8 ... plus countless films at Silver City. My dad took me to see Silver City not long after it opened, and I remember being scared by both the elevator ride up and, of course, the dragon. For years, my sister would run and hide in the bathrooms when that music played and that thing started moving. Great memories.

[@danielnam9026]

I was traumatized by the sharp piercing sound the dragon made when it blew fire. I remember thinking, “Is that really necessary?!” 😂 I was young back then but realized it’s all part of the “experience”.

[@naderzein2435]

Excellent video. Thank you for documenting some of the history of our city!!

[@aaronpeta]

The theaters I remember were in the back corner of the food court by the submarines and on the second level just down from the ice rink.

[@danielnam9026]

How nostalgic.. I remember watching The Phantom Menace with some friends at Silver City back when I was in high school.

[@alexandraframe6493]

I totally remember all of those theatres and saw movies in all of them. It’s weird to think how much west ed has over the decades. It feels strange saying decades, kinda makes me feel old. I miss those old days at the mall.

[@shaynes.9773]

I miss those theatres... spent a lot of hours in them, from being a kid all the way up to being an adult. I wish my memory would be photographic or that I had pictures of it all. I saw so many classic films in those places. I can't tell you how many times in 1994 that I saw Pulp Fiction in Westmall 8. Thank you for the walk down WEM memory lane. This one topic was very special to me.

[@FanHalen5150]

Anakin’s “Yippee” at 11:37 cracked me up!

[@JackRyan_R6]

Thanks so much for this video! I absolutely remember and loved Cinema 6! After it was gone when any of my friends visited me in Edmonton I always regaled them that West 49 used to be a theater! Good memories.

[@Mellmick26]

I remember watching movies at the theatre in the food court… I basically grew up watching the mall expand.. one store I was sad to see go was the Japanese variety store Oomomo… they had great items for amazing prices

[@MarkCappis]

Aw, dude. Thanks for this! West Mall 5 was my jam. I remember on wall they had a bunch of old movie posters on display. Reflecting on it, my working theory is those posters were the posters from the first films they played. Return of the Jedi was one of them. I remember Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom was another. One was from a musical number compilation film called That's Dancing. I forget what the other two were. But anyway, because of that, I went the Jedi and Temple of Doom posters for my home theatre some day. If I ever can afford a house.

[@cjdewsbury7981]

I've lived in Edmonton all my life and go to WEM every other week and your videos always makes want to return 🤟🔥

[@chrisst.pierre9764]

Used to work at the bungee tower back in the early 2000’s. This video brings me back, thanks for the memory jog brother. Keep it up!!

[@JuiceOfJBB]

This video got me really nostalgic. I have so many memories in all those old theatres. Famous Players is where my cousin took me to my first movie, Batman. And me and my dad would always take me to the dollar theatre to watch all the action movies. WEM was really the only place I went for movies growing up. Thank you for this video! Definitely miss the old days 😂

[@senorblues76]

Great video! I love your work with preserving the history of attractions like this in Edmonton. I have a vague memory of going to see Ferngully as a young child with my family at I believe Encore 6. I remember there being a lineup for it -- I don't know why. Maybe it seemed like a long lineup as an inpatient child. It might have been during the holiday season, since my family and I usually went to WEM around that time of year and rarely at other times until I was older. I think I saw some other movie(s) at West Mall 8 over the years but I don't remember exactly. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

[@oilers999]

I saw a few movies at the smaller theatres at WEM and much preferred it over the new larger theatre. I still have original movie ticket stubs from many different theatres in Edmonton

[@LobsterFusion]

Yea dude! Cinema 6 near the food court. I went to H.E. Beriault Junior High School and would skip class so much to go to the mall. I'd eat at Taco Ball, which was close by and then go see a movie. It was a blast. I did that so much.

[@ExitThrutheGiftShop]

Awesome history! I don't know that i ever went to the old theaters. Coming from our of town we were too busy getting our fill of the other attractions!

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

I remember I saw The Last Samurai in the FIRST movie theater that got taken out! And the other movie theater too, I loved it. It felt so retro in the best way looking back.

