Looking southeast towards the corner of Dundas St E and Parliament St in the Regent Park neighbourhood of Toronto.
The archive photo shows, from right foreground to left distance, the Gay Theatre, Cross Service Station, Fire Hall #7, and St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church.
When the theatre opened in 1913, it was originally called the Bluebell. In the mid-1950s, it was renamed the Gay Theatre, and later became the Parliament Cinema in 1975 before closing in the mid-1980s.
Today, the site where the theatre once stood has been replaced by homes, while the former gas station is now the location of the Regent Park Community Health Centre, which opened in 1999. The fire hall, now known as Toronto Fire Station 325, and St. Bartholomew’s Church are still standing today. Originally built in 1873, the church was located on the east side of River St at Dundas St E. In 1910, it was physically moved to its current location at 509 Dundas St E, which is visible on the far left.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- The Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Sep 4, 1999, pg J3
- St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church: History
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory, courtesy of Toronto Public Library
