Odeon Hyland Theatre – Once in the Deer Park Neighbourhood

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TorontoJourney416
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1948 – Odeon Hyland Theatre was once located at 1501 Yonge St, north of St Clair Ave. On the marquee, “Blanche Fury,” starring Stewart Granger, Valerie Hobson and Walter Fitzgerald, was playing and released in 1948 (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 7)
1948 – Odeon Hyland Theatre was once located at 1501 Yonge St, north of St Clair Ave (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 7)

Odeon Hyland Theatre was once located at 1501 Yonge St (opposite Delisle Ave, north of St Clair Ave on the east side) in the Deer Park neighbourhood of Toronto.

Built in 1947/48, architects Jay Isadore English and Leslie Haggar Kemp designed the Odeon Hyland. The theatre was decorated in blue and gold colours and had a total of 1,355 seats on the main floor and balcony. The exterior featured a giant neon “ODEON” sign with “Hyland” just above the large marquee.

On November 22, 1948, the theatre opened with the Canadian premiere of Hamlet. The Oscar-winning film starred Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons and John Laurie.

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

In 1972, the theatre was divided into two auditoriums. It took only 24 days to complete. The lower level became the Hyland One and had 790 seats, while the balcony was converted into the Hyland Two, a 492-seat theatre.

In the mid-1980s, the Hyland became part of the Cineplex Odeon chain. The theatre closed in February 2001, and the building was demolished two years later.

Today the site of the former theatre is home to a mixed-use building.

Hyland Theatre Photos

1948 – Odeon Hyland Theatre was once located at 1501 Yonge St, north of St Clair Ave. On the marquee, “Blanche Fury,” starring Stewart Granger, Valerie Hobson and Walter Fitzgerald, was playing and released in 1948 (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 7)
1948 – Odeon Hyland Theatre was once located at 1501 Yonge St, north of St Clair Ave. On the marquee, “Blanche Fury,” starring Stewart Granger, Valerie Hobson and Walter Fitzgerald, was playing and released in 1948 (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 7)
Early 1960s – Looking southeast from Yonge St and Heath St towards the Odeon Hyland Theatre, once located at 1501 Yonge St. On the marquee, “Only Two Can Play,” starring Peter Sellers, Mai Zetterling and Virginia Maskell, was playing and released in 1962. Notice the Hollywood Theatre in the foreground
Early 1960s – Looking southeast from Yonge St and Heath St towards the Odeon Hyland Theatre, once located at 1501 Yonge St. On the marquee, “Only Two Can Play,” starring Peter Sellers, Mai Zetterling and Virginia Maskell, was playing and released in 1962. Notice the Hollywood Theatre in the foreground (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 7)
Date unknown - The auditorium and screen from the balcony at the Odeon Hyland Theatre
Date unknown – The auditorium and screen from the balcony at the Odeon Hyland Theatre (Archives of Ontario 2155)
Date unknown – The lobby at the Odeon Hyland Theatre
Date unknown – The lobby at the Odeon Hyland Theatre (Archives of Ontario 2157)
1953 - The Flame Restaurant was located next door to the Odeon Hyland Theatre once on Yonge St, opposite Delisle Ave. On the marquee, “The Juggler,” starring Kirk Douglas, Milly Vitale and Paul Stewart, was playing and released in 1953
1953 – The Flame Restaurant was located next door to the Odeon Hyland Theatre once on Yonge St, opposite Delisle Ave. On the marquee, “The Juggler,” starring Kirk Douglas, Milly Vitale and Paul Stewart, was playing and released in 1953 (City of Toronto Archives, Series 381, File 270, ID 11268-2)
1953 - The Flame Restaurant was once between the Odeon Hyland and Hollywood Theatre on Yonge St, north of St Clair Ave. Notice the overhang of Odeon Hyland's neon marque on the upper right and the Hollywood Theatre on the left
1953 – The Flame Restaurant was once between the Odeon Hyland and Hollywood Theatre on Yonge St, north of St Clair Ave. Notice the overhang of Odeon Hyland’s neon marque on the upper right and the Hollywood Theatre on the left (City of Toronto Archives, Series 381, File 270, ID 11268-2)
1950 - The Toronto City Directory showing the address of the Odeon Hyland Theatre
1950 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address of the Odeon Hyland Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
2000 - The Toronto Yellow Pages showing the address and phone number of the Cineplex Odeon Hyland Theatre
2000 – The Toronto Yellow Pages showing the address and phone number of the Cineplex Odeon Hyland Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
SOURCE
  • The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Nov 22, 1948, pg 13
  • Boxoffice: Odeon Converts Hyland to Twin in 24 Days: Oct 16, 1972, pg 26
  • The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Dec 24, 1984, pg M10
  • Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Feb 17, 2001, pg E1
  • Canadian Journal of Film Studies: Nathan L Nathanson Introduces Canadian Odeon by Paul S Moore, Fall 2003; 12, 2
  • Taylor On History: Odeon Hyland Theatre
  • IMDb
  • Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
  • Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives & Archives of Ontario
  • Toronto City Directory by Might Directories Ltd 1950 courtesy of Toronto Public Library
  • Toronto Yellow Pages 2000 courtesy of Toronto Public Library

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