Tag: queen st. theatres

Toronto Cinemas2 Comments

The Parkdale Theatre: a passion den for teenagers

Eric Veillette

“This may seem drastic to you but I have seen the results of the work of some of these hoodlums,” wrote Ontario Censor Board and Theatres Inspection Branch chairman O.J. Silverthorne in 1953 after offering Famous Players some well-heeled advice on dealing with teen-age rowdiness at Toronto’s Parkdale Theatre. Located at Queen St. W and Triller Ave., the Parkdale was one of several theatres designed by C. Howard Crane for the national Allen chain of theatres. Premiering April 5, 1920 with the comedy Duds, it was Parkdale’s premier entertainment spot until the arrival of Sunnyside Amusement Park and the Palais … Continue reading The Parkdale Theatre: a passion den for teenagers

Toronto Cinemas1 Comment

The Pickford Theatre

Eric Veillette

By 1915, Toronto’s own Mary Pickford was arguably the biggest movie star in the world. Long before her name graced Canada’s Walk of Fame or her famous curls adorned a Canada Post stamp, her hometown paid testament to her success when a theatre at the north-west corner of Queen and Spadina was renamed the Mary Pickford Theatre. The theatre, later shortened to Pickford, had been known as the Variety for a few years and was originally named the Auditorium when it opened as part of showman John Griffin’s first group of theatoriums in 1906. During World War 1, it was … Continue reading The Pickford Theatre