Academy Theatre – Once in Bloordale Village

By
TorontoJourney416
-

Academy Theatre was once located at 1286 Bloor St W (at St Clarens Ave on the northwest corner, east of Lansdowne Ave) in Toronto’s Bloordale Village/Wallace Emerson neighbourhood.

Built in 1913, the Edwardian-style structure was originally home to the Academy Theatre and an entertainment complex with bowling and billiards. The theatre closed in the mid-1960s, and the space later became Branko’s Restaurant and La Sunset dining lounge.

Since 2008, the former theatre building has been home to Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art.

The Lansdowne Theatre just north of Bloor St W was just around the corner.

Academy Theatre Photos

1938 - Academy Theatre was once located at 1286 Bloor St W and St Clarens Ave, on the northwest corner. The entertainment complex also featured bowling and billiards
1938 – Academy Theatre was once located at 1286 Bloor St W and St Clarens Ave, on the northwest corner. The entertainment complex also featured bowling and billiards (Archives of Ontario RG 56-11)
1938 - The auditorium seating and screen at the Academy Theatre
1938 – The auditorium seating and screen at the Academy Theatre (Archives of Ontario RG 56-11)
1938 - Looking towards the rear of the auditorium at the Academy Theatre. Notice the decorative ceiling
1938 – Looking towards the rear of the auditorium at the Academy Theatre. Notice the decorative ceiling (Archives of Ontario RG 56-11)
2022 – The original ceiling of the former Academy Theatre at 1186 Bloor St W. Today, the building is home to Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art
2022 – The original ceiling of the former Academy Theatre at 1186 Bloor St W. Today, the building is home to Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art
1938 - The interior auditorium entrance at the Academy Theatre
1938 – The interior auditorium entrance at the Academy Theatre (Archives of Ontario RG 56-11)
1961 - Looking northwest towards the Academy Theatre, once located at 1286 Bloor St W and St Clarens Ave. On the marquee, “The Savage Innocents,” starring Anthony Quinn, Yôko Tani and Peter O'Toole, and “The Walking Target,” starring Joan Evans, Ron Foster and Merry Anders, were playing
1961 – Looking northwest towards the Academy Theatre, once located at 1286 Bloor St W and St Clarens Ave. On the marquee, “The Savage Innocents,” starring Anthony Quinn, Yôko Tani and Peter O’Toole, and “The Walking Target,” starring Joan Evans, Ron Foster and Merry Anders, were playing (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 13)
2022 - Academy Theatre was once located on the northwest corner of Bloor St W and St Clarens Ave. Today, the former theatre building is home to Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art
2022 – Academy Theatre was once located on the northwest corner of Bloor St W and St Clarens Ave. Today, the former theatre building is home to Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art
1915 - The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Academy Theatre
1915 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Academy Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
1966 - The Toronto City Directory showing the address of the Academy Theatre
1966 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address of the Academy Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
Source

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR