Toronto’s old movie theatres—the Mount Dennis on Weston Rd.

Series 1278, File 8

When the Mount Dennis Theatre opened its doors in 1927, it was located at 1006 Weston Road, on the west side of the street, north of Eglinton Avenue. It was named the Maple Leaf Theatre, but it was changed to the Mount Dennis Theatre in 1929. Because the postal numbers were changed, the address became 1298 Weston Road. The above photo, from the City of Toronto Archives (Series 1278, File 8), was taken in August of 1959. The features films are “The Golden Age of Comedy,” released in 1957 and “Hercules,” released in 1958. Considering that the theatre was in the Township of York, and remote from the downtown, the two films were recent productions. The Township of York later became the City of York and then it was amalgamated with Toronto.

When the theatre opened in 1929, Mount Dennis was a small town on the northwest fringe of the city. The old single-track trolley cars connected the town to the Junction area, situated at Keele and Dundas Street West. I remember travelling on these streetcars when I was a child in the 1940s, from Rogers Road to the town of Weston. The theatre was built to serve the needs of the local residents, as in the 1920s, it was located in the business district of the town, at its north end. It was a privately owned theatre and attracted many patrons in its heyday.

I remember the theatre well, although I was never inside it. Between the years 1956 to 1957, I worked at the Reward Shoe Store in Weston to earn pocket money when I was in high school. In those days, my family lived to the west of Jane Street, south of Lambton Avenue. Jane Street ended at Lambton, as the road that today descends through Eglinton Flats had not been constructed. The Flats, that now contain parkland and a public golf course, was market gardening. It was severely flooded in 1954 when Hurricane Hazel devastated the city. Because of the floods, the area became part of the Metropolitan Conservation Authority and no homes were permitted in the flood-prone area. During the next few years, the two sections of Jane Street were connected. Prior to this, when I bicycled from home to the town of Weston, I was forced to travel east along Lambton Avenue and then, north on Weston Road to reach the shoe store. On these occasions, I passed the Mount Dennis Theatre.

During the 1950s, I also remember the Loblaws store, on the west side of Weston Road, a short distance north of Eglinton. When it closed, the premises were rented by the Queensbury Hotel, which was forced to relocate from its former site at East Drive and Scarlett Road because of being flooded by the water of the Humber River during Hurricane Hazel.

When the 1950s ended, television was greatly affecting attendance at the movie houses of the city. In August of 1959, the theatre was offered for sale at the asking price of $65,000, which included the apartments on the second floor. The real estate listing suggested that it would be ideal for a bowling alley or a furniture store. However, the theatre was purchased and continued to operate as a movie house until 1975. After it closed, it remained for many years, employed as a site for various commercial enterprises. It was eventually demolished and today an apartment building is on the site. 

Note: information on the address of the Mount Dennis Theatre was obtained from the Toronto Directories at the City of Toronto Archives.

DSCN1747  

    Entrance and marquee of the Mount Dennis Theatre in 1959.

To view the Home Page for this blog: https://tayloronhistory.com/

To view previous blogs about other movie houses of Toronto—old and new

https://tayloronhistory.com/2013/12/18/torontos-old-movie-theatrestayloronhistory-com/

To view links to Toronto’s Heritage Buildings

https://tayloronhistory.com/2014/01/02/canadas-cultural-scenetorontos-architectural-heritage/ 

Recent publication entitled “Toronto’s Theatres and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen,” by the author of this blog. The publication explores 50 of Toronto’s old theatres and contains over 80 archival photographs of the facades, marquees and interiors of the theatres. It also relates anecdotes and stories from those who experienced these grand old movie houses.  

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                 To place an order for this book:

https://www.historypress.net/catalogue/bookstore/books/Toronto-Theatres-and-the-Golden-Age-of-the-Silver-Screen/9781626194502 .

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6 thoughts on “Toronto’s old movie theatres—the Mount Dennis on Weston Rd.

  1. Dear, Doug, just found your site and am really enjoying it. We grew up in the north part of Weston in the late 50’s and early 60’s. My mother worked weekends at the candy bar at the Mt Dennis theatre for 25 cents an hour. The shift was 12hours from 12pm to 12 am. When she couldn’t find or afford a sitter my sister who was 7 and I was 5 used to go to work with her and watch the movies over and over. I remember all the “Road to…. Movies, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin. They use to play Two movies and a cartoon. We would take the Weston Road bus to the Blonden loop and take the trolley to the theatre. My only comment is my memory is that it was south of Eglinton and on the east side of Weston Road? I seem to remember an appliance store and car dealer beside it. Is this the same theatre? It was called the Odeon I think. On another note of old Theatres I am now the proud owner of the Paradise Theatre on Bloor west. You will be happy to know that I have plans to bring it back to its previous glory including a copy of the original sign. It will be used as live entertainment space as well as film festivals, comedy festivals etc. we will be bringing back the original restaurant attached to the theatre. We have original plans of the building and we are trying to restore the outside and lobby to its original look. Applying for building permits in the next few weeks and subject to the blessing of the city it should be open in the first quarter 2015. We will have a free ticket for you at the opening. Cheers,

  2. Dear folks: There were two theatres in Mount Dennis. The first was near Dennis Avenue and Barr St. It was at 1006, then changed to 1040 when civic numbers were changed. It was The Maple Leaf Theatre, managed by Milton Bean (Res. 97 Lambton Ave.). It is listed in The Toronto Directories of 1916 to 1922. There were 2 Maple Leaf Theatres in Toronto. The other was on Queen Street. The TTC Blondin Loop was the end of the Weston Rd Trolley Coach Line. (The streetcar (changed to trolley in 1948) had ended at St Phillips. – The road that went past the graveyard.- ). The streetcar was double ended so its turnaround point was right on the street. The motorman simply went to the other end of the streetcar. Read more and see other pics at http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/24383 . Teddie.

  3. The manager of the show was called knobby. He used to run down the aisles with his flashlight trying to either catch or break up the lovers in the back seat. There was a theatre called the west-end near Lawrence ave, and further up near the railway bridge was another show, forget name. Sorry it was not called the west-end. The Beaver, Apollo and west-end were in junction. Used to take the Roseland bus to south of Dundas on Weston Rd. Brian smith I lived on Bexley Cres. From 1947 to 1968 parents live till 1982. I delivered papers down bottom of hill at east drive when Hasel hit, street were folded but the sidewalks were higher and I was able to deliver my papers.

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