The wonderful old movie theatres of my youth have mostly been demolished. However, a few have been recycled for other purposes. For example, the old Runnymede Theatre on Bloor Street West became a Chapters/Indigo Book Store, although its is now slated to become an outlet for a major drug store chain. Others survive as venues for live theatre, such as the Pantages (Imperial, Ed Mirvish) and the Elgin (Loew’s Downtown). A few of the old theatres, such as the Eglinton, are now rental spaces for special occasions.
As a teenager, I spent many happy hours within these grand old theatres. Sometimes it was to escape the humid heat of a Toronto summer, as the movie theatres were air-conditioned at a time when only the very wealthy were able to afford such a luxury. In the 1950s, the only other places open to the public, other than theatres and bowling alleys, which were air-conditioned, were the Eaton and Simpson stores at Queen and Bay Streets.
We knew that were growing up when our parents allowed us to travel downtown to the great movie palaces on Yonge Street or those within close proximity of the city’s main drag—the Imperial, Shea’s Hippodrome, Odeon Carlton, Loew’s Downtown, Tivoli, Loew’s Uptown and the University. Sometimes we also ventured into the smaller theatres that offered more than one feature film—the Downtown, Biltmore, Rio, and Coronet. The three theatres at St. Clair and Yonge were also within our reach—the Hollywood, Odeon Hyland, and the Kent. The link that joined all these theatres were the square-shaped Peter Witt streetcars that rattled up and down Yonge Street. Of course, every neighbourhood possessed smaller theatres, often referred to as the local “gas house,” that were within walking distance of our homes. The Colony and Grant Theatres fulfilled this role for our neighbourhood. The Grant was where I attended my first Saturday-afternoon matinee.
Those of us who experienced the Saturday afternoon matinees will never forget them. For the grand sum of 10 cents we saw two feature films, a cartoon, serial (cliff-hanger), trailers (previews), and a news reel. The popcorn was an added attraction, at a cost of 5 cents. Because I enjoy sharing my memories of the old theatres of yesteryear, I started placing posts about them on my blog about historic Toronto (tayloronhistory.com). Most of the research information was derived from the files of the City of Toronto Archives and the Toronto Research Library. Most photographs are also from these sources, although I possessed a few pictures of my own, taken in the late 1950s.
I welcome comments from those who read the posts and are willing to share their memories. As well, I always appreciate it when corrections are offered. I can be contacted at
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.
To place an order for this book:
Book also available at Chapters/Indigo, the book shop at the Bell Lightbox or University of Toronto Press at 416-667-7791
ISBN # 978.1.62619.450.2
To view the Home Page for this blog: https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/
To view posts about the movie houses of Toronto—past and present:
Capitol Theatre on Yonge at Castlefield
http://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/12/11/torontos-old-capitol-theatre/
Cameo Theatre
http://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/12/05/torontos-old-cameo-theatre/
Circle Theatre
http://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/11/29/torontos-old-circle-theatre/
The Hillcrest Theatre on Christie Street, south of Dupont St.
The Teck Theatre on Queen Street East
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/torontos-teck-theatre-on-queen-st-east/
The La Plaza Theatre (the Opera House) on Queen Street East
Shea’s Hippodrome on Bay Street near Queen.
The Golden Mile Theatre on Eglinton East
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/08/08/torontos-golden-mile-theatre-on-eglinton-ave/
The Birchcliff Theatre on Kingston Rd.
