Stinson Theatres
A former Canadian cinema chain that operated indoor theatres and drive-in cinemas primarily in Central Ontario and the Georgian Triangle.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Stinson Theatres was a Canadian movie-theatre chain based in Barrie, Ontario. Founded in 1971 by Robert Stinson, the business began with a two-screen drive-in theatre and expanded into a regional exhibition network serving communities in Central Ontario and the Georgian Triangle. At its height, the chain operated approximately 30 indoor screens across six locations, together with five screens at two drive-in sites. The company’s portfolio included conventional indoor cinemas as well as outdoor drive-ins. Its locations were spread across several Ontario communities, including Barrie, Collingwood, Huntsville, Orangeville, Orillia, Owen Sound and Timmins. This regional footprint reflected the role of independent cinema operators in smaller Canadian markets, where theatres often served as important local entertainment venues and, in some communities, competed with larger national exhibition companies. In 1996, Robert Stinson engaged investment banker Stan Medley in an effort to take the theatre business public. A new holding corporation, Long Road Entertainment, Inc., was created and later appeared on the United States Pink Sheets in 2002. The Stinson Theatres operating business, however, was not placed into that holding company. Plans to develop the enterprise as a public company were subsequently abandoned. The public-company vehicle was sold to other parties and renamed in 2007, leaving Stinson Theatres as a separate privately operated exhibition business. Following Robert Stinson’s death in 2008, his sons Henry and Timothy Stinson oversaw the company during a gradual wind-down. Individual properties were sold, closed, redeveloped or transferred to other uses. The Barrie Triple Drive In was sold in 2011 and later operated as Sunset Barrie, while other former sites were demolished or converted into churches, offices, a brewery, theatres under new operators or redevelopment projects. The chain is therefore no longer active, although several former locations retained community, cultural or commercial significance after leaving the Stinson portfolio.
History
Stinson Theatres developed as an independent regional cinema operator in Ontario. Robert Stinson founded the business in 1971, initially operating a two-screen drive-in theatre in Barrie. The drive-in format gave the company a relatively flexible way to serve a growing suburban and small-city audience, while later indoor cinemas broadened its operating season and geographic reach. Over time, Stinson Theatres expanded beyond Barrie into a network of communities in Central Ontario and the Georgian Triangle. Its locations included indoor theatres in Barrie, Collingwood, Huntsville, Orangeville, Orillia and Timmins, as well as drive-ins in Barrie, Owen Sound, Huntsville and Collingwood at different points in the company’s history. At its reported peak, the chain had six indoor sites with approximately 30 screens and two drive-in locations with five screens. The company considered a corporate-finance strategy in the 1990s. In 1996, Robert Stinson hired investment banker Stan Medley to help pursue a public-market transaction. Long Road Entertainment, Inc. was created as a holding corporation and was listed on the United States Pink Sheets in 2002. The arrangement did not make Stinson Theatres itself part of the new holding company. The planned public expansion was ultimately abandoned, and the public vehicle was sold to other owners and renamed in 2007. Stinson Theatres remained associated with the Stinson family and was based in Barrie. Robert Stinson died in 2008, after which his sons Henry and Timothy Stinson managed the business during a gradual wind-down. The chain’s properties followed different paths rather than being transferred as one continuing operating network. Some were sold to other theatre or entertainment operators, some were demolished, and others were converted to unrelated commercial or community uses. The Barrie Triple Drive In was sold in 2011 to Premier Operating Corporation and later became Sunset Barrie. The Owen Sound Twin Drive In was eventually demolished after declining attendance, while the Huntsville Drive-In was sold during the 1990s and later demolished. The Collingwood Drive-In property remained in existence but was no longer operated as a cinema. Indoor locations also disappeared or changed identity: Chatham Cinema Six became the site of Sons of Kent Brewing Co.; Orangeville Uptown Theatre, which Stinson had acquired in 1975, closed in 2002 and later became a church; and former cinema buildings in Collingwood and Orillia were demolished or converted to other uses. In Barrie, Imperial Cinema 8 was renamed Barrie Uptown Theater and operated by Barrie Imperial Theatre after leaving the Stinson chain. Regular screenings ended on October 31, 2019, although the Barrie Film Festival expected to continue using the venue for a period. The building was demolished in 2021 for condominium development. These property-level changes mark the end of Stinson Theatres as an active cinema brand and illustrate the fragmented afterlife of many independent theatre sites.
