Toronto’s love affair with the silver screen dates back to the early 1900s. The city once boasted more than 50 cinemas, ranging from tiny properties to glamorous auditorium-style theatres. Although many have since closed, a significant number have new lives as party venues, retail stores and even fitness centres.
In his book, Toronto Theatres and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen, historian Doug Taylor writes that the city’s first permanent theatre opened in 1906. By the 1940s, there was at least one local cinema in almost every Toronto neighbourhood, and they dominated the entertainment circuit until the 1950s, when television hit the market.
TVs became less of a novelty and more of a must-have item as the decade progressed. In 1954, a few years before the technology arrived in Canada, colour television programming could be seen in the United States. Even though the quality was questionable, it grabbed market share from movie theatres.
Theatre attendance rates declined even further as the technology improved. By the mid-1960s, most of Toronto’s neighbourhood cinemas shuttered. Only eight original theatres remain active today: the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema; the Fox Theatre; Humber Cinemas; Kingsway Movies; Mount Pleasant Theatre; the Regent Theatre; Revue Cinema; and the Royal.
“Most of the theatres that are still existing are showing second-run movies nowadays,” says Ryerson University history professor Ron Stagg. “They’re trying to survive on not charging as much and therefore getting more people in.”
The rest of Toronto’s storied theatres have either been demolished or repurposed. The latter has turned into a viable option for businesses in search of properties with character. For instance, historic cinemas have proven popular with the city’s events industry.
At least a handful of party venues – including the Eglinton Grand and the Castlefield Event Theatre (formerly the Capitol) – originated as cinemas.
“It seems to make more money than movies,” Stagg quips. “The problem with a big theatre like the Eglinton was, you either have to chop it up in order to have viable theatres or you’ve got to do something else with it because it’s too big. You don’t get enough customers anymore.”
Using a historic building comes with its fair share of challenges. For starters, upkeep can require more time and effort than newer venues.
“Everything from the exterior marquee sign to the interior carpet, woodwork and original chandeliers,” explains Teresa Di Pietro, director of special events at the 1930s-vintage Eglinton Grand. “We need to maintain the integrity of the building, the heritage aspects of it, as well as the overall art deco motive throughout.”
The extra effort, however, can pay off.
“The history and heritage of the venue is an attraction to clients seeking a venue that is unique, grand and elegant,” she says. “Clients and guests are always intrigued by the theatre roots, as well as the ability to restore and maintain an iconic venue into what it is today.”
Torontonians seem to enjoy having heritage buildings and cultural centres in their neighbourhoods. When book retailer, Indigo, announced its departure from the nearly 100-year-old Runnymede Theatre last winter, a town hall meeting with CEO Heather Reisman attracted 300 curious residents.
Similarly, an early proposal for Frank Gehry-designed condominiums on King Street West became contentious because it would have demolished the Princess of Wales Theatre, one of Toronto’s landmark performing arts venues. An updated design released in May left the theatre intact.
Whether it’s for “good PR” or to attract more visitors, the reality is many building owners are saving these historic theatres from the chopping block and finding ways to reuse the unique spaces.
Ilan Mester is the online editor of Canadian Property Management.
