Hyland Cinema

Hyland Cinema is an independently owned and operated single-screen movie theatre in London, Ontario, Canada. It occupies a historic building on Wharncliffe Road South, on the west side of the city’s Wortley Village area. Although its present identity is associated with independent and revival-house cinema, the venue has operated under several names and ownership arrangements since its construction in the 1930s. The building opened on September 9, 1937, as the Elmwood Theatre. Constructed during the Great Depression, it was designed as a neighbourhood cinema and initially had 612 seats. Its opening programme consisted of second-run double features, but the venue later developed a stronger first-run and art-house profile. In the 1940s it became notable for British and other international films, and it was among the early Canadian venues to show The Best Years of Our Lives after that film won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Odeon acquired the theatre in December 1947 and renamed it Odeon Hyland. The name was shortened to Hyland in 1959. During the following decades, the theatre remained a neighbourhood venue while presenting a mixture of popular releases and prestige films. Long engagements of Carry On Nurse and The Sound of Music demonstrated its ability to attract a broad local audience. In the late 1960s, renovations moved the entrance, enlarged the lobby, added a concession area and lower-level washrooms, and upgraded projection and sound equipment. Seating was subsequently reduced to 514. The Hyland continued to show major commercial releases and international films through the 1970s and 1980s. Its screening of Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ in 1988 led to a religious picket outside the theatre. The venue closed on August 17, 1989, after Cineplex Odeon opened a larger multiplex in London. The building was then purchased by the Christian Centre of London and used from 1989 to 1994 as the Word of Life Centre, including for religious assemblies and film-related ministry activities. After a period of inactivity, the property was acquired in 2003 by Ali and Moira Adlan. They renovated the screen, projection and sound systems and reopened the venue as an independent cinema on New Year’s Eve 2003 with a free screening. The revived theatre drew on the revival-house model used by independent cinemas elsewhere in Ontario. Its programming combined current art-house films, international cinema, older titles, festival selections and locally produced films. Early successes included The Motorcycle Diaries and March of the Penguins, the latter helping establish a more sustainable commercial direction. During the late 2000s and 2010s, Hyland became a prominent specialist cinema for London audiences seeking films outside the multiplex mainstream. It presented selections associated with festivals such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Cannes and Sundance, while also screening independent productions made by London-based filmmakers. The cinema’s programme has continued to balance contemporary releases with repertory and genre events, including the annual Horror at the Hyland festival. The COVID-19 pandemic created a major operational and financial crisis. Hyland closed in March 2020 and introduced a temporary drive-in cinema in its rear parking area, using a newly built outdoor screen and serving concessions to customers in their vehicles. Indoor screenings resumed in July 2020 at substantially reduced capacity, with masking and physical-distancing measures. The business used loans and community support to meet operating obligations during the disruption. By 2023, attendance was reported to be approximately half of its pre-pandemic level, prompting the Save the Hyland fundraising campaign. Continued audience support and a strong calendar of new, classic and specialist films helped the theatre move toward recovery. In 2025, Hyland expanded its specialist exhibition capabilities by installing a refurbished 70mm Xenex II projector. The installation was described as making it the only cinema west of Toronto in Ontario able to screen 70mm film and one of only a small number of such venues in Canada. The theatre remains a local independent cinema whose identity is based on curated programming, historic character, community participation and single-screen presentation.

