HomeToronto Theatres - Past & Present

Toronto Theatres - Past & Present

1938 - Academy Theatre was once located at 1286 Bloor St W and St Clarens Ave, on the northwest corner. The entertainment complex also featured bowling and billiards

Academy Theatre – Once in Bloordale Village

Circa 1936 - Adelphi Theatre once at 1008 Dovercourt Rd. On the marquee, A Tale of Two Cities and Laughing Irish Eyes were playing

Adelphi Theatre, originally the Cum-Bac Theatre

1960's - Honest Ed's and the Alhambra Theatre, looking west on Bloor St W

Alhambra Theatre, originally the King George

1965 - Tivoli Theatre, once at Richmond St E and Victoria St, southwest corner. The theatre closed this same year and the building was later torn down

Allen Theatre, later the Tivoli

July 4, 2021 - The old Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy, at 1213-1215 Danforth Ave

Allenby Theatre, later the Roxy – Once in The Danforth Neighbourhood

2021 - Looking southwest towards the Alumnae Theatre, originally the Berkeley Street Fire Hall No. 4 at Berkeley St and Adelaide St E. Built in 1905, the structure was designed by architect Alexander Frank Wickson in the Edwardian Classical style

Alumnae Theatre – Once the Berkeley Street Fire Hall No. 4

1936 - Apollo Theatre, originally Crystal Theatre, was once at 2901 Dundas St W. Here Comes Trouble with Gene Autry and Comin' 'Round the Mountain with Arline Judge were playing

Apollo Theatre, originally the Crystal

1939 - Looking southwest towards the Avenue Theatre once at 331 Eglinton Ave W at Braemar Ave

Avenue Theatre – Once in Midtown Toronto

1960s - Bay Theatre once at 45 Queen St W, two doors east of Bay St on the south side. On the marquee, "The Small World of Sammy Lee," a 1963 British crime film, was playing

Bay Theatre, originally the Colonial

Circa 1941 - On the marquee at the Bayview Theatre, "They Met in Bombay," starring Clark Gable, Rosalind Russell, and Peter Lorre, along with "Knockout," featuring Arthur Kennedy and Olympe Bradna, were showing, both released in 1941. Since 2011, the former theatre building at 1605 Bayview Ave has been home to Shoppers Drug Mart

Bayview Theatre, later The Playhouse/Bayview Playhouse – Once in Leaside

The Lux Burlesque Theatre was once located at 360-362 College St in Toronto

Bellevue Theatre & Lux Burlesque – Silver Screen to the Burlesque...

Between 1979 to 1983 - Biltmore Theatre was once located at 319 Yonge St, north of Dundas St E

Biltmore Theatre – Once in the Downtown Yonge Area

1949 - Birchcliff Theatre was once located at 1535 Kingston Rd and Valhalla Blvd, east of Warden Ave on the south side. On the marquee, “Down to the Sea in Ships,” starring Lionel Barrymore and “Lust for Gold,” starring Glenn Ford, were playing

Birchcliff Theatre – Once in Scarborough

2021 – The former Bloordale Theatre at 1610 Bloor St W is today home to retail stores. Architects Kaplan & Sprachman designed the building in the Art Deco style

Bloordale Theatre, later State – Once in West Bend

1937 - Broadway Theatre was once located at 75 Queen St W, west of Bay St on the south side

Broadway Theatre, originally the Globe – Once Downtown

July 7, 2021 - Looking north towards Buddies in Bad Times Theatre at 12 Alexander St, east of Yonge St

Buddies in Bad Times – The World’s Longest-Running Queer Theatre

July 24, 2021 - CAA Theatre at 651-653 Yonge St, south of Charles St on the east side. Previously, the Panasonic, Festival, Showcase, New Yorker, Astor and Victoria Theatre

CAA Theatre, formerly Panasonic, Festival, Showcase, New Yorker, Astor, Embassy &...

