The Runnymede Theatre was located at 2223 Bloor St W (on the south side, west of Runnymede Rd) in Toronto’s Bloor West Village neighbourhood.
The Architecture of the Runnymede Theatre
Opening in 1927, the Runnymede Theatre was both a vaudeville theatre and a moving picture palace. Designed by the prominent Toronto architectural firm Chapman & Oxley, Famous Players built the historic 1,550-seat theatre. Dubbed “Canada’s Theatre Beautiful,” it cost $250,000 to construct and was one of the first Atmospheric-style theatres in the country.
On the exterior of the 2½-storey building, there’s an impressive red brick facade. The taller centre section of the facade features a decorative front panel and is crowned with an elaborate cornice. Other exterior elements include a ticket booth, stone trim and fancy brickwork around the windows.
Inside, the magnificent Runnymede Theatre whisked flicker fans to far-off lands under a starry night sky. The auditorium walls featured beautiful large murals of building facades, garden foliage and trees. The treetops met the ceiling, painted to look like an azure blue sky. Tiny lights in the ceiling made it appear like guests were under a starry sky while cloud effects were projected across it. There is also ornate plasterwork throughout the auditorium, including on the proscenium arch, the twisted columns, the clamshell wall sconces and the decorative ornamentation at the top of the pilasters.
Opening Night
The June 2, 1927 evening brought an enthusiastic crowd of thousands to see the grand Moorish-style theatre. Bloor St West was decorated with banners and the Union Jack. Many of those who lined the streets were turned away due to the sell-out show. After a speech by the theatre’s manager, there was an on-screen presentation showing familiar faces of the business district. This was followed by the movies “Fire Brigade” and a side-splitting comedy called “Rookies.” There was also a stage performance by Harvey Doney called “On the Road to Mandalay.” At 9:30 pm on that premier evening, the Lieutenant-Governor, The Honorable William D Ross, entered the theatre, and the audience gasped with delight.
Through the Years
In the 1930s, as interest in vaudeville theatre began to dwindle, The Runnymede became a movie house only.
In 1972, the theatre was converted into a bingo hall. Eight years later, the landmark was restored back to a cozy nabe theatre and renovated to feature two screens.
In 1998, Alliance Cinemas took over the management of the Runnymede Theatre; however, just a year later, the neighbourhood theatre closed down as the rent was $35,000 per month.
Chapters & Shoppers Drug Mart
That same year, Chapters bookstore took over the building. The company spent over $3.5 million renovating the theatre for its own use and restoration work.
In 2014 when Chapters lease expired, the beloved landmark became home to Shoppers Drug Mart.
From the preserved walls and ceiling to the medallion and stage, it’s pretty impressive. Red velvet curtains frame the theatre’s wooden stage while vintage neighbourhood images are shown on a large screen.
Haunted Tales
The building is rumoured to be haunted by a young female spirit who, many years ago, died on stage when a sandbag fell on her. There have been reports from former theatre and bookstore employees and customers of uneasy feelings and odd occurrences. Click for more haunted tales.
Did You Know?
- Architects’ Chapman & Oxley designed many buildings and structures in Toronto, including Danforth Theatre & the Princes’ Gates.
- The Runnymede Theatre was designated a heritage property by the City in 1990.
- When the theatre closed in February 1999, the last movie shown (by no coincidence) was You’ve Got Mail.
- How did Runnymede Rd get its name? In the early to mid-1800s, a businessman named John Scarlett owned a large swath of land north of Bloor St W and west of Keele St. In 1838, he built a home on the land near Dundas St W and Keele St. He named the house Runnymede after the famous meadows on the River Thames, just southwest of London, England, were in 1215, King John signed the Magna Carta.
Runnymede Theatre Photos
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 2223 Bloor St W
- Ontario Heritage Trust: 2223 Bloor St W
- Heritage Toronto plaque
- Toronto Street Names: An Illustrated Guide to Their Origins by Leonard Wise & Allan Gould
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Jun 3, 1927, page 12
- The Toronto Daily Star Newspaper Archives: Jun 3, 1927, page 2, 13
- Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Nov 22, 2013, page L2
- Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Feb 6, 2014, page GT4
- Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Apr 21, 2015, page S9
- Toronto Ghosts: Runnymede Theatre
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives & Swansea Historical Society Archives
