February 2026
Independent, family-owned movie theatres used to be a fixture in every city and town across the country. Whether they were indoor theatres with one or two screens, or multi-screen Drive-Inns, they were the place to go to see the latest movies out of Hollywood. Sadly, few of them remain in operation today, replaced by corporate-owned multiplex theatres, with double-digit screens and stadium seating. The few remaining independents survive as second-run theatres, or art-house theatres.
One of the last of the independents in Simcoe County is Circle Theatre in Alliston, Ontario. Opened in 1938 by Oliver Stewart, the 230-seat Circle Theatre was the first building in Alliston to have air conditioning.
Whitney MacDonald, who had previously worked as a projectionist at Circle Theatre until leaving to fight in World War II, purchased the Circle Theatre in 1958, operating the theatre until passing it onto his son Scott and daughter-in-law Linda in 1985.
MacDonald died in 2011 and the theatre closed. It sat vacant until it was sold to in April 2012 to Peter and Kate Vander Zaag. After seven months of renovations, Circle Theatre re-opened on 9 November, with Hotel Transylvania and Pitch Perfect as the opening films.
Circle Theatre, which is approaching the 87th anniversary of its opening, is the home of the annual New Tecumseth Film Festival.
Circle Theatre also serves as an occasional venue for Yuk Yuks comedy shows.
Sources: Circle Theatre.