The venue now known as Hyland Cinema was built during the Great Depression and opened as The Elmwood Theatre on September 9, 1937. It was the third cinema built in London, Ontario, and the first located outside the downtown area. The 612-seat theatre initially operated as a second-run neighbourhood cinema with double features. Its opening programme included Road to Glory and Polo Joe. In 1938, oil was reportedly discovered on the property during nearby construction activity, although the theatre’s subsequent history was shaped by film exhibition rather than resource development. By the late 1940s, the Elmwood had moved toward first-run and art-house programming, with particular attention to British and international films. Duncan Campbell became manager in 1945, followed by Harold Knapp in 1947. The theatre was acquired by the Odeon circuit in December 1947 and renamed Odeon Hyland. In 1959, it became simply Hyland. Carry On Nurse was the first film shown under the shortened name and had an unusually long engagement. The theatre later achieved an even longer run with The Sound of Music, which played for 73 weeks and earned manager Dick Drysdale an international showmanship award. Hyland remained a successful local cinema through the 1960s. Under manager Ed Leigh, it attracted audiences with films including The Blue Max, A Man for All Seasons, The Taming of the Shrew, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Funny Girl. Renovations during that decade moved the entrance to the side of the building, enlarged the foyer, added a concession stand and lower-level washrooms, and modernized projection and sound. Capacity was reduced from 612 to 514 seats. The theatre continued to combine popular films with international and controversial material through the 1970s and 1980s, including The Story of O, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Back to the Future. In September 1988, religious groups picketed the theatre’s presentation of The Last Temptation of Christ. The protest included young people from a local Christian assembly and drew attention to the film’s contentious depiction of Jesus. The following year, after Cineplex Odeon opened a larger six-screen complex, Hyland closed on August 17, 1989. The equipment and seating were left in place. The building was sold in September to the Christian Centre of London, which used it as the Word of Life Centre from 1989 to 1994. The centre held religious assemblies and pursued plans involving film ministry and a possible daycare facility. The building then remained unused for an extended period. In 2003, Ali and Moira Adlan acquired it and renovated the projection, sound and screen systems. Their concept was influenced by Ontario revival-house cinemas such as the Princess Cinema in Waterloo and the ByTowne Cinema in Ottawa. The theatre reopened on New Year’s Eve 2003 with a free screening and quickly established an independent identity. The Motorcycle Diaries was an early success, while March of the Penguins in 2005 gave the revived business an important boost. From the late 2000s through the 2010s, Hyland developed a mixed programme of current art-house releases, international films, older titles, festival selections and occasional mainstream films. It presented films connected with TIFF, Cannes and Sundance and supported local filmmaking by screening productions made in or around London, including Unearthly and Liminality. This programming made the cinema a distinctive alternative to multiplex exhibition. According to its operators, business was strong until 2019. The pandemic forced Hyland to close in March 2020. To maintain activity, the theatre created a drive-in in the gravel lot behind the building, using an outdoor screen constructed with family assistance. The site held approximately 40 cars, while staff delivered concessions and sold merchandise. The drive-in began with sold-out Canada Day screenings of Canadian Bacon and later showed films including Jaws. Indoor screenings resumed on July 24 with only 50 of the theatre’s 414 seats available and with public-health measures in place. The company incurred loans to cover wages, bills and film-distribution costs. Attendance remained depressed after reopening. In 2023, the operators said patronage was approximately half its former level and described the business as operating from month to month. The Save the Hyland campaign sought financial and public support, while continued programming and local loyalty helped stabilize the theatre. In 2025, Hyland announced the fifth annual Horror at the Hyland festival and introduced a multi-film Friday Night Fright Pass. The same year, it installed a refurbished Xenex II 70mm projector. The upgrade reinforced the cinema’s revival-house identity and expanded its ability to show large-format film presentations. Hyland continues to operate as an independent single-screen venue in London.

• 2025

  70mm projection capability is added

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  A refurbished Xenex II projector is installed, enabling 70mm presentations.

• 2023

  Save the Hyland campaign begins

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The cinema seeks community fundraising and patronage after attendance remains substantially below pre-pandemic levels.

• 2020

  Drive-in cinema launches during the pandemic

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  Hyland creates an outdoor drive-in operation before reopening its indoor auditorium at restricted capacity.

• 2005

  March of the Penguins becomes a major early success

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The film’s performance helps put the revived cinema on a more promising commercial trajectory.

• 2003

  Independent revival begins

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  Ali and Moira Adlan acquire, renovate and reopen the dormant theatre as an independent cinema.

• 1989

  The cinema closes and changes use

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  Hyland closes after the arrival of a larger multiplex and becomes the Word of Life Centre under new ownership.

• 1960

  Major renovations modernize the venue

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The entrance, lobby, concession area, washrooms, projection system and sound equipment are upgraded, while seating capacity is reduced.

• 1959

  The name is shortened to Hyland

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The theatre adopts the Hyland name, beginning with a long engagement of Carry On Nurse.

• 1947

  Odeon acquires the theatre

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The venue enters the Odeon circuit and becomes Odeon Hyland.

• 1937

  The Elmwood Theatre opens

  [1]Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org

  The 612-seat Elmwood Theatre opens on September 9 as London’s first cinema outside the downtown area.

A community-oriented independent revival-house cinema offering curated art-house, international, independent, classic, festival and selected commercial films in a historic single-screen venue.