The KUM-C Theatre in Parkdale
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/08/14/memories-of-torontos-kum-c-theatre-in-parkdale/
The Bonita (Gerrard) Theatre on Gerrard East
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/08/16/torontos-bonita-theatre-on-gerrard-east/
The Apollo (Crystal) Theatre on Dundas West
The Bay (Colonial Theatre) at Queen and Bay
The Photodrome (Ace) Theatre on Queen St. West
The Teck Theatre on Queen St. East
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/25/torontos-teck-theatre-on-queen-st-east/
The Odeon Theatre On Queen West in Parkdale
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/odeon-theatre-in-parkdaletoronto/
Empire (Rialto, Palton) on Queen East
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/22/torontos-empire-rialto-palton-theatrequeen-st-east/
The Rivoli Theatre on Queen Street West
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/torontos-old-rivoli-theatre-on-queen-west/
King Theatre at College and Manning Streets
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/20/torontos-king-theatre-on-college-st-at-manning/
Eastwood Theatre on Gerrard St. East
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/18/torontos-eastwood-theatre-on-gerrard-st-east/
The Crown Theatre on Gerrard St. East
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/17/the-crown-theatre-toronto-on-gerrard-st-east/
The Rivoli on Queen St. West
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/15/torontos-old-rivoli-theatre-on-queen-west/
The Iola (Ace, Regal) on Queen St. East
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/12/the-iola-ace-regal-theatretoronto/
The Royal Theatre on Dundas Street
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/11/torontos-royal-theatre-on-dundas-street/
The 1950s Island Theatre on Centre Island
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/07/the-1950s-movie-theatre-at-centre-island-toronto/
The Esquire (Lyndhurst) Theatre on Bloor Street West
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/09/esquire-theatretoronto/
The Kenwood Theatre on Bloor St. West
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/01/torontos-old-kenwood-theatre-on-bloor-st-west/
The Lansdowne Theatre on Lansdowne Avenue, north of Bloor St. West
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/07/04/the-lansdowne-theatretoronto/
Adelphi Theatre (Kum Bac) on Dovercourt Road
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/21/the-adelphi-cum-bac-movie-theatretoronto/
The Blue Bell (Gay) Theatre on Parliament Street
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/28/torontos-blue-bell-theatre-the-gay/
The La Salle Theatre on Dundas, near Spadina
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/25/torontos-la-salle-theatredundas-and-spadina/
The Beaver Theatre in the Junction area at Keele and Dundas Street West
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/19/torontos-beaver-theatre-on-dundas-st-west/
The York Theatre on Yonge near Bloor St.
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/17/the-york-movie-theatre-in-toronto/
The Grover on Danforth Avenue
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/18/torontos-old-grover-theatre/
The Kent Theatre at Yonge and St. Clair
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/15/the-kent-movie-theatretoronto/
The College Theatre at College St. and Dovercourt Rd.
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/06/14/torontos-old-college-theatre/
The Brighton Theatre on Roncesvalles Avenue
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/03/06/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-brighton/
Cineplex Eaton Centre
The Oxford Theatre on the Danforth
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/02/21/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-oxford/
The Rex Theatre (the Joy)
The Brock Theatre (the Gem)
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-brock-the-gem/
The Greenwood Theatre (the Guild)
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/02/15/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-greenwood-guild/
The Duchess Theatre (Circle) on Dundas West
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/02/07/torontos-old-movie-housesthe-duchess-centre/
The Mayfair Theatre at Jane and Annette
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/01/31/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-mayfair/
The Allenby on the Danforth
The Scarboro Theatre
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/01/28/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-scarboro/
The Bell Lightbox (TIFF)
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/01/19/torontos-architectural-gemsthe-bell-lightbox-tiff/
The Bayview Theatre
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/01/26/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-bayview/
The Carlton Theatre on Parliament Street
The Metro Theatre at 679 Bloor West
The Mt. Pleasant (Hudson) Theatre
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/01/11/torontos-old-movie-theatrethe-mt-pleasant-hudson/
The Palace Theatre on the Danforth
The Paradise (Eve’s Paradise)
The Pickford (Auditorium, Avenue) Theatre
The Bloordale Theatre (the State) on Bloor St. West, near Dundas Street.
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/01/04/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-bloordale-state/
The Donlands Theatre
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2014/01/01/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-donlands/
The Royal Theatre (the Pylon) on College St.
The Willow Theatre on north Yonge St. in Willowdale
The Kingsway Theatre in the Kingsway Village on Bloor St. West
The Regent Theatre on Mt. Pleasant Rd. (the Belsize, the Crest)
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/12/21/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-regent-mt-pleasant/
The Tivoli Theatre on Richmond Street East
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/torontos-old-movie-housestivoli-on-richmond-st-e/
The Glendale Theatre on Avenue Rd.
