The Victory Burlesque Theatre was located at 287 Spadina Ave (at Dundas St W on the northeast corner) in the Chinatown neighbourhood of Toronto.
The Standard & Strand Theatre
Originally built as the Standard Theatre in 1922, Toronto’s Jewish community developed the live Yiddish theatre venue. It’s debatable which architect designed the theatre, either Benjamin Brown or John Jeffrey. The three-storey, Art-Deco-style building features buff brick, two pairs of brick piers with decorative cast stone capitals, flat-headed window openings, a dentiled cornice and a brick parapet.
Along with presenting Jewish theatrical productions with its own company of actors, the Standard Theatre also hosted New York City touring companies and was the backdrop for political meetings.
In 1935, the post-World War I era theatre became The Strand and changed names again in 1941 to the Victory Theatre.
The Victory Burlesque Theatre
In 1961, the venue began showing live performances again, this time of the risqué variety. It was called the Victory Burlesque Theatre, and the opening act was Little Star, “the blazing gal from outer space.” Toronto Police morality squad kept a watchful eye on the theatre. It was quite the corner at the time. In the 1970s, similar Yonge St establishments attracted more of an audience, and in 1975, its curtains closed.
The venue was renovated that same year and became a Golden Harvest Chinese-language theatre. It was in operation for about 20 years.
The Heritage Building Today
The building received heritage status in 2007. Throughout the years, it has been home to a bank and other businesses. Today, it’s Rexall Drugstore and various retail shops.
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Victory Burlesque Theatre Photos
Standard Theatre 1922
“This building was the first purpose-built Yiddish-language theatre in Canada and a cultural landmark in the local Jewish community.
Architect John MacNee Jeffrey designed the Standard Theatre in the Art deco style, possibly with architect Benjamin Brown. Despite a modest exterior, the 1,500-seat venue was ornately decorated inside.
The Standard attracted major Yiddish actors from the United States and developed its own respected group of performers. Russian plays, Shakespeare, and the works of Jewish playwrights were popular. The theatre also held sporting events, fundraisers, the leftist political rallies, which police often treated as subversive.
The Standard became a movie house in the 1930s and was renamed the Strand, and then the Victory. In the 1960s, the Victory became a popular burlesque house and hosted bands like Rush and the Stooges.
The local Chinese community held performances at the theatre and, in 1975, the film company Golden Harvest bought and extensively renovated the venue to show Mandarin and Cantonese action and kung fu movies. The cinema portion of the building closed in 1994.”
Designated in 2007 under the Ontario Heritage Act
Heritage Toronto 2021
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 285 Spadina Ave
- Ontario Heritage Trust: 285 Spadina Ave
- Heritage Toronto plaque
- Ontario Jewish Archives: Shopsy’s Delicatessen, 1921-1983
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives
