The Allen Theatre, later Tivoli, was once located at 17 Richmond St E (at Victoria St on the southwest corner) in Downtown Toronto.
Jule and Jay Allen, movie pioneering brothers, opened the Allen Theatre in 1917. It was one of many theatres they operated in the city. The building was designed by architects Hynes, Feldman & Watson and Detroit-based Charles Howard Crane.
In 1923, the theatre was acquired by Famous Players and renamed Tivoli. The theatre closed in 1965, and the building was later demolished.
The southwest corner is now home to Cambridge Suites Toronto.
Other theatres in the city that were part of the Allen brothers’ chain include:
- Allen’s Beach once at Queen St E and Waverley Rd
- Allen’s Beaver once at Dundas St W, east of Pacific Ave
- Allen’s Bloor, today’s Lee’s Palace at Bloor St W, east of Bathurst St
- Allen’s College once at Dovercourt Rd and College St
- Allen’s Danforth, today’s Danforth Music Hall at Danforth Ave and Broadview Ave
- Allen’s Parkdale once at Queen St W and Triller Ave
- Allen’s St Clair once at Dufferin St and St Clair Ave W
Allen & Tivoli Theatre Photos
SOURCE
- Heritage Toronto
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives & Toronto Public Library
- Toronto City Directory 1921 & 1950 from the Toronto Public Library