The Biltmore Theatre was once located at 319 Yonge St (north of Dundas St E on the east side) in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto.
Built in 1947/48, the Biltmore was part of the Okun theatre chain. With a red and green colour scheme, the theatre featured 900+ seats, with over 300 of them on the balcony. Its opening film was the 1948 movie “The Mating of Millie” starring Glenn Ford.
The theatre closed in 1983. In 2007, the present-day shopping centre was completed and is known as 10 Dundas East.
Biltmore Theatre Photos
Between 1979 to 1983 – Biltmore Theatre was once located at 319 Yonge St, north of Dundas St E (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 610, Item 31)1950 – Looking north on Yonge St from Dundas St. On the right, notice the Biltmore Theatre followed by Olympia Bowling & Billiards, Le Coq d’Or Tavern and Hotel Edison (Brigdens Limited Photography & City of Toronto Archives, Series 574, File 13, Id 49320)1975 – Biltmore Theatre was once located at 319 Yonge St, just north of Dundas St. Notice on the right, Franks Hamburgers, Muntz and Tops Restaurant, followed by the theatre (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1526, File 3, Item 36)1950 – Looking north from Yonge St and Dundas St toward the Brown Derby Tavern, Silver Grill, Biltmore Theatre and Olympia Bowling & Billiards (Brigdens Limited Photography & City of Toronto Archives, Series 574, File 29, Id 49507)1950 – Biltmore Theatre was once located at 319 Yonge St, north of Dundas St E on the east side. On the marquee, “Sundown,” starring Gene Tierney, was playing (Brigdens Limited Photography & City of Toronto Archives, Series 574, File 18, Id 49375)Between 1983 to 1985 – Looking northwest from Dundas St and Yonge St. Notice Franks Hamburgers, Pinball Games, the boarded-up Biltmore Theatre and Cheapies Records (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 610, Item 2)1950 – Looking north from Dundas St and Yonge St toward the Silver Grill, Biltmore Theatre, Olympia Bowling & Billiards, Le Coq d’Or Tavern and Hotel Edison (Brigdens Limited Photography & City of Toronto Archives, Series 574, File 22, Id 49412)1972 – Looking south from the corner of Yonge St and Edward St towards Biltmore Theatre, Coles Bookstore, Downtown Theatre, and Imperial Theatre (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 312, Item 87)1970s – The Biltmore Theatre and Tops Restaurant was once located at 319/317 Yonge St, north of Dundas St E on the east side in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 618, Item 45)1984 – Looking northeast from Yonge St and Dundas St in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 124, File 3, ID 124)1948 – Looking northeast from Yonge St and Dundas St towards the Biltmore Theatre, once located at 319 Yonge St in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto. On the marquee, “The Fabulous Texan,” starring Bill Elliott, John Carroll and Catherine McLeod and “King of the Gamblers,” starring Janet Martin, William Wright and Thurston Hall, were playing and released in 1947 and 1948, respectively. Also, notice the “Highway 11” sign on the pole, Silver Grill, Olympia Bowling and Billiards and Hotel Edison (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 10)1948 – The Biltmore Theatre was once located at 319 Yonge St, north of Dundas St E on the east side in the Downtown Yonge area. On the marquee, “Montana Mike,” starring Robert Cummings, Brian Donlevy and Marjorie Reynolds and “Stork Bites Man,” starring Jackie Cooper, Meg Randall and Emory Parnell, were playing and both released in 1947. Notice the sign below the marquee that says “Smoke if you wish in the luxury loges” (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 28)Date unknown – The auditorium and screen at the Biltmore Theatre (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 28)2021 – Looking east from Yonge St and Edward St just north of Dundas St towards where the Biltmore Theatre once stood1950 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Biltmore Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
SOURCE
The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Apr 13, 1948, pg 19
The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jan 5, 1984, pg L3