The Danforth Music Hall (Allen’s Danforth)
The Panasonic Theatre on Yonge Street
The Westwood Theatre on Bloor Street West near Six Points
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-westwood-theatre/
The Parkdale Theatre on Queen Street, near Roncesvalles
The Town Cinema on Bloor East, near Yonge Street
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-town-cinema/
The Alhambra Theatre on Bloor Street, west of Bathurst Street
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/12/05/torontos-old-movie-theatres-the-alhambra/
The Palace Theatre on the Danforth near Pape Avenue
The Odeon Danforth Theatre on the Danforth, near Pape Avenue
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/11/30/torontos-old-movie-theatresodeon-danforth/
The Paramount Theatre on St. Clair West, between Oakwood and Dufferin streets.
The Uptown 5 Multiplex Theatre on Yonge south of Bloor
The Odeon Carlton Theatre
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/torontos-old-movie-housesthe-odeon-fairlawn/
The infamous Casino Burlesque Theatre on Queen Street
The Garden Theatre at 290 College Street.
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2012/09/29/discovering-two-of-torontos-lost-movie-theatres/
The Grant Theatre on Oakwood Avenue near Vaughan Road
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/11/04/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-grant/
The Odeon Hyland Theatre at Yonge and St. Clair
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/11/01/torontos-old-movie-housesthe-odeon-hyland/
Loew’s Uptown Theatre (the Uptown)
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/torontos-old-movie-housesloews-uptown/
The Elgin Theatre (Loew’s Downtown)
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/torontos-old-movie-housesloews-downtown-the-elgin/
The Hollywood Theatre on the east side of Yonge Street, north of St. Clair Avenue.
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-hollywood-theatre/
The St. Clair Major Theatre on St. Clair Avenue, east of Old Weston Road.
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/10/04/torontos-old-movie-theatresthe-st-clair-major/
The St. Clair Theatre, west of Dufferin Street
The Odeon Humber theatre at Bloor and Jane Streets (now Humber Cinemas)
The Oakwood Theatre on Oakwood Avenue, near St. Clair Avenue West
The Biltmore Theatre on Yonge, north of Dundas St.
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/03/01/torontos-old-movie-housesthe-biltmore-theatre/
The Coronet Theatre on Yonge St. at Gerrard
The Nortown Theatre on Eglinton, west of Bathurst St.
The Radio City Theatre on Bathurst, south of St. Clair.
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/torontos-old-movie-housesthe-radio-city-theatre/
The Mount Dennis Theatre on Weston Rd, north of Eglinton
The Royal George Theatre on St. Clair W., west of Dufferin Street.
The Colony Theatre at Vaughan Road and Eglinton Avenue
The Runnymede Theatre in the Bloor West Village (now a Chapters/Indigo Book Store)
The Eglinton Theatre
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/08/28/torontos-architectural-gemsthe-eglinton-theatre/
The magnificent Odeon Carlton at Yonge and Carlton Streets
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/torontos-great-old-theatresthe-odeon-carlton/
The Revue Theatre at 400 Roncesvalles Avenue
The Cineplex Odeon Varsity Theatre at Bloor and Bay
The “Bloor Hot Docs Cinema” on Bloor Street West
The Vaughan Theatre on St. Clair Avenue
Toronto’s first movie screening and its first movie theatre
The ultra-modern Scotiabank Theatre at Richmond and John Streets
Cineplex Theatre at Yonge and Dundas Streets
The Ed Mirvish Theatre (the Pantages, Imperial and Cannon)
The Downtown Theatre (now demolished) at Yonge and Dundas
The Orpheum Theatre on Queen St., west of Bathurst
The Bellevue Theatre on College Street that became the Lux Burlesque Theatre
Old movie houses of Toronto
https://tayloronhistory.wordpress.com/2011/06/27/old-movie-houses-of-toronto/
The Victory burlesque and movie theatre on Spadina at Dundas:
The Shea’s Hippodrome Theatre on Bay St. near Queen
Attending a matinee in the old movie houses of Toronto during the “golden age of cinema”
The University Theatre on Bloor St., west of Bay Street.
Archival photos of the Imperial and Downtown Theatres on Yonge Street
The Elgin/Winter/Garden Theatres on Yonge Street
The now vanished Avon Theatre at 1092 Queen Street West
To view posts about Toronto’s history and its heritage architecture: