1988-2020, 2021-: The ByTowne Cinema On October 1, 1988, Bruce White and Jean Cloutier reopened the cinema, renamed the ByTowne, in honour of Bytown, Ottawa's original name until January 1, 1855, and because it was the second cinema for the owners of the Towne Cinema on Beachwood Avenue. The ByTowne Cinema began showing alternative and repertory films, with different films each day. On December 4, 2020, White announced that the ByTowne Cinema would permanently close as of Dec. 31, 2020, due in part to losses incurred during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The cinema was sold to new owners Daniel Demois and Andy Willick from Toronto, who reopened it under the same name on September 8, 2021. Timeline of theatre operations Beechwood Avenue The Linden Theatre (1947-1968) The Towne Cinema (1968-1989) Rideau Street The Nelson Theatre (1947-1988) The ByTowne Cinema (1988–2020) The ByTowne Cinema (2021-present) Ownership Beginning at the Towne Cinema, Jean Cloutier, who was an usher, was asked to become a manager by the former operator of the Towne. Also, Bruce White began as a graphic designer for the Towne Cinema's programme. In 1983, Cadieux sold the Towne Cinema to Jean Cloutier and Bruce White. In 1988, Bruce White and Jean Cloutier bought the Nelson Theatre for $790,000. Similar to the Towne Cinema, the pair transformed the Nelson into a repertory cinema, under the name ByTowne Cinema. The Towne and the ByTowne operated simultaneously for 9 months, with slightly different programs. In June 1989, White moved the entire operation to the ByTowne and closed the Towne Cinema. After the ByTowne cinema was permanently closed in December 2020, it was sold to new owners Daniel Demois and Andy Willick, who reopened it under the same name in September 2021. Renovations The cinema was built in 1946 by the prolific architects Harold Kaplan and Abraham Sprachman.From 1947 onward, the ByTowne made many improvements and renovations: the screen and projection, completely renovated the washrooms and installed new seats with more legroom. The theatre was renovated in the early sixties to add wider and plusher seats, reducing its seating capacity from 940 to 770. Likewise, 70 mm projection facilities, along with new sound systems and wider screens were installed. The cinema was renovated again in 2000 and 175 old ByTowne seats were replaced. One hundred and fifty "airline-style" seats were salvaged from the recently closed Capitol Square multiplex on Queen Street. When those seats