Putting together a comprehensive photo survey of Toronto's lost movie theatres would be a rather laborious task given how many have come and gone over the years, but even a brief look back reveals a city with a rich cinematic history that has partially faded over the years.
A number of the buildings that housed movie theatres in Toronto are still standing, but even those that have been well preserved — like the Eglinton, for instance — don't captivate the imagination as they once did.
This, no doubt, has to do with the fact that they no longer play films, but it goes deeper than this as well. The advent of the multi/megaplex ushered in an era in which theatres became more and more like big box stores: anonymous, forgettable and ugly.
And as much as the movie-going experience is focused on watching the films themselves, there's a wider ritual that surrounds a visit to the theatre that's become progressively more sterile. Is there a less architecturally inspiring place than the modern cinema?
Lest I pout too much, however, it's worth remembering how many remarkable rep cinemas keep the old school experience of going to the movies intact. From the Revue to the Royal, there's plenty of places to soak up film culture in Toronto.
Behold, the lost movie theatres of Toronto.
Comique Theare (near Yonge and Dundas), 1910
Auditorium Theatre Toronto (Queen and Spadina), 1913
The Allen (13 Richmond St. East, later the Tivoli), 1919
Bloordale Theatre, Ca. 1920s
The Major Theatre, 1780 St. Clair West, Ca. 1930s
The Bayview Theatre, 1605 Bayview Ave. (later the Bayview Playhouse), Ca. 1930s
The Adelphi Theatre, 1008 Dovercourt Rd., Ca. 1930s
Loews (Queen and and Yonge, later the Elgin) Ca. 1940s
The Parkdale (1605 Queen St. W), 1947
The Eglinton (when it was a movie theatre), 1947
The Eglinton, Interior (also 1947)
The Nortown (875 Eglinton St. West), 1948
The Nortown, Interior, 1948
The Broadway (Queen and Bay), Ca. 1960s
The Odeon (Yonge and Carlton), Ca. 1970s
The Glendale (Avenue and Cranbrooke), Ca. late 1960s
The Uptown (Yonge and Bloor), Ca. 1970s
The Tivoli (formerly the Allen), Ca. late 1960s
Coronet Theatre (northeast corner of Yonge and Gerrard), Ca. 1970s
Imperial Theatre on Yonge St., 1972
Imperial Six Theatre (the same location as above following renovations), 1975
The Biltmore Theatre on Yonge St, Ca.mid 1970s
Hollywood Theatre on Yonge St. north of St. Clair, Ca. mid 1970s
Downtown Theatre, 285 Yonge St., 1980
University Theatre (Bay and Bloor), Ca. 1980s
The Eaton Centre Cineplex, Ca. early 1990s
by Derek Flack via blogTO
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