Between 1935 and 1937 - Cameo Theatre was once located at 989 Pape Ave at Floyd Ave. On the marquee, “The Thin Man,” starring William Powell and Myrna Loy and, “This Side of Heaven,” starring Lionel Barrymore, were playing

Cameo Theatre – Once in Pape Village

2021 - Capitol Theatre was once located at 2492 Yonge St and Castlefield Ave

Capitol Theatre, originally the York – Once in Lawrence Park

2021 - Carlton Cinema at 20 Carlton St, east of Yonge St on the north side

Carlton Cinema – In the Church and Wellesley Area

1936 - Casino Theatre preparing for opening day. It was once located at 87-95 Queen St W, west of Bay St

Casino Theatre, later the Civic Square & Festival

1947 - Centre Theatre, originally the Duchess Theatre, was once located at 772 Dundas St W at Markham St, northwest corner. On the marquee, “Destroyer,” starring Edward G Robinson and Glenn Ford, was playing

Centre Theatre, originally Duchess – Once in Trinity-Bellwoods

July 1, 1970 - Looking northeast towards the Cinecity Cinema once in the old Post Office at Yonge St and Charles St E, in the Church-Wellesley neighbourhood of Toronto. Posters in the theatre's windows advertise an American movie called Riverrun and the French film "The Wanderer" (Le Grand Meaulnes) released in 1968 and 1967, respectively

Cinecity Cinema – Once Toronto’s First-Run Art House Theatre

1945 - Circle Theatre was once located at 2567 Yonge St. On the marquee, “Kiss and Tell,” starring then 17-year-old Shirley Temple and “Star in the Night,” starring J Carrol Naish, an Academy Award for Best Short Subject at the 18th Academy Awards, were playing

Circle Theatre – Once in Lawrence Park South

1947 - College Theatre was once located at 960 College St and Dovercourt Rd on the northwest corner. On the marquee, "Johnny O'Clock," starring Dick Powell and Evelyn Keyes, and "Gallant Journey," starring Glenn Ford and Janet Blair, were playing. On the right side of the photo is a bowling alley which later became The Matador Club

College Theatre – Once in Dufferin Grove

Circa 1939 - Colony Theatre was once located at 1801 Eglinton Ave W. On the marquee, “The Star Maker,” starring Bing Crosby and “On Trial,” starring Margaret Lindsay, were playing

Colony Theatre – Once in the Oakwood-Vaughan Area

1910 - Comique Theatre was once located at 279 Yonge St, just south of Dundas Sq on the east side

Comique Theatre – An Early Moving Picture Show

1937 - Community Theatre was once located at 1202 Woodbine Ave

Community Theatre – Once in Woodbine Heights

Between 1978 and 1980 - Looking east towards the Coronet Theatre, once located at 399 Yonge St and Gerrard St E

Coronet Theatre, originally the Biltmore Savoy

1980s - Cumberland Four Cinemas was once located at 159 Cumberland St

Cumberland Four Cinemas – Once in Yorkville

2021 – Looking south towards The Danforth Music Hall at 147 Danforth Ave, east of Broadview Ave

Danforth Music Hall, originally Allen’s Danforth Theatre

1949 - Downtown Theatre was once located on the northeast corner at 285 Yonge St and Dundas Sq

Downtown Theatre – Once in the Heart of Yonge St

1949 - Looking northeast towards the Eclipse Theatre, once located at 387-389 Parliament St, south of Gerrard St E on the east side. On the marquee, “Riders of the Deadline,” starring William Boyd, was playing

Eclipse Theatre – Once in Regent Park

2020 - Eglinton Theatre was once located at 400 Eglinton Ave W, west of Avenue Rd on the north side. Today the Eglinton Grand, an entertainment venue, occupies the Art Deco building

Eglinton Grand, originally Eglinton Theatre – A National Historic Site

2022 – A view of the stage and opera boxes from the mezzanine at the Winter Garden Theatre

Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres – A National Historic Site

Early 1930s - Empire Theatre was once located at 23-27 Temperance St, west of Yonge St on the south side

