Tag: east-end showplaces

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The Fox Theatre in 1934

Eric Veillette

In this weekend’s Globe & Mail, I examined how the digital conversion currently underway in several Toronto cinemas is affecting film projectionists. The Fox Theatre in the Beaches recently converted to 2k digital cinema projection, but here it is in 1934 — simpler times — when it was known as the Prince Edward Theatre. On the bill that day was Wheeler & Whoolsey’s Cockeyed Cavaliers. The canopy shadowing Queen St., installed upon its opening in 1914 sadly no longer exists. Image source: City of Toronto Archives, series 0372, sub-series 0358, item 1370. Continue reading The Fox Theatre in 1934

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The world’s smartest dog at the Beach Theatre

Eric Veillette

We’ve written about several Allen theatres over the past three years, but often ignored is their majestic Beach Theatre, which opened on December 15, 1919, months after the premiere of their other east-end showplace, the Danforth. The Allen’s theatre chain extended nationwide, but in Toronto, they also owned the Allen, which later become the Tivoli, the College, St-Clair, Parkdale and the original Bloor Theatre, which now houses Lee’s Palace. Designed by Allen stalwart C. Howard Crane, the Beach’s exterior resembled that of the Danforth, with terra-cotta adorning the facade and the entrance at the middle of the building. Faced with growing debts, the … Continue reading The world’s smartest dog at the Beach Theatre

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Toronto’s oldest cinema survives as The Projection Booth

Eric Veillette

Reporting for OpenFile Toronto back in April, I covered a meeting of east-end residents wanting to breathe new life into the Gerrard Cinema, which until recently had shown Tamil-language films. This weekend, Leslieville residents will get their wish as the former Bonita is re-christened The Projection Booth. Yesterday, TPB manager Jonathan Hlibka told OpenFile that an integration between the film industry and the film-going community will make this new theatre stand out among the city’s other rep and independent movie houses. The building — Toronto’s oldest surviving movie house — opened as The Bonita sometime between 1910 and 1911. Along … Continue reading Toronto’s oldest cinema survives as The Projection Booth

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East-end showplaces: The Ace Theatre

Eric Veillette

Al Jolson was no stranger to Toronto. From 1913 until a few years before his death in 1950, the King of Broadway called Toronto his second home, cavorting up and down his custom-made runway at the Royal Alexandra Theatre several times. While appearing in movies and on radio throughout the ’30s and ’40s, his stage appearances dwindled, but his fans could always see him on the big screen. The above photo of the Ace Theatre, at Danforth and Gough, was taken during the week of August 4, 1947. At the time, Jolson was enjoying a hearty comeback due to The … Continue reading East-end showplaces: The Ace Theatre