Odeon Carlton Theatre – Once Next to Maple Leaf Gardens

By
TorontoJourney416
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The Odeon Carlton Theatre, originally the Odeon-Toronto, was once located at 20 Carlton St (east of Yonge St on the north side) in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood of Toronto.

Built in 1947/48, architect Jay Isadore English designed the postwar Modern style theatre. It featured a dramatic stone tower that rose 80 ft tall and could be seen from blocks away. The flagship Odeon movie house was the largest single theatre in Ontario, with 2,130 seats. On September 9, 1948, the Odeon-Toronto opened with the movie “Oliver Twist” starring Robert Newton, Alec Guinness and Kay Walsh.

The Carlton was one of five theatres that were part of the Odeon chain, owned by J Arthur Rank. The other four included the Humber, Danforth, Fairlawn and the Hyland.

In 1956, it was renamed the Odeon-Carlton and remained open until 1973. The building was demolished later that year.

On the site of the former theatre, two towers were constructed between Maple Leaf Gardens and the Toronto Hydro building. The tower at 20 Carlton St, The Maples, is home to Carlton Cinema.

Odeon Carlton Theatre Photos

1972 - Odeon Carlton Theatre once at 20 Carlton St, east of Yonge St on the north side, next to Maple Leaf Gardens. On the marquee, "The New Centurions," starring George C Scott and Stacy Keach, was playing
1972 – Odeon Carlton Theatre once at 20 Carlton St, east of Yonge St on the north side, next to Maple Leaf Gardens. On the marquee, “The New Centurions,” starring George C Scott and Stacy Keach, was playing (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 158)
1952 - Looking northeast towards the Toronto Hydro building and the Toronto Odeon Theatre once at 20 Carlton St. The theatre was renamed Odeon Carlton in 1956
1952 – Looking northeast towards the Toronto Hydro building and the Toronto Odeon Theatre once at 20 Carlton St. The theatre was renamed Odeon Carlton in 1956 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 127)
2022 - Looking northeast towards the Toronto Hydro-Electric System building. The site next to the building was once the Toronto Odeon Theatre. Today, 20 Carlton St is home to a residential structure with Carlton Cinema on the ground floor
2022 – Looking northeast towards the Toronto Hydro-Electric System building. The site next to the building was once the Toronto Odeon Theatre. Today, 20 Carlton St is home to a residential structure with Carlton Cinema on the ground floor
1948 – Odeon Carlton Theatre auditorium
1948 – Odeon Carlton Theatre auditorium (Archives of Ontario I0012842)
1950 - The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of The Toronto Odeon, later renamed Odeon Carlton Theatre
1950 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of The Toronto Odeon, later renamed Odeon Carlton Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
2020 - Carlton Cinema at 20 Carlton St is located on the site of the former Odeon Carlton Theatre
2020 – Carlton Cinema at 20 Carlton St is located on the site of the former Odeon Carlton Theatre
Source
  • The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Aug 18, 1949, pg 13
  • The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Dec 28, 1972, pg 15
  • The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Oct 6, 1973, pg 23
  • Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
  • Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives & Archives of Ontario
  • Toronto City Directory 1950 from the Toronto Public Library

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