Empire Theatre – Once Located on Temperance St

1937 - Esquire Theatre, originally Lyndhurst, was once located at 2290 Bloor St W, east of Durie St on the north side

Esquire Theatre, originally Lyndhurst – Once in Bloor West Village

May 14, 2022 - Looking up at the curved centre windows of the Factory Theatre. The buff brick building with stone details was originally St Mary's Parish clubhouse, designed by architect James M Cowan

Factory Theatre – Producing Canadian Plays for Over 50 Years

Between 1920 and 1926 - Looking southeast towards the Family Theatre once located at 2173-75 Queen St E, east of Lee Ave. Fox Theatre is located about 1 km to the east

Family Theatre, later Lake – Once in The Beaches

2021 - Fox Theatre is located at 2236 Queen St E, east of Beech Ave on the north side in The Beaches neighbourhood

Fox Theatre, originally The Theatre Without A Name

Between 1935 and 1937 - Granada Theatre was once located at 413-17 Danforth Ave, west of Logan Ave on the south side

Granada Theatre, originally Model Theatre – Once in Greektown

1921 - Looking southwest towards the Grand Opera House once at 11 Adelaide St W

Grand Opera House & the Century-Old Cold Case of the Missing...

Between 1935 and 1937 - Grant Theatre was once located at 518-524 Oakwood Ave, south of Vaughan Rd on the west side. On the marquee, “One in a Million,” starring Sonja Henie, Adolphe Menjou and Don Ameche and “Counterfeit Lady,” starring Ralph Bellamy and Joan Perry, were playing

Grant Theatre – Once in the Oakwood-Vaughan Area

1985 - A photo shoot at Guild Inn Estate's Greek Theatre

Greek Theatre – An Open-Air Stage at the Guild Inn Estate

1939 - Grover Theatre was once located at 2714 Danforth Ave, west of Dawes Rd on the north side. On the marquee, “In Name Only,” starring Carole Lombard and Cary Grant and “Underpup,” starring Gloria Jean, were playing

Grover Theatre – Once Located in Danforth Village

1936 - Guild Theatre, originally Greenwood Theatre, was once located at 1275 Gerrard St E, west of Greenwood Ave. On the marquee, "The Petrified Forest," starring Bette Davis and Leslie Howard and "Don't Gamble with Love," starring Ann Sothern, were playing

Guild Theatre, originally Greenwood – Once in Leslieville

1975 - Looking northeast towards the Hollywood Theatre, once located at 1519 Yonge St. On the marquee, “The Towering Inferno,” starring Paul Newman and Steve McQueen, and “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” starring Ellen Burstyn and Kris Kristofferson, were playing

Hollywood Theatre – Once in the Deer Park Neighbourhood

2021 - Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema at 506 Bloor St W, east of Bathurst St on the north side

Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, originally the Madison

June 25, 1973 - The Imperial Six, located at 263 Yonge St, during the theatre's open house to see Canada's largest Theatre Complex

Imperial Six Theatre – One of the World’s First Multiplex Theatres

1919 - Looking northwest towards the Imperial Vaudeville Theatre at 408, St Paul's Parish Hall at 412 and commercial space at 414-416 Queen St E

Imperial Vaudeville, later Paulton, Rialto & Empire Theatre

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

Island Theatre – Once on Centre Island

1950s – Joy Theatre, originally the Rex, was once located at 1130 Queen St E and Bertmount Ave, on the northeast corner. On the marquee, "Tarzan and the Leopard Woman," starring Johnny Weissmuller, Brenda Joyce and Johnny Sheffield, was playing

Joy Theatre, originally the Rex

1954 - Kenwood Theatre was once located at 962 Bloor St W, east of Dovercourt Rd on the north side. On the marquee, "The Bowery Boys Meet the Monsters," starring Leo Gorcey, Huntz Hall and Bernard Gorcey, was playing

Kenwood Theatre – Once in Bloorcourt Village

2021 - The Kingsway Theatre at 3030 Bloor St W, just west of Royal York Rd on the north side

