Standard Theatre (Toronto)
Encyclopedia
The Standard Theatre was a theatre in Toronto that originated as the city's main venue for Yiddish theatre, and later became the Victory Burlesque, the only burlesque theatre in Toronto. It was located at the corner of Spadina Avenue
and Dundas Street
.
The theatre consist of a single stadium seating
screen and concession area selling snacks. Stairs from the street level on Spadina took moviegoers to the screen.
The building was originally erected in 1921 as the Standard Theatre, a venue for live action Yiddish theatre. It was designed by Benjamin Brown, one of the city's first Jewish architects, and financed by the large Jewish community of Kensington Market
. The theatre was home to a large number of productions of classic Yiddish works, comedy, and translations such as Shakespeare in Yiddish. It was also a centre of Jewish left-wing political activism. The centre for the activities of the Progressive Arts Club. In 1929 an event commemorating the death of Vladimir Lenin
was raided by police. It remained a centre of Toronto's Jewish community until 1935 when the building was converted into a mainstream movie cinema known as The Strand.
In 1945 the cinema became the Victory Burlesque. For almost three decades the Victory was the only location in Toronto where one could observe a striptease
, though laws prevented complete nudity. It became an iconic destination in the city, especially for students from the nearby University of Toronto
. Facing competition from adult theater
s and modern strip club
s it closed in 1975.
The Jewish community had left the area, and Dundas and Spadina was now the centre of Toronto's Chinatown. The Victory was thus converted into a Chinese language cinema, first named the Golden Harvest and then the Mandarin. This cinema also closed, and the building was renovated and is home to a number of retail stores.
The former ticket office is gone and the newer stair case to the upper levels is now a retail area.
Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Running through the western section of downtown, the road has a very different character in different neighbourhoods....
and Dundas Street
Dundas Street (Toronto)
Dundas Street, also known as Highway 5 west of Toronto, is a major arterial road connecting the centre of that city with its western suburbs and southwestern Ontario beyond...
.
The theatre consist of a single stadium seating
Stadium seating
Stadium seating or theater seating is a characteristic seating arrangement that is most commonly associated with performing-arts venues, and derives its name from stadiums, which typically use this arrangement...
screen and concession area selling snacks. Stairs from the street level on Spadina took moviegoers to the screen.
The building was originally erected in 1921 as the Standard Theatre, a venue for live action Yiddish theatre. It was designed by Benjamin Brown, one of the city's first Jewish architects, and financed by the large Jewish community of Kensington Market
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is a distinctive multicultural neighbourhood in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Market is an older neighbourhood and one of the city's most well-known. In November 2006, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada. Robert Fulford wrote in 1999 that "Kensington...
. The theatre was home to a large number of productions of classic Yiddish works, comedy, and translations such as Shakespeare in Yiddish. It was also a centre of Jewish left-wing political activism. The centre for the activities of the Progressive Arts Club. In 1929 an event commemorating the death of Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Lenin
Vladimir Ilyich Lenin was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its initial years , as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a...
was raided by police. It remained a centre of Toronto's Jewish community until 1935 when the building was converted into a mainstream movie cinema known as The Strand.
In 1945 the cinema became the Victory Burlesque. For almost three decades the Victory was the only location in Toronto where one could observe a striptease
Striptease
A striptease is an erotic or exotic dance in which the performer gradually undresses, either partly or completely, in a seductive and sexually suggestive manner...
, though laws prevented complete nudity. It became an iconic destination in the city, especially for students from the nearby University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
. Facing competition from adult theater
Adult theater
An adult movie theater is a movie theater where pornographic films are shown to an adult audience. There are usually continuous showings. The movie posters in front of the theaters normally feature no nudity.- Films and patrons :...
s and modern strip club
Strip club
A strip club is an adult entertainment venue in which striptease or other erotic or exotic dance is regularly performed. Strip clubs typically adopt a nightclub or bar style, but can also adopt a theatre or cabaret-style....
s it closed in 1975.
The Jewish community had left the area, and Dundas and Spadina was now the centre of Toronto's Chinatown. The Victory was thus converted into a Chinese language cinema, first named the Golden Harvest and then the Mandarin. This cinema also closed, and the building was renovated and is home to a number of retail stores.
The former ticket office is gone and the newer stair case to the upper levels is now a retail area.
Current tenants
- dollar store - basement via entrance on Dundas Street West
- RBC branch - ground level