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List of cinemas in Toronto

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This is a list of cinemas that exist or have existed in the city of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Name Location Opened Closed Screens Notes Image
Academy Theatre Bloor and Lansdowne 1934 1965 1
Albion Cinemas Albion and Kipling 3 Shows Hindi, Punjabi, Telugu, Tamil and Bengali films.
Alhambra 568 Bloor Street, west of Bathurst 1910 1986 1 Also known as the King George, Baronet, and also the Eve, a porn cinema.
AMC Kennedy Commons 20 Kennedy and 401 1998 August 2012 20
Avalon Theatre 2923 Danforth west of Victoria Park 1926 1955 1 Clyde Theatre until 1930
Avenue Theatre Eglinton and Avenue 1938 1955 1
Backstage Yonge and Bloor c1970 c2000 2 Opened as part of the conversion of Loew's Uptown into a multiplex, but reached by a separate entrance; originally considered part of that multiplex, and called the Uptown Backstage.
Bay Theatre Queen and Bay 1910 1965 1 Earliest purpose built cinema in Toronto.
Bayview Theatre Leaside 1936 1961 1 Later was a live theatre venue known as the Bayview Playhouse. Now a drug store.
Beach Theatre The Beaches 1919 1970 1 Remodeled into a shopping centre.
Cineplex Cinemas Beaches (formally Alliance Atlantis Beaches) 1651 Queen Street East, Queen and Coxwell 1999 present 6 Built on the site of the former Greenwood Racetrack.
Beaver Theatre The Junction 1913 1961 1
Bellevue Theatre On College St. near Brunswick 1937 1958 1
Biltmore Theatre Yonge and Dundas 1948 1977 1
Birchcliff Theatre Birch Cliff 1949 1974 1
Bloor Theatre Bathurst and Bloor 1919 1957 1 Originally Allen's Bloor Theatre, Famous Players acquired it in 1923 and operated it until 1957. Became the Blue Orchid nightclub and has been Lee's Palace music venue since 1985.
Bloordale Theatre (later known as State) 1606 Bloor St W at Dundas St W 1937 1968 1 Building in use as commercial space
Bohemian Theatre Yonge St at Elm Street Closed 1
Brighton Theatre Roncesvalles Closed 1 Building is in use as a convenience store
Broadview Theatre Broadview and Gerrard 1941 1945 1
Broadway Theatre 75 Queen St West 1919 1965 1 Was originally The Globe burlesque and vaudeville; renamed the Roxy in 1933 and Broadway in 1937; was burlesque and film until its demolition for Sheraton Hotel.
Cameo Theatre Pape and Floyd East York 1934 1957 1
Capitol Fine Arts Theatre Yonge and Eglinton 1923 1998 1 Converted to an event venue in 1998.
Carlton Cinema Yonge and Carlton 1981 present 9 Focus on foreign and independent film. Closed in 2009 by Cineplex Odeon; reopened in 2010 under the ownership of Rainbow and Magic Lantern Cinemas,[1] and acquired by Imagine Cinemas in 2016.[2]
Carlton Theatre Parliament and Carlton 1930 1954 1 Not to be confused with the far more famous Odeon Carlton; this was a much smaller theatre on Parliament Street just north of Carlton Street. After closing as a movie house, it was used as a CBC studio and is currently the Canadian Children's Dance Theatre.
Cedarbrae Cinemas 8 Markham and Lawrence 1969 2003 8
Centre Theatre Bathurst and Dundas 1935 1977 1
Cinecity Yonge and Charles 1966 1975 1
Cinema Lumière (see Garden Theatre) College at Spadina 1
Cinema At The Toronto Dominion Centre Toronto Dominion Centre 1967 1978 1
Cineplex Cinemas Empress Walk 10 North York Centre 1999 present 10 Formerly a SilverCity and Empire Theatres from 2005 to 2013.
Cineplex Cinemas Queensway and VIP The Queensway 2001 present 15-5 VIP Cinemas opened in January 2014. Formerly Cineplex Odeon
Cineplex Cinemas Yonge & Dundas Cinemas 10 Dundas East 2008 present 24 Most screens ever in the City of Toronto. Formerly AMC Yonge & Dundas 24
Cineplex Odeon Eglinton Town Centre Golden Mile 2000 present 16
Cineplex Odeon Morningside Sheppard and Morningside 1997 present 11
Cineplex Odeon Sheppard Grande Yonge and Sheppard Relocated to Empress Walk in June 2013
Cineplex Odeon Varsity Cinemas Manulife Centre 1974 present 2-12 Includes some luxury "VIP" theatres.
Circle Theatre North Toronto 1933 1956 1
Classic Theatre (originally named "The King's Royal Theatre") Greenwood and Gerrard 1914 1957 1 As of Dec. 1, 2017, it is The Redwood Theatre
Cineplex Cinemas Scarborough Scarborough Town Centre 1998 present 12 Features Xscape Entertainment Centre and two Party Rooms.
College Theatre College and Ossington 1924 1967 1
Comique Theatre Yonge and Dundas 1908 1914 1
Community Theatre 1202 Woodbine Ave. East York 1937 1955 1
