Court halts eviction at Revue Cinema

Society sought injunction to prevent building's owners from locking out operators pending trial

- BETSY POWELL AND RICHIE ASSALY

On Thursday, a former Revue Cinema employee launched a petition urging the city's elected representatives to "step up in support of the Revue to ensure this not-for-profit theatre never closes." It had more than 11,000 signatures Friday afternoon.

The non-profit organization that operates the beloved west-end Revue Cinema has won an interim court injunction preventing the landlords from closing the curtains — at least for now.

The Revue Cinema Society sought the injunction to prevent the building’s owners, Daniel and Leticia Mullin, from “evicting, locking out, or otherwise interfering with Revue’s business operations at the premises at 400 Roncesvalles Avenue” until a trial takes place, says the Ontario Superior Court order issued Friday evening.

“Our understanding is this injunction enables us to … remain open without interference past July 1 until a trial can be scheduled,” said Grant Oyston, chair of the Revue Film Society. The matter is scheduled to return to court on July 8.

Oyston said the current lease has renewal options, and that during negotiations over the past nine months the Mullins made commitments regarding the renewal, leading the society to program films and events into October.

“To do a 180 with two business days left in the lease, does not constitute a legal eviction and that’s why we got the injunction so this can go to trial and we can exercise our rights under the lease,” Oyston said.