Kingsway Theatre – The Landmark Nabe Cinema of Bloor West

1934 - KUM-C Theatre was once located at 1286-88 Queen St W, west of Dufferin St on the north side

KUM-C Theatre – Once in the Parkdale Neighbourhood

1954 - Looking northwest towards La Salle Theatre, originally Liberty Theatre, once located at 526-528 Dundas St W. On the marquee, “The Iron Mistress,” starring Alan Ladd and Virginia Mayo and “Plymouth Adventure,” starring Gene Tierney, Spencer Tracy and Van Johnson, were playing

La Salle Theatre, originally the Liberty

1942 - Lansdowne Theatre was once located at 683 Lansdowne Ave

Lansdowne Theatre, originally the Park

1910 - Auditorium Theatre, once at 380 Queen St W and Spadina Ave, northwest corner. The Heroine of Mafeking was playing

Mary Pickford Theatre, originally the Auditorium

December 4, 2021 - The neon Massey Hall sign on the front of Toronto's iconic entertainment venue at Victoria St and Shuter St

Massey Hall – The Historic and Internationally Famous Venue

1959 - Looking east towards the Mayfair Theatre, once located at 347 Jane St, south of Annette St. By this time, the theatre had closed, and the building was listed for sale

Mayfair Theatre – Once in the Runnymede Neighbourhood

1922 - Melba Theatre was once located on the northeast corner at 1574 Queen St E and Craven Rd

Melba Theatre, later the Queen & Vogue

2021 – The canopy and entrance of Meridian Hall at 1 Front St E in Toronto’s St Lawrence neighbourhood. In the background, notice the Dominion Public Building and the CN Tower

Meridian Hall – Toronto’s Sophisticated Venue, Once the O’Keefe Centre

2022 - Basecamp Climbing Bloor West, once home to Metro Theatre, is located at 677 Bloor St W

Metro Theatre – Once in the Koreatown Neighbourhood

September 14, 2019 - Mount Pleasant Theatre, originally Hudson Theatre, was once located at 675 Mt Pleasant Rd, south of Eglinton Ave E

Mount Pleasant Theatre, originally the Hudson

1939 - Oakwood Theatre was once located at 165 Oakwood Ave, north of St Clair St W on the east side. On the marquee, “The Wizard of Oz,” starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan and Ray Bolger, was playing. The coming attraction on the marquee was “Dark Journey,” starring Vivien Leigh and Conrad Veidt

Oakwood Theatre – Once in St Clair West Village

1972 - Odeon Carlton Theatre once at 20 Carlton St

Odeon Carlton Theatre – Once Next to Maple Leaf Gardens

1948 - Opening night of the Odeon Danforth Theatre. On the marquee, “Jassy,” starring Margaret Lockwood, Patricia Roc, and Dennis Price, was playing

Odeon Danforth Theatre, later the Rex Danforth

Late 1940s - Looking northwest towards the Odeon Fairlawn Theatre, once located at 3320 Yonge St, north of Fairlawn Ave. On the marquee, “The Best Years of Our Lives,” starring Myrna Loy, Dana Andrews and Fredric March, was playing and released in 1946

Odeon Fairlawn Theatre – Once in the Bedford Park Neighbourhood

1956 – Looking northwest towards the Odeon Humber Theatre, later Humber Cinemas, once located at 2442 Bloor St W. On the marquee, “Guys and Dolls,” starring Marlon Brando, Jean Simmons and Frank Sinatra, was playing and released in 1955

Odeon Humber Theatre, later Humber Cinemas

1948 – Odeon Hyland Theatre was once located at 1501 Yonge St

Odeon Hyland Theatre – Once in the Deer Park Neighbourhood

Date unknown - Looking southeast towards Odeon Theatre, once located at 1473 Queen St W

Odeon Theatre 1473 Queen St W – Once in Parkdale

1919 - Odeon Theatre was once located at 1558 Queen St W, between Fuller Ave and Sorauren Ave on the north side

