Odeon Fairlawn Theatre – Once in the Bedford Park Neighbourhood

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TorontoJourney416
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Late 1940s - Looking northwest towards the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre, once located at 3320 Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave. On the marquee, “The Best Years of Our Lives,” starring Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews and Fredric March, was playing and released in 1946
Late 1940s – Looking northwest towards the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre, once located at 3320 Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 7)

The Odeon Fairlawn Theatre was once located at 3320 Yonge St (north of Fairlawn Ave on the west side) in the Teddington Park/Bedford Park neighbourhood of Toronto.

Built in 1946/47, architect Jay Isadore English designed the luxurious, postwar Modern-style theatre. It featured a stone and glass facade with a giant neon and bulb-lit sign.

The lobby was visible from the street with floor-to-ceiling windows and featured a social area with chartreuse and wine-coloured furnishings. In the auditorium of the single-screen theatre, the stage draperies continued around a portion of the green walls. The seats on the main floor had red upholstery, while the balcony seats were bright green. Smoking was permitted on the balcony, with a special ventilation unit installed to remove cigarette smoke. The carpeting in the Fairlawn was the standard Odeon blue, with the walking areas done in colourful designs.

On August 15, 1947, the spacious 1,195-seat theatre opened with the movie “Green for Danger” starring Alastair Sim, Sally Gray and Trevor Howard.

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

In the mid-1970s, the Odeon Fairlawn was redesigned and divided into two auditoriums. The theatre became part of the Cineplex Odeon chain before closing in December 1985.

The neighbourhood movie house was torn down and is home to a mixed-use building today.

Odeon Fairlawn Theatre Photos

1949 - Odeon Fairlawn Theatre was once located at 3320 Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave on the west side. On the marquee, “Saraband,” starring Stewart Granger, Joan Greenwood and Flora Robson and “Can't Help Singing,” starring Deanna Durbin and Robert Paige, were playing and released in 1949 and 1944, respectively
1949 – Odeon Fairlawn Theatre was once located at 3320 Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave on the west side. On the marquee, “Saraband,” starring Stewart Granger, Joan Greenwood and Flora Robson and “Can’t Help Singing,” starring Deanna Durbin and Robert Paige, were playing and released in 1949 and 1944, respectively (City of Toronto Archives, Series 372, Sub Series 3, Item 1432)
Date unknown – The lobby at the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre had floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of Yonge St
Date unknown – The lobby at the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre had floor-to-ceiling windows with a view of Yonge St (Archives of Ontario)
1949 - Looking southwest towards the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre, once located at 3320 Yonge St. On the marquee, “The Man Within,” starring Michael Redgrave, Joan Greenwood and Jean Kent, was playing and released in 1948
1949 – Looking southwest towards the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre, once located at 3320 Yonge St. On the marquee, “The Man Within,” starring Michael Redgrave, Joan Greenwood and Jean Kent, was playing and released in 1948 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 135157)
Late 1940s - Looking northwest towards the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre, once located at 3320 Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave. On the marquee, “The Best Years of Our Lives,” starring Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews and Fredric March, was playing and released in 1946
Late 1940s – Looking northwest towards the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre, once located at 3320 Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave. On the marquee, “The Best Years of Our Lives,” starring Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews and Fredric March, was playing and released in 1946 (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 7)
Date unknown – A view of the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre auditorium from the balcony
Date unknown – A view of the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre auditorium from the balcony (Archives of Ontario)
1949 - The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre
1949 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
1990s - Looking northwest on Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave, towards the site of the former Odeon Fairlawn Theatre
1990s – Looking northwest on Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave, towards the site of the former Odeon Fairlawn Theatre (City of Toronto Archives)
2022 - Looking southwest on Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave, towards the site of the former Odeon Fairlawn, The theatre was torn down and replaced with a mixed-use building
2022 – Looking southwest on Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave, towards the site of the former Odeon Fairlawn, The theatre was torn down and replaced with a mixed-use building
SOURCE
  • The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Aug 14, 1947, pg 9
  • The Toronto Daily Star Newspaper Archives: Aug 15, 1947, pg 9
  • The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Aug 18, 1949, pg 13
  • The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Feb 17, 1977, pg 15
  • Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Dec 20, 1985, pg D26
  • Taylor On History: Odeon Fairlawn Theatre
  • IMDb
  • Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
  • Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives & Archives of Ontario
  • Toronto City Directory by Might Directories Ltd 1949 courtesy of Toronto Public Library

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