HomeToronto Theatres - Past & Present

Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy – Once in The Danforth Neighbourhood

By TorontoJourney416

Posted:

Revisited:

Originally the Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy, was once located at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave (east of Greenwood Ave on the south side) in The Danforth neighbourhood of Toronto.

Built in 1935/36, the Art Moderne-style building was designed by Kaplan & Sprachman, who specialized in designing movie theatres. The renowned architect team created many of Toronto’s beautiful marquee movie palaces, including the Bloordale and Eglinton.

In the early 1970s, the theatre was renamed the Roxy, also referred to as the Original 99-Cent Roxy Theatre. It was a repertory cinema that showcased classic, horror and sci-fi movies like The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), Bambi Meets Godzilla (1969), Gimme Shelter (1970), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) and Eraserhead (1977). After the theatre closed in 1987, the building housed various businesses, including an after-hours club and a restaurant.

The building received heritage status from the City of Toronto in 1985 and the Ontario Heritage Trust in 2007.

The Imperial Oil company purchased the property, and in 2011, the restoration of the historic theatre was completed. The building once again features the former theatre’s facade, marquee and ticket booth. Today, the building is home to Tim Horton’s and Circle K.

Allenby Theatre Photos

July 4, 2021 - The old Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy, at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave
July 4, 2021 – The old Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy, at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave
1936 - Allenby Theatre was located at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave, south side east of Greenwood Ave - on the marquee, Three Kids and a Queen and Broadway Hostess were playing
1936 – Allenby Theatre was located at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave, south side east of Greenwood Ave – on the marquee, Three Kids and a Queen and Broadway Hostess were playing (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 1117)
1936 - Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy, was once located at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave - notice the marquee has a clock and says "cooled to your comfort"
1936 – Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy, was once located at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave – notice the marquee has a clock and says “cooled to your comfort” (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 1116)
July 4, 2021 - Looking southwest from Danforth Ave, east of Greenwood Ave towards the former Allenby Theatre at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave
July 4, 2021 – Looking southwest from Danforth Ave, east of Greenwood Ave towards the former Allenby Theatre at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave
1936 - The auditorium of the Allenby Theatre
1936 – The auditorium of the Allenby Theatre (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 1118)
1936 - The interior of the Allenby Theatre
1936 – The interior of the Allenby Theatre (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 1121)
1936 - The interior of the Allenby Theatre
1936 – The interior of the Allenby Theatre (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 15)
Circa 1946 – The former Allenby Theatre, located at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave. On the marquee, "Up Goes Maisie," starring Ann Sothern and George Murphy, was playing and released in 1946
Circa 1946 – The former Allenby Theatre, located at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave. On the marquee, “Up Goes Maisie,” starring Ann Sothern and George Murphy, was playing and released in 1946 (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 15)
December 24, 2020 - The former Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy, on Danforth Ave, east of Greenwood Avellenby Theatre, later the Roxy once located at 1213 Danforth Ave
December 24, 2020 – The former Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy, on Danforth Ave, east of Greenwood Ave
July 4, 2021 - The restored front entrance and ticket booth of the former Allenby Theatre at 1213 Danforth Ave
July 4, 2021 – The restored front entrance and ticket booth of the former Allenby Theatre at 1213 Danforth Ave
July 4, 2021 - A display case inside the former Roxy Theatre lobby with ads and articles from the theatre's past
July 4, 2021 – A display case inside the former Roxy Theatre lobby with ads and articles from the theatre’s past
July 4, 2021 - Allenby Theatre’s marquee and ticket booth
July 4, 2021 – Allenby Theatre’s marquee and ticket booth
July 4, 2021 - An old ad for The Rocky Horror Picture Show playing at the Roxy, on display inside the former theatre's lobby
July 4, 2021 – An old ad for The Rocky Horror Picture Show playing at the Roxy, on display inside the former theatre’s lobby
July 4, 2021 - An ad inside the former Roxy Theatre's lobby for "Rocky Horror" fans
July 4, 2021 – An ad inside the former Roxy Theatre’s lobby for “Rocky Horror” fans
Date unknown - The old Roxy Theatre at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave when it was home to a dance club and restaurant
Date unknown – The old Roxy Theatre at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave when it was home to a dance club and restaurant
July 4, 2021 - The heritage plaque reads: Allenby Theatre 1936 “The Allenby was designed in the Art Moderne style by noted Canadian theatre architects, Kaplan & Sprachman. Beginning in the mid-1970s, it enjoyed a revival as a repertory cinema named the "Roxy". When the site was redeveloped in 2010, the Allenby's façade was restored.” Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, 2007 Heritage Toronto 2011
July 4, 2021 – The heritage plaque reads:

Allenby Theatre 1936

“The Allenby was designed in the Art Moderne style by noted Canadian theatre architects, Kaplan & Sprachman. Beginning in the mid-1970s, it enjoyed a revival as a repertory cinema named the “Roxy”. When the site was redeveloped in 2010, the Allenby’s façade was restored.”

Designated under the Ontario Heritage Act, 2007

Heritage Toronto 2011
Date unknown – The old Allenby Theatre/Roxy Theatre when it was home to a Caribbean restaurant at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave
Date unknown – The old Allenby Theatre/Roxy Theatre when it was home to a Caribbean restaurant at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave
2009 - Allenby Theatre prior to its beautiful restoration
2009 – Allenby Theatre prior to its beautiful restoration (Google Maps)
1950 - The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Allenby Theatre
1950 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Allenby Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
SOURCE

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Stay Connected

951FansLike
34,143FollowersFollow
118FollowersFollow
8,100FollowersFollow

RELATED ARTICLES