Odeon Theatre at 1558 Queen St W – Once in Parkdale

2019 - The main entrance to The Opera House at 735 Queen St E

Opera House – Preserved its Vaudeville Theatre Architecture Charm

Circa 1970 – Looking northeast towards the Orpheum Theatre once at 600 Queen St W in Toronto's West Queen West neighbourhood. Notice the neon and bulb-lit "ORPHEUM" sign over the marquee. Nearby businesses include Lanzarotta Bros Supermarket, Panama Shoe Company, Mary's Grocery, Grosman's IDA Drug Store, Browns Bros Market, and CIBC

Orpheum Theatre – A Look Back at the Former Theatre on...

Between 1936 and 1937 - Oxford Theatre was once located at 1510 Danforth Ave, between Monarch Park Ave and Coxwell Ave on the north side. On the marquee, “Public Enemy's Wife,” starring Pat O'Brien, Margaret Lindsay and Robert Armstrong and “Love Begins at 20,” starring Hugh Herbert, Patricia Ellis and Warren Hull, were playing and both released in 1936

Oxford Theatre – Once in the East Danforth Neighbourhood

1947 - Looking northeast towards the Palace Theatre, once located at 664 Danforth Ave, east of Pape Ave

Palace Theatre – Once in the Danforth Neighbourhood

2021 - Paradise Theatre at 1006 Bloor St W at Westmoreland Ave, northwest corner

Paradise Theatre – Toronto’s Beautifully Restored Art Deco Venue

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

1949 - Park Theatre, originally the Bedford Theatre, was once located at 3289-3291 Yonge St. On the marquee, "The Fountainhead" starring Gary Cooper and Patricia Neal and "The Window” starring Barbara Hale, were playing

Park Theatre, originally the Bedford

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

Parkdale Theatre – Once a 1,500-Seat Movie Palace in the Parkdale...

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

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

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

2021 - Regent Theatre is located at 551 Mt Pleasant Rd

Regent Theatre, originally the Belsize – Once in Davisville Village

May 24, 2025 - Revue Theatre at ‪400 Roncesvalles Ave

Revue Theatre – Toronto’s Oldest Operating Cinema, Since 1912

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, previously the Hippodrome & Casino Twin Theatres

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 northwest towards the Royal Alexandra Theatre

Royal Alexandra Theatre – A Jewel Box of Beaux-Arts Architecture

1913 – An illustration looking south towards the Royal Lyceum, which was once located at 99½ King St W, between Bay St and York St in downtown Toronto. From 1849 to 1874, the theatre stood behind the businesses along King St W. In today's terms, it was situated in the TD Centre block, about 55 m east of The Pasture statues

Royal Lyceum – One of Toronto’s First Purpose-Built Theatres

Circa 1950 - The Royal Theatre was located at the southeast corner of Dundas St W and Dufferin St in the Little Portugal neighbourhood of Toronto. It operated from 1925 until the mid-1950s, although the building had housed various named theatres since 1911. More recently, it was occupied by Hakim Optical, which has since closed

Royal Theatre – Once at Dundas St W & Dufferin St

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

Runnymede Theatre once at 2223 Bloor St W in Toronto - now Shoppers Drug Mart (2021)

Runnymede Theatre – The Historic Theatre is Now a Drug Store

2021 - Luella Massey Studio Theatre at 4 Glen Morris St

Studio Theatre, originally St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

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

1983 - Looking northeast towards the University Theatre once located at 100 Bloor St W. On the marquee, “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi,” starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher, was playing

University Theatre – Toronto’s Magnificent Theatre Along Mink Mile

February 1971 – Looking southwest from Yonge St towards Bloor St, notice the Uptown Theatre in the distance. Also, observe Stollery's Menswear Store located at the corner of Bloor St W and Yonge St

Uptown Theatre – Once a Grand Vaudeville & Movie Palace on...

The Victory Burlesque Theatre once at 287 Spadina Ave in Toronto

Victory Burlesque Theatre – Once Began as a Live Yiddish Venue

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