Tag: eglinton theatre

Toronto Cinemas3 Comments

The Eglinton Theatre’s Elegant Neighbours

Eric Veillette

When adding photos to the Silent Toronto collection, I typically look for theatres and cinemas, but most importantly,  neighbouring streetscapes showing some form of social activity. Where did neighbourhood cinema patrons dine, shop, and in this case, deposit their paycheques? So imagine my surprise when I found this gorgeous shot of the Eglinton Theatre‘s art deco neighbours. Probably taken in the late 1940s, early 1950s, we see the north side of Eglinton Ave., east of Castle Knock Rd. The giant structure on the right is indeed Kaplan and Sprachman‘s famed Eglinton, which closed in 2002 and now operates as a … Continue reading The Eglinton Theatre’s Elegant Neighbours

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The Great Candy Bar Uprising of 1947

Eric Veillette

The thought of modern-day kids protesting the price of candy bars — let alone anything — seems inconceivable. No matter how pricey multiplex food courts get, people just keep gobbling and sipping away. But years before concessions became common-place, independently owned cigar stores and candy stores such as Laura Secord or Jenny Lind often flanked downtown or neighbourhood theatres and they continued to do so long after snack bars came to vogue in Toronto in the mid-1940s. The Tivoli Cigar store was located on the left-hand side of the grand Tivoli, at Victoria and Richmond Sts.  The Tivoli was the … Continue reading The Great Candy Bar Uprising of 1947

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The Eglinton Theatre

Eric Veillette

by Eric Veillette In 2007, I moved into an apartment in the Forest Hill area, kitty-corner to what was once the flagship cinema of the Famous Players theatre chain: The Eglinton. It closed down in early 2002, when Famous Players refused to comply with an Ontario Human Rights Commision directive to make the theatre wheelchair accessible. Although dedicated as a Heritage Site by the city, preserving the original facade, it has since become an upscale event hall. Coming home at night is always a joy, as the original, brilliant marquee, still in place, shines brightly to onlookers heading east and … Continue reading The Eglinton Theatre