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The Music Hall (Toronto)
Encyclopedia
Opening
Originally constructed as a movie theatreMovie theater
A movie theater, cinema, movie house, picture theater, film theater is a venue, usually a building, for viewing motion pictures ....
in 1919, the building was first known as the Allen's Danforth, after its owner the Allen Theatre Chain. Promoted as "Canada’s First Super-Suburban Photoplay Palace", the theatre opened in the midst of both a building boom along Danforth Avenue (due to the opening of the Prince Edward Viaduct
Prince Edward Viaduct
The Prince Edward Viaduct System, commonly referred to as the Bloor Viaduct or the viaduct, is the name of a truss arch bridge system in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that connects Bloor Street East, on the west side of the system, with Danforth Avenue on the east...
) and a boom in the construction of movie theatres following the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Allen's Danforth opened on August 18, 1919, and the first feature film shown was Goldwyn Pictures
Goldwyn Pictures
Goldwyn Pictures Corporation was an American motion picture production company founded in 1916 by Samuel Goldfish in partnership with Broadway producers Edgar and Archibald Selwyn using an amalgamation of both last names to create the name...
' Through the Wrong Door starring Madge Kennedy
Madge Kennedy
Madge Kennedy was a movie and stage actress of the silent film era....
.
Architecture
Although the Danforth theatre was one of the jewels in the Allen chain, it followed the same general architectural style of all Allen theatres. Instead of the heavy ornamentation that characterized many cinemas of the period, the interiors were primarily intended to be spacious and comfortable, with muted and complementary colours, and restrained classical plaster detailing. Building exteriors were symmetrical, typically containing both PalladianPalladian architecture
Palladian architecture is a European style of architecture derived from the designs of the Venetian architect Andrea Palladio . The term "Palladian" normally refers to buildings in a style inspired by Palladio's own work; that which is recognised as Palladian architecture today is an evolution of...
and Georgian Revival elements, including repeating low-relief classical ornamentation. The front façade of the Danforth theatre still features most of its original architectural features, including extensive patterned brickwork (Flemish bond and herringbone
Opus spicatum
Opus spicatum, literally "spiked work," is a type of masonry construction used in Roman and medieval times. It consists of bricks, tiles or cut stone laid in a herringbone pattern.-Uses:...
), opal glass windows and a marquee of chains. Stylized "AT" symbols, representing the Allen Theatre chain, also remain on the façade.
Post-Allen incarnations
In 1923, the Allen chain was facing financial pressures, and most of its theatres were acquired by the Famous PlayersCineplex Entertainment
Cineplex Entertainment LP , is the largest film exhibitor in Canada and owns, leases or has a joint-venture interest in 130 theatres with 1,351 screens. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Cineplex operates theatres from British Columbia to Quebec...
chain. The name of Allen's Danforth was changed to the Century, and was managed by Famous Players subsidiary, the B&F chain. The theatre remained a first-run movie house until the late 1960s, and subsequently served as a Greek language
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
cinema known as the Titania Theatre from 1970 to 1978. The theatre gained the Music Hall name when it started featuring live acts in the late 1970s. Later it began showing second-run films, ultimately becoming part of Toronto's Festival Chain of repertory cinemas in 1998. Over the years, a number of films have had scenes filmed in the theatre, including Chicago
Chicago (2002 film)
Chicago is a 2002 musical film adapted from the satirical stage musical of the same name, exploring the themes of celebrity, scandal, and corruption in Jazz-age Chicago....
, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is a 2003 romantic comedy film, directed by Donald Petrie, starring Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey. It is based on a short cartoon book of the same name by Michele Alexander and Jeannie Long.-Plot:...
, 54
54 (film)
54 is a 1998 drama film written and directed by Mark Christopher, starring Ryan Phillippe, Salma Hayek, and Neve Campbell...
, Bulletproof Monk
Bulletproof Monk
Bulletproof Monk is a 2003 action film starring Chow Yun-fat, Seann William Scott and Jaime King. The film was directed by Paul Hunter. It is loosely based on the comic book by Michael Avon Oeming....
, Focus
Focus (film)
Focus is a 2002 movie, starring William H. Macy, Laura Dern, David Paymer, and Meat Loaf based on a 1945 novel by playwright Arthur Miller.-Plot:...
and Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows
Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows is a 2001 television film based on the memoirs of Lorna Luft, the daughter of Garland. The production is notable for its meticulous recreations of her films and concerts, and verisimilitudinous impressions of her by Tammy Blanchard and Judy Davis.The film,...
.
Re-opening
The theatre closed in 2004, and remained vacant for a year and a half. Age and neglect had taken their toll, and the building had almost deteriorated beyond repair. New owners acquired the theatre, retaining the Music Hall name, and renovated and restored it, including the installation of a new sound system and new seating. Operating as a venue for live performances, the theatre was named the Performing Arts Centre of the year (under 1500 capacity) at the 2008 Canadian Music Industry Awards. In August 2010, bailiffs seized the property and closed the theatre due to non-payment of rent.. The venue was used for the occasional show during its closure, and is expected to fully reopen in 2012.The Music Hall was designated as a property of historic interest under the Ontario Heritage Act
Ontario Heritage Act
The Ontario Heritage Act, first enacted on March 5, 1975, allows municipalities and the provincial government to designate individual properties and districts in the Province of Ontario, Canada, as being of cultural heritage value or interest....
in 1985.
The theatre is served by Broadview Station
Broadview (TTC)
Broadview is a station on the Bloor–Danforth line of the subway system in Toronto, Canada. It is located at 90 Danforth Avenue and Broadview Avenue.Broadview is the north-eastern terminus of the 504 King and 505 Dundas streetcar routes.-History:...
on the TTC's
Toronto Transit Commission
-Island Ferry:The ferry service to the Toronto Islands was operated by the TTC from 1927 until 1962, when it was transferred to the Metro Parks and Culture department. Since 1998, the ferry service is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.-Gray Coach:...
Bloor-Danforth line.