Playhouse Theatre – Once in the Harbord Village Neighbourhood

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TorontoJourney416
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Playhouse Theatre was once located at 344 College St (east of Brunswick Ave on the north side) in the Harbord Village and Kensington Market neighbourhoods of Toronto.

According to the Toronto City Directory, the Playhouse Theatre was first listed in 1915. It had approximately 450 leatherette seats with plush backs.

The theatre has had a few name changes during its time, including Melody, Portuguese Melody Theatre and finally, in the late-1960s, Wing Va Theatre, which showed Chinese movies.

The theatre building was demolished and replaced with the present-day mixed-use structure.

Playhouse Theatre Photos

1936 - Playhouse Theatre was once located at 344 College St, east of Brunswick Ave on the north side. On the marquee, “Klondike Annie,” starring Mae West, Victor McLaglen, and Phillip Reed and “The Law in Her Hands,” starring Margaret Lindsey, Glenda Farrell and Warren Hull, were playing and both released in 1936
1936 – Playhouse Theatre was once located at 344 College St, east of Brunswick Ave on the north side. On the marquee, “Klondike Annie,” starring Mae West, Victor McLaglen, and Phillip Reed and “The Law in Her Hands,” starring Margaret Lindsey, Glenda Farrell and Warren Hull, were playing and both released in 1936 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 1099)
Between 1920 and 1926 – Looking northwest from College St towards the Playhouse Theatre and Brunswick Ave. The theatre was once located at 344 College St in the Harbord Village neighbourhood
Between 1920 and 1926 – Looking northwest from College St towards the Playhouse Theatre and Brunswick Ave. The theatre was once located at 344 College St in the Harbord Village neighbourhood (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 3060)
Date unknown – Melody Theatre, originally Playhouse Theatre, notice that the sign was changed to Melody
Date unknown – Melody Theatre, originally Playhouse Theatre, notice that the sign was changed to Melody (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 49)
1950 - Advertising a film at the Portuguese Melody Theatre
1950 – Advertising a film at the Portuguese Melody Theatre (Toronto Public Library OHQ-EPHE-S-R-290)
1963 - Melody Theatre, originally Playhouse Theatre, was once located at 344 College St
1963 – Melody Theatre, originally Playhouse Theatre, was once located at 344 College St (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 49)
2022 – Looking northeast from College St and Brunswick Ave towards the site of the former Playhouse Theatre. The building that housed the theatre was demolished and replaced with the present-day mixed-use structure
2022 – Looking northeast from College St and Brunswick Ave towards the site of the former Playhouse Theatre. The building that housed the theatre was demolished and replaced with the present-day mixed-use structure
1915 - The Toronto City Directory showing the address of the Playhouse Theatre
1915 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address of the Playhouse Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
1954 - The Toronto City Directory showing the address of the Melody Theatre
1954 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address of the Melody Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
1968 - The Toronto Yellow Pages showing the address and phone number of the Wing Va Theatre
1968 – The Toronto Yellow Pages showing the address and phone number of the Wing Va Theatre (Toronto Public Library)
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