Home Toronto Theatres - Past and Present

Toronto Theatres - Past and Present

Early 1980s - Rio Theatre was once located at 373 Yonge St, south of Gerrard St E in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto. On the marquee, "Dressed to Kill," starring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen and "Champion of Death," starring Sonny Chiba, were playing and released in 1980 and 1975, respectively

Early 1980s - Rio Theatre was once located at 373 Yonge St, south of Gerrard St E in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto. On the marquee, "Dressed to Kill," starring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen and "Champion of Death," starring Sonny Chiba, were playing and released in 1980 and 1975, respectively

Rio Theatre Opened as The Big Nickel in 1913

2022 - Looking east towards the corner of Yonge St and Shuter St, where the Rialto, Hippodrome and Casino Theatres once occupied 219-221 Yonge St. Today, 11,513 sq ft former theatre building, officially known as the John E Thompson Block, is home to commercial space

2022 - Looking east towards the corner of Yonge St and Shuter St, where the Rialto, Hippodrome and Casino Theatres once occupied 219-221 Yonge St. Today, 11,513 sq ft former theatre building, officially known as the John E Thompson Block, is home to commercial space

Rialto Theatre, originally the Hippodrome & Casino Twin Theatres

1956 - Regent Theatre was once located at 225 Queen St E, west of Sherbourne St on the south side. On the marquee, "The Sea Chase," starring John Wayne, Lana Turner and David Farrar and "The Black Pirates," starring Anthony Dexter, Martha Roth and Lon Chaney Jr, and "The Last Musketeer," starring Rex Allen, Koko Mary and Ellen Kay, were playing and released in 1955, 1954 and 1952, respectively

1956 - Regent Theatre was once located at 225 Queen St E, west of Sherbourne St on the south side. On the marquee, "The Sea Chase," starring John Wayne, Lana Turner and David Farrar and "The Black Pirates," starring Anthony Dexter, Martha Roth and Lon Chaney Jr, and "The Last Musketeer," starring Rex Allen, Koko Mary and Ellen Kay, were playing and released in 1955, 1954 and 1952, respectively

Regent Theatre – Once in the Moss Park Neighbourhood

1913 - Looking southeast towards the Red Mill Theatre, originally The Theatorium and Toronto's first permanent moving pictures theatre, once located at 183 Yonge St, north of Queen St on the east side. On the poster, "A Red Girl's Sacrifice," starring Mona Darkfeather, was playing and released in 1913

1913 - Looking southeast towards the Red Mill Theatre, originally The Theatorium and Toronto's first permanent moving pictures theatre, once located at 183 Yonge St, north of Queen St on the east side. On the poster, "A Red Girl's Sacrifice," starring Mona Darkfeather, was playing and released in 1913

Theatorium, later Red Mill – Toronto’s First Permanent Theatre

2021 - The Royal, originally The Pylon Theatre, located at 608 College St in the Little Italy neighbourhood

2021 - The Royal, originally The Pylon Theatre, located at 608 College St in the Little Italy neighbourhood

Royal Theatre, originally The Pylon in the Little Italy Neighbourhood

Early 1950s - The Island Theatre was once located at 4 Iroquois Ave on Centre Island

Early 1950s - The Island Theatre was once located at 4 Iroquois Ave on Centre Island

Island Theatre – Once on Centre Island

1930 - Princess Theatre was once located at 167 King St W. After a fire in 1915, this was the 1917 reconstructed building

1930 - Princess Theatre was once located at 167 King St W. After a fire in 1915, this was the 1917 reconstructed building

Princess Theatre, originally the Academy of Music

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

Playhouse Theatre – Once in the Harbord Village Neighbourhood

1937 - Parkdale Theatre was once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave, on the southwest corner

1937 - Parkdale Theatre was once located at 1605 Queen St W and Triller Ave, on the southwest corner

Parkdale Theatre – Once in the Parkdale Neighbourhood

Between 1935 and 1937 - Paramount Theatre was once located at 1069 St Clair Ave W, between Lauder Ave and Glenholme Ave on the south side. On the marquee, “The Arizonian,” starring Richard Dix, Margot Grahame and Preston Foster and “Laddie,” starring John Beal, Gloria Stuart and Virginia Weidler, were playing and both released in 1935

Between 1935 and 1937 - Paramount Theatre was once located at 1069 St Clair Ave W, between Lauder Ave and Glenholme Ave on the south side. On the marquee, “The Arizonian,” starring Richard Dix, Margot Grahame and Preston Foster and “Laddie,” starring John Beal, Gloria Stuart and Virginia Weidler, were playing and both released in 1935

Paramount Theatre – Once in the St Clair West Village

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