Cinecity Cinema - Once Toronto's First-Run Art House Theatre

July 1, 1970 - Looking northeast towards the Cinecity Cinema once in the old Post Office at Yonge St and Charles St E, in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood of Toronto. Posters in the theatre's windows advertise an American movie called Riverrun and the French film "The Wanderer" (Le Grand Meaulnes) released in 1968 and 1967, respectively — July 1, 1970 – Looking northeast towards the Cinecity Cinema once in the old Post Office at Yonge St and Charles St E, in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 2, Item 15)

The Cinecity Cinema was once located at 4-6 Charles St E and Yonge St (on the northeast corner) in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood of Toronto.

The “Swingingist Theatre” in Toronto

When Cinecity Cinema opened in April 1967, a staff writer for the Toronto Daily Star referred to it as the city’s “swingingest theatre,” which meant it was lively, exciting, and fashionable. The 285-seat theatre was housed in the old Postal Station F, a three-storey, fortress-like building that was constructed in the early 1900s.

The new theatre was Toronto’s first-run “art house” outlet for underground, experimental and avant-garde Canadian, American, and foreign films. The opening-night presentation was Alain Resnais’ 1966 film, “La Guerre Est Finie” (The War Is Over), starring Montreal-born Geneviève Bujold. Cinecity Corporation and their partners invested $200,000 to establish the theatre while leasing the building.

The Press Screening of a Banned Movie

In 1968, members of the press were attending a private screening of “High,” a Canadian-made movie that had been banned by the Ontario Film Censors’ Board. About eight minutes into the film, the screen suddenly went blank, and the theatre’s executive director, Willem Poolman, announced that the censorship board had ordered the showing to stop. Although Cinecity’s license was initially revoked, it was restored later that day, allowing the press to view the film. However, the board stood firm in its decision to prohibit the public from seeing it.

Cinecity was a Launching Pad for Off-beat Films

Within a few years of opening, Leonard Bernstein took over operating Cinecity. The theatre was the go-to destination for offbeat, subtitled movies. Cinecity was the first theatre to screen Monty Python’s “And Now for Something Completely Different” at a time when theatre owners across Canada and the US were not yet familiar with the British comedy troupe and their unique style of humour.

The theatre also had successful runs featuring Claude Jutra’s films, “Mon oncle Antoine” and “Kamouraska.” Additionally, Cinecity set a world record by screening “Gimme Shelter,” featuring The Rolling Stones, for four consecutive years at midnight on Fridays.

Cinecity Closes

In the summer of 1975, when the theatre’s lease was up for renewal, the rental cost had been $450 per week. However, due to rising property values in the Bloor-Yonge area, the theatre’s rental payments were barely covering the taxes, and the business could no longer afford the increased rental charges.

Cinecity closed on August 28, 1975, with its final screening being “White Line Fever,” starring Jan-Michael Vincent.

After the Theatre

The old post office building was converted into Mr. Gameways’ Ark, a game and hobby department store, which operated until 1984. Today, the heritage-designated structure houses commercial, office and restaurant space.

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