- 2021
Former Barrie cinema demolished
[1]The former Imperial Cinema 8 site was demolished for condominium development.
- 2019
Former Imperial Cinema 8 ends regular screenings
[1]The Barrie Uptown Theater, formerly Stinson’s Imperial Cinema 8, ended regular screenings on October 31, 2019.
- 2017
Former Chatham Cinema Six becomes brewery
[1]The former Chatham Cinema Six site opened as Sons of Kent Brewing Co. on July 16, 2017.
- 2011
Barrie Triple Drive In sold
[1]Premier Operating Corporation acquired the Barrie Triple Drive In, which later operated as Sunset Barrie.
- 2008
Founder dies and family wind-down begins
[1]Following Robert Stinson’s death, Henry and Timothy Stinson oversaw the company as its theatre holdings were gradually reduced.
- 2002
Orangeville Uptown Theatre closes
[1]The Orangeville Uptown Theatre closed and later became the Good Friends Fellowship Church.
- 2002
Long Road Entertainment listed on Pink Sheets
[1]The proposed holding corporation associated with the public expansion plan appeared on the United States Pink Sheets; Stinson Theatres itself was not placed in that company.
- 1996
Public-market expansion considered
[1]Robert Stinson hired Stan Medley to pursue a public-company structure for the theatre business.
- 1990
Huntsville Drive-In sold during the 1990s
[1]The Huntsville Drive-In was sold during the 1990s and was later demolished.
- 1975
Orangeville Uptown Theatre acquired
[1]Stinson Theatres acquired the Orangeville Uptown Theatre, a venue originally built in 1927 by the Merlina family.
Products and positioning
A regional, community-oriented cinema operator focused on indoor movie theatres and drive-in cinemas in Central Ontario and the Georgian Triangle.
Cinema exhibition
Indoor cinemas
Stinson Theatres operated conventional indoor cinemas in several Ontario communities. The portfolio included multi-screen venues such as Imperial Cinema 8 in Barrie, Cinema Six locations and smaller four-screen sites. These venues provided standard theatrical film screenings and associated cinema services for local audiences. Individual buildings later changed ownership, closed, were converted to other uses or were demolished.
Drive-in film exhibition · 1971
Drive-in cinemas
Drive-in exhibition was the company’s original operating format and remained an important part of its regional network. Stinson locations included the Barrie Triple Drive In, Owen Sound Twin Drive In, Huntsville Drive-In and Collingwood Drive-In at different times. These outdoor venues offered community-scale movie exhibition, but the individual properties were eventually sold, demolished or removed from cinema operation.
Brand decisions
2008
Gradual wind-down of the theatre portfolioStrategyBackground
After founder Robert Stinson’s death, the company’s operations were overseen by his sons Henry and Timothy Stinson.
Action taken
The family gradually reduced the business through property sales, closures and other changes affecting individual cinema locations.
Aftermath
Stinson Theatres ceased to operate as a continuing cinema chain. Former sites moved to new operators, unrelated businesses, community uses or redevelopment.
1996
Pursuit of a public-company structureStrategyBackground
Stinson Theatres sought to explore expansion through public-market financing and hired investment banker Stan Medley to assist with the plan.
Action taken
A new holding corporation, Long Road Entertainment, Inc., was formed and later listed on the United States Pink Sheets. The Stinson Theatres operating business was not transferred into the holding company.
Aftermath
The public-company expansion plan was abandoned. The public vehicle was sold to other parties and renamed in 2007, while Stinson Theatres continued separately as a private regional operator.
Sources1 sources
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