[@danielvasquez6138]

Didn't notice you upload this until now. Thanks for doing this.

[@jkwacker8225]

I remember the last movie I saw at the old Cinepex by the food court was Benchwarmers in 2006.

[@LGB007]

Those Peacocks were so loud and annoying. The lazy river ride was so awesome back in the day. I can still remember the heat that Dragon gave off. Great memories.

[@Zombifan122]

Oh man as someone in Spruce Grove as a teenager this brings me back. Pile all your friends in a beater car and go to the cheap theater and arcade and food court was the best! Also with shoppers drug mart around the corner cheap good snacks to smuggle in were readily available!

[@magesticbaby]

Love this video but it also makes me sad. Things were so much better back in the day…

[@sabrinamiller3671]

Fantastic video!! I teared up, because I'm just that much of a nostalgic person.

[@TrickiVicBB71]

TIL there were other theatres in WEM. Thank you for your work BEM guy

[@DoseofDustin]

Growing up 4 hour drive from edmonton i can recall all the cool things they had in the mall! Nowadays the mall seems super bland and always crazy busy, with all the activities being super expensive.

[@LakeNipissing]

Very excellent research and presentation, sir !! WEM was incredible from 1986 to 2000.

[@kj6446]

This brought back some great memories

[@greg6500]

Series of mergers reduced competition which meant they could reduce choice raise prices reduce quality of service. West Edmonton Mall still has a lot of neat stuff but it is a shadow of its former self and kind of an amazing self contained example of what late stage capitalism is. Everything merges, mergers mean no competition which frees them up to raise prices, reduce quality of service and cut nice things like the dragon, No need to try to draw people in when theres no competition. Thats why every mall has the exact same handful of sad stores selling crappy fast fashion and everything has the exact same bland white aesthetic now. People went to WEM because it was different and special, Not because their forever 21 is better than a different one across town. Really hope they figure that out.

[@MustardEAD]

$1.00 .... damn

[@givrcanadianrocktributeban6965]

Wanna hear something weird- does that first theatre below grade not look just like the downtown Edmonton subway lrt station, with its long escalator, elevator and stairs. That’s because if I remember correctly doing a super special behind the scenes tour- that was how that space was set up. Complete with a short tunnel and tracks to accept the lrt whenever it would be built. Perhaps an urban archeologist can verify that info- or prove me wrong. Pretty sure the owners aren’t going to spill the tea on that. It may be that they weren’t really contracted to build that. Funny they have an elevated station being built today. Part of me hoped that they could resurrect that old platform.

[@Niagara_falls99]

Great video😊

[@jccurtis8890]

I used to work at west mall 8 before it shut down… really miss the old theaters at wem.

[@Kobiedog31]

The Scotia bank theatre doesn’t really hold a candle to any other theatre in the city anymore. All of the other theatres invested in better seating or higher quality projectors, while the one at West Ed has the same terrible seats, and hasn’t upgraded its projectors since 2013.

[@danielvasquez6138]

Hello, I have a quick question about the theaters at WEM. According to Google, the mall has two floors/levels, but I was under the impression that there were four phases. If this is the case, which floor/level were the old three movie theaters located on? I know that floor three now has the new SilverCity theater, but I am unsure about the other theaters that are no longer there.

[@Ms.WallaceFowler]

Thanks for the memories.

[@BestEdmontonMall]

WEMories!

[@jademorgan999]

I miss our Friday's at the mall. Rosie's for supper, Zellers for candy to sneak into Encore (we bought tix, not food/drinks). In High School I spent 75% of my life in the 3rd phase foodcourt smoking, mooching fries, sharing a lrg coke from mcds until they caight on. 1 large coke would "hydrate" 5-7 of us. Rock n ride was terrible but I tried it twice to be sure. The teens ruined it, not the staff.

[@kittychatalot]

i love these history videos

[@millerrobson3976]

Saw a ton of movies in all those theatres with my family inmthe 90’s to 2000’s. definitely took advantage of all those Star Wars screenings

[@TheComicbookguy78]

Ok when I moved to the city in 98 there were 3 theaters. One in the food court, one where the dinner theater is at, a bar was made from one on theaters and a third where that go cart thing is at near the small food court.