• Cinema screenings · 1937

  Feature-film exhibition

  Hyland’s core offering is admission to feature films in a single-screen auditorium. Its schedule spans current releases, art-house titles, international cinema, independent productions and selected mainstream films, allowing the theatre to serve both specialist audiences and local filmgoers seeking alternatives to multiplex programming.

• Repertory cinema · 2003

  Revival and classic-film screenings

  The cinema regularly incorporates older and restored films into its programme. This repertory orientation connects the venue to the revival-house tradition and gives audiences access to established works alongside new releases.

• Film festivals

  Festival programming

  Hyland presents festival-oriented selections and runs specialty events such as Horror at the Hyland. These programmes emphasize genre discovery, independent filmmaking and films that may not receive long commercial engagements in larger theatres.

• Large-format film exhibition · 2025

  70mm presentations

  Following the 2025 installation of a refurbished Xenex II projector, Hyland can present films printed in 70mm. The capability strengthens the theatre’s position as a specialist venue for film-format and repertory presentations.

• Food and beverage · 1937

  Cinema concessions

  The theatre operates a traditional concession service supporting its film screenings. During the 2020 drive-in period, staff also delivered concessions and merchandise to patrons in their vehicles.

• 1988

  Religious protest over The Last Temptation of Christ

  Religious groups picketed Hyland during its September screening of Martin Scorsese’s The Last Temptation of Christ, objecting to the film’s depiction of Jesus. The protest involved young demonstrators carrying signs and chanting religious slogans.

  Source

Read more

• 2025Horror at the Hyland

  London, Ontario

  The fifth annual horror-film festival expanded its offer with a Friday Night Fright Pass covering five films, a festival shirt and discounts at a participating local bar.

  Outcome. The event strengthened Hyland’s recurring genre programming and community-focused identity.

  Source
• 2023Save the Hyland

  London, Ontario

  A fundraising and community-engagement campaign was launched after post-pandemic attendance remained substantially below earlier levels.

  Outcome. Community patronage, fundraising and continued programming helped the cinema remain open and move toward attendance recovery.

  Source
• 2020Hyland Drive-In

  London, Ontario

  During the COVID-19 closure, Hyland constructed an outdoor screen in its rear parking area and offered drive-in screenings for vehicles, with concessions and merchandise delivered on site.

  Outcome. The drive-in provided a temporary operating model and enabled the cinema to resume public film exhibition before normal indoor operations returned.

  Source

• 2025

  Add 70mm projectionProduct launch

  Background

  The independent cinema sought to expand its specialist film-exhibition capabilities.

  Action taken

  Hyland installed a refurbished Xenex II 70mm projector.

  Aftermath

  The theatre gained the ability to present 70mm films and reinforced its position as a specialist revival-house venue.

  Source

• 2020

  Adopt drive-in exhibition during COVID-19Strategy

  Background

  Public-health restrictions forced the indoor cinema to close in March 2020.

  Action taken

  Hyland built a temporary outdoor screen in its parking lot and presented films to customers remaining in their vehicles.

  Aftermath

  The drive-in produced a temporary alternative to indoor exhibition before limited-capacity auditorium screenings resumed in July.

  Source

• 2003

  Reopen as an independent revival houseStrategy

  Background

  After years of dormancy, the building was acquired by operators with experience in art-house and alternative cinema.

  Action taken

  Ali and Moira Adlan renovated the screen, sound and projection systems and relaunched the theatre as an independent cinema.

  Aftermath

  Hyland developed a distinctive programme combining art-house, international, independent, classic and selected commercial films.

  Source

• 1989

  Close following multiplex competitionStrategy

  Background

  Cineplex Odeon opened a larger six-screen complex in London, increasing competitive pressure on the single-screen Hyland.

  Action taken

  The cinema closed on August 17, 1989, and the building was subsequently sold for non-commercial use.

  Aftermath

  The property became the Word of Life Centre and remained outside conventional cinema operation until its independent revival in 2003.

  Source

• 1947

  Join the Odeon circuitStrategy

  Background

  The Elmwood Theatre was acquired by the Odeon chain after developing a neighbourhood and art-house audience.

  Action taken

  The venue was renamed Odeon Hyland and operated within the Odeon exhibition network.

  Aftermath

  The theatre later adopted the shorter Hyland name while continuing to operate as a local single-screen venue.

  Source

1. 1Hyland Cinemaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Hyland Cinema official websitehylandcinema.com