[3] The one-screen cinema was built by Hyman Berlin throughout the fall and winter of 1946; it opened on February 10, 1947 as the Nelson Theatre.

Since 1973, it was best known as one of Ottawa's first repertory cinemas, showing cult and classic productions, foreign and independent films.

[6] During the time of Famous Players' lease, they advertised the available air conditioning with a huge banner that was suspended from the marquee.

[5] 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.

[9] 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.

After the ByTowne cinema was 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.

One hundred and fifty "airline-style" seats were salvaged from the recently closed Capitol Square multiplex on Queen Street.

Later on, the cinema hosted big box-office bestsellers such as "Jaws", "Raiders Of The Lost Ark", "Star Trek", as well as some of their sequels.

[13] Repertory cinemas, such as the ByTowne and Mayfair Theatre, show Canadian and foreign films that other major chains will not.

For example, Buena Vista Pictures prohibits the showings of Disney films for family matinees in repertory theatres.

[14] White also added that "Disney isn't worth the hassle" and trying to change the minds of the big companies is pointless.

[14] The ongoing public health restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic saw the cinema face a series of temporary closures and reductions of available seating over the course of 2020.

These challenges, alongside a decline in viewership during the pandemic, contributed to the cinema's temporary closure at the end of 2020.