Cinema guzzo

Montreal: Mr. Angelo Guzzo arrived in Quebec from Italy in 1967, and became a pioneer of independent multi-screen cinema theatres in Canada. He spearheaded the struggle for independent cinema theatre owners in Canada to get the rights to project first-run movies. His struggle has opened the way for many others. His efforts and interventions with the Fournier Commission for investigating cinema led to a change, by which suburban movie theatres got the right to obtain films from American distributors. Guzzo Cinemas, as a company, is family based, with Mr. Angelo Guzzo as the President and his son, Vincenzo, as Executive Vice-President. He took over the position of Vice-President in 1990. In 1993, the company opened the Cinema Sainte-Thérèse. It was a unique work of original architecture, high-tech equipment, and interior décor that featured elements that were unusual not only in Quebec and Canada, but throughout North America. Cinema Lacordaire, in St. Léonard was inaugurated in October 1994, as a replacement of the old Astre cinema. It was a completely new and innovative 11-screen complex. It was original and elegant, but comfortable. These have become known as the hallmark qualities on which Guzzo Cinemas have built their international reputation. In 1974, Mr. Angelo Guzzo acquired the Cinema Capri on Hochelaga Street in Montreal, and reopened it as Le Paradis, after extensive renovations. Another set of renovations in 1976 made it a movie complex with three screens, the first of its kind in Montreal. There are many Cinema Guzzo theatres in the Montreal area including Brossard, and such.

Terrebonne: The recession during the ‘80s did not affect Mr. Guzzo's ambition and amazing determination. He made use of the economic situation to come up with new strategies. For example, he began the trend of 99-cent movies and the 'half-price' Wednesdays. When he became aware that a lot of the municipalities had no cinema theatres, he started Cinema Terrebonne in 1990. It is a large and ultra-modern complex with eight screens. It was designed and built by the in-house construction company, Groupe Guzzo Construction Inc. It has path breaking and highly sophisticated equipment that has now become the industry standard. The Terrebonne theatre has now become the Méga-Plex, Terrebonne 14.

Taschereau: He also started the trend of recreation complexes, which had not just cinema screens, but recreational areas, cafes etc. The Mega-Plex, Taschereau 18, started business on October 22, 1998, at Greenfield Park. It has 18 screens and 4,500 seats. The Taschereau mega-plex is Canada's largest theatre and recreational complex, sprawled over an area of over 100,000 square feet. It has everything from cinema screens, bump-a-cars, carousel, and an arcade to a children’s playground.

Laval: Guzzo Cinemas opened their Mega-Plex, Pont-Viau 16, in Laval, on December 10, 1998. The Lava Theater is a complex that can accommodate 4,000 moviegoers and has 16 movie screens. Mr. Angelo Guzzo is now the largest independent cinema theatre owner in Quebec. He is the owner of more than 151 cinemas in 12 theatre complexes like the one in Marche Central. The company has plans to expand its business in the province in the near future.