Parkdale Theatre – Once in the Parkdale Neighbourhood

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TorontoJourney416
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1947 - Looking southwest towards the Parkdale Theatre, once located at 1605 Queen St W. On the marquee, “Humoresque,” starring Joan Crawford, John Garfield and Oscar Levant and “A Chump at Oxford,” starring Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel, were playing and released in 1946 and 1940, respectively
1947 – Looking southwest towards the Parkdale Theatre, once located at 1605 Queen St W (Archives of Ontario I0012603)

Parkdale Theatre was once located at 1605 Queen St W (at Triller Ave on the southwest corner) in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto.

Built in 1919, Detroit-based architect Charles Howard Crane designed the theatre for brothers Jule and Jay Allen. The luxurious movie palace opened in April 1920. The Parkdale Theatre featured 1,500 leather seats, gilded details, crystal chandeliers and a decorative plaster ceiling.

When the theatre closed in 1970, the building was used as commercial space for Eaton’s Bargain Centre Clearance Store, Brewer’s Retail, MacLean Hunter Cable TV Parkdale, a book store, antique dealers and more.

In 2020, the historic theatre was converted into a multi-use event venue called The Parkdale Hall. The ornate ceiling has been beautifully restored to its original grandeur. That same year, the building received heritage status from the City of Toronto.

Other theatres in the city that were part of the Allen brothers’ chain include:

  • Allen, later the Tivoli once at Richmond St E and Victoria St
  • Allen’s Beach once at Queen St E and Waverley Rd
  • Allen’s Beaver once at Dundas St W, east of Pacific Ave
  • Allen’s Bloor, today’s Lee’s Palace at Bloor St W, east of Bathurst St
  • Allen’s College once at Dovercourt Rd and College St
  • Allen’s Danforth, today’s Danforth Music Hall at Danforth Ave and Broadview Ave
  • Allen’s St Clair once at Dufferin St and St Clair Ave W

Parkdale Theatre Photos

1937 - Parkdale Theatre was once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave, on the southwest corner. On the marquee, “Kid Galahad,” starring Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart and “Marry the Girl,” starring Mary Boland, Frank McHugh and Hugh Herbert, were playing and both released in 1937
1937 – Parkdale Theatre was once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave, on the southwest corner. On the marquee, “Kid Galahad,” starring Edward G. Robinson, Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart and “Marry the Girl,” starring Mary Boland, Frank McHugh and Hugh Herbert, were playing and both released in 1937 (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 130)
2021 - Parkdale Theatre was once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave, on the southwest corner. Today, the former theatre building is home to commercial and event space
2021 – Parkdale Theatre was once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave, on the southwest corner. Today, the former theatre building is home to commercial and event space
Between 1920 and 1926 – Looking east towards the Parkdale Theatre, once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave
Between 1920 and 1926 – Looking east towards the Parkdale Theatre, once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 2964)
2021 - Parkdale Theatre was once located at Queen St W and Triller Ave, on the southwest corner. Today, the former theatre building is home to The Parkdale Hall and commercial space
2021 – Parkdale Theatre was once located at Queen St W and Triller Ave, on the southwest corner. Today, the former theatre building is home to The Parkdale Hall and commercial space
1947 - The concession stand in the lobby at the Parkdale Theatre
1947 – The concession stand in the lobby at the Parkdale Theatre (Archives of Ontario I0012604)
1947 – The auditorium and screen at the Parkdale Theatre
1947 – The auditorium and screen at the Parkdale Theatre (Archives of Ontario I0012605)
2021 - The Parkdale Hall event space and original decorative plaster ceiling of the former Parkdale Theatre
2021 – The Parkdale Hall event space and original decorative plaster ceiling of the former Parkdale Theatre (courtesy of The Parkdale Hall by photographer Nick Wons)
Between 1920 and 1924 - Advertising on a billboard for the “Spring Fashion Show” at Allen’s Parkdale Theatre
Between 1920 and 1924 – Advertising on a billboard for the “Spring Fashion Show” at Allen’s Parkdale Theatre (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 1941)
1947 - Looking southwest towards the Parkdale Theatre, once located at 1605 Queen St W. On the marquee, “Humoresque,” starring Joan Crawford, John Garfield and Oscar Levant and “A Chump at Oxford,” starring Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel, were playing and released in 1946 and 1940, respectively
1947 – Looking southwest towards the Parkdale Theatre, once located at 1605 Queen St W. On the marquee, “Humoresque,” starring Joan Crawford, John Garfield and Oscar Levant and “A Chump at Oxford,” starring Oliver Hardy and Stan Laurel, were playing and released in 1946 and 1940, respectively (Archives of Ontario I0012603)
2022 - Looking southwest towards the former Parkdale Theatre, once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave. Today, the building is home to event and commercial space
2022 – Looking southwest towards the former Parkdale Theatre, once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave. Today, the building is home to event and commercial space
2022 – The Parkdale Hall entrance is located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave
2022 – The Parkdale Hall entrance is located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave
2021 - The Parkdale Hall event space and original ornate plaster ceiling of the former Parkdale Theatre
2021 – The Parkdale Hall event space and original ornate plaster ceiling of the former Parkdale Theatre (courtesy of The Parkdale Hall by photographer Nick Wons)
2021 - The ornate ceiling of the former Parkdale Theatre has been beautifully restored to its original grandeur inside The Parkdale Hall
2021 – The ornate ceiling of the former Parkdale Theatre has been beautifully restored to its original grandeur inside The Parkdale Hall (courtesy of The Parkdale Hall by photographer Nick Wons)
1921 - The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Allen’s Parkdale Theatre
1921 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address and phone number of the Allen’s Parkdale Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
1970 - The Toronto Yellow Pages showing the address and phone number of the Parkdale Theatre
1970 – The Toronto Yellow Pages showing the address and phone number of the Parkdale Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
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