[@daniellongworth7513]

I was banned from two of these theatres for being a theatre jumper hahahaa (someone who would but a matinee ticket and then go see movies all day)

[@brittaneypregizer6903]

Anyone else, when they mentioned the escalator was like, that is where DRIVE is now? No? Just me?

[@willford55543]

My first reaction was being surprised that West49 was a theater before lol

[@grahamh8631]

Oh wow Think you for that video.

[@jademorgan999]

Im surprised the 3rd phase food court 4d theater wasnt mentioned 😊

[@BULR666]

SNFU - Thee Maul That Heats Peephole

[@justdub24]

Well probably not practical or possible, it would be super interesting to learn more about the underground and backroom tunnels across the mall

[@zemnous2847]

When he said arcades I was really hoping to see a picture of reds instead of circuit city

[@Eisert316]

One thing I remember at west Edmonton mall I don’t know if you referenced it in any of your videos I have watched the kind of rickshaw tours

[@hollye142]

Wooooo new BEM vid

[@meghan9436]

Great presentation! I'll soon be celebrating seven years in Japan next month, and I haven't returned to Canada in six years. I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I'll probably return to a completely different mall if/when that happens. That would make for a fun reaction video.

[@magesticbaby]

Hey fellow Japan-living Edmontonian! I went back after 5 years away last year and WEM was just… sad.

[@willford55543]

Been living here for years and even then it feels like a different mall every time I go lmao. I mean to be fair it's not that often, few times a year maybe but things change fast there lol

[@Sunny-Muffins]

How far down does the mall go? What else is down there?

[@andrewmah2962]

Canadian Odeon Theaters, never heard of it. I was born in 1986

[@omarjunior4603]

are you still sad that the mindbender is gone

[@canadaboy20]

I keep forgetting to ask: where was the third McDonald’s?

[@kevinhardy8997]

I used to go to the cheap theatre. Now it's... Urban Planet? Why?

[@philc824]

Why did McDonald’s leave the West Edmonton Mall ? ( story idea )

[@percyconnolly]

I miss old intro music. not a fan of the new music. I enjoy the content tho

[@archstanton8126]

Wouldn't 27 screens in one location be the most anywhere?

[@BestEdmontonMall]

I don't actually know, but the thought did cross my mind as well!

[@stickynorth]

It's close. Times Square in NYC has 2 megaplexes across the street from each other. AMC Empire 25 and Regal E-Walk 13... The Silver City @ WEM constantly ranks in the overall top grossing theatres in North America or at least it did a few years back. @@BestEdmontonMall

[@stickynorth]

And IF Toronto had kept the Eaton Centre Cineplex open and AMC was still a separate theatre company in Canada it would have had more... But once AMC opened 24 screens at Yonge-Dundas Square across the street, the Eaton Centre 18 (originally 21) shut down. So the cluster in theory would have had more, But it didn't.

[@jasonwhytemedia]

Believe it or not, AMC built 30 screen megaplexes in the mid 1990s and some still exist in the US. There was a location in Vaughan, Ontario that AMC built with 30 screens, but it was eventually closed in 2014.

[@jasonwhytemedia]

@@stickynorth The Eaton Centre Cineplex closed in 2000, in response to the Paramount Toronto (now called Scotiabank Toronto) which was built nearby. The AMC Yonge-Dundas (now Cineplex and down to 23 screens because of a VIP conversion) opened in 2008 after many delays.

[@lkporter1989]

I remember the skate park in west49. Remember going there as a kid and watching some pros skate

[@JoesBlows]

...what's with the fake 555-5555 telephone number on the Star Wars promo advertising at 11:30 in. Any ideas?

[@BestEdmontonMall]

I never noticed that! That's a copy from the actual newspaper so I believe it was probably a placeholder number that got missed and went to print! Good catch!!

[@CDNHottie69]

They destroyed the Casino entrance and all the shops in the hallway, just a terrible idea.