Coronet Theatre Yonge and Gerrard 1951 1983 1 Originally named the Savoy; became the Coronet in 1963. Well known grindhouse in the 1970s. Now, a jewellery store.
Cumberland Four Yorkville 1981 2012[3] 4 Specialized in independent and foreign films and was a mainstay venue for the Toronto International Film Festival. Owned by Famous Players until 1997 when it was sold to Alliance. Owned and operated by Cineplex from 2005 until close.[4]
Danforth Music Hall Danforth and Broadview 1919 2004 1 Originally named Allen's Danforth. Later, The Century, and also Titania. Now a live music venue.
Donlands Theatre Donlands and O'Connor 1 Currently a recording studio.[5]
Don Mills Don Mills and Lawrence Ave (Don Mill Shopping Centre) 1
Downtown Theatre Yonge and Dundas 1948 1972 1 Current site of Yonge-Dundas Square.
Dufferin Drive-In Dufferin and Steeles 1950 1984 1
Eastwood Theatre 1430 Gerrard Street East (near Ashdale Avenue) 1927 1985 1 Later was the Naaz[6] and then the India Centre mall.[7] In 2015 it was heavily renovated and converted to apartments with retail on the ground floor.[8]
Eaton Centre Cineplex Toronto Eaton Centre 1979 2001 17-21 First venue in the Cineplex chain. Originally known as "Cineplex 18", then expanded to "Cineplex 21", then four auditoriums were combined into one. Considered the world's first megaplex.
Eclipse Theatre Cabbagetown 1947 1951 1
Eglinton Theatre Eglinton and Avenue Road 1936 2003 1 Converted to an event venue.
Elane Theatre Eglinton and Danforth 1963 1985 1
Elgin Theatre Queen and Yonge 1913 1980s 1 Originally part of a twin live theatre, the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres. When the upstairs Winter Garden closed in 1928, the lower theatre was converted to a cinema, which was known variously as Loew's, the Elgin, and the Yonge. It was then closed and both theatres were restored and are now theatre venues.
Famous Players Canada Square Canada Square 1985 2021[9] 8
Finch Finch at Dufferin closed 3
Fox Theatre The Beaches 1914 present 1 Oldest theatre in continuous operation in Toronto.
Garden Theatre (later known as Elektra, Cinema Lumiere, Chang's) 290 College St, near Spadina 1916 1986 1 Opened as the Garden Theatre, so named because of its roof garden. It was a vaudeville venue before becoming the Garden Cinema in 1937.[10] In 1950, the second floor was converted into the Garden Billiard Academy and then in 1960 the New Garden Billaird Academy. The cinema on the first floor was renamed the Elektra in 1965, closing in 1969. The entire building served as a pool hall until 1972 when Cinema Lumiere, a repertory art cinema, opened and operated until 1980 when it became Chang's Theatre, a Chinese cinema featuring "Taiwanese porn with religious overtones". Chang's closed in 1983. 18 months later, the venue again became Cinema Lumiere in 1985, featuring art films, foreign and alternative films but closed again in 1986 when its roof collapsed during a rainstorm. The building later became a computer store and then a Home Hardware.[11][12]
Gay Theatre Parliament and Dundas 1950s 1
Glendale Theatre Avenue Rd between Lawrence and Wilson 1947 1974 1 Showed Cinerama features. Demolished.
Golden Classics Spadina and Queen 1977 1990s 1 Chinese cinema. From 2010 to 2012 the building was home to the Toronto Underground Cinema.
Golden Mile Plaza Theatre Victoria Park and Eglinton 1954 1986 2
Granada Theatre 417 Danforth Avenue 1960 1
The Grand Gerrard Theatre Jones and Gerrard c1911[13] present 1 Converted from two houses to a theatre that in 1911 the theatre known as The Bonita has gone through many incarnations since the 1970s (Greek, Hong Kong, Bollywood, Tamil) before becoming an independent cinema hub devoted to art, schlock, indie and foreign programming from around the world.

Has also been known as The Wellington, Krishna Cinema, Sri Lakshmi and Gerrard Cinema before re-opening in 2011 as an art house cinema, the Projection Booth. In 2013 it briefly closed due to a falling out among its owners and then re-opened as The Big Picture with Jonathan Hlibka as sole proprietor but closed as of 2016.[14] It reopened in April 2019 as The Grand Gerrard Theatre.[15]

Griffin's Agnes St. Theatre 72 Agnes St. (Dundas) 1909 Closed 1
Griffin's Hippodrome 219 Yonge St 1907 Closed 1
Griffin's Majestic 219 Yonge St 1910 Closed 1
Grover Theatre Danforth and Main Early 1920s c1963 1
Hollywood Theatre Yonge and St. Clair 1930 1999 2 The first theater built to show "talkies"
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema Bathurst and Bloor 1941 present 1 Built in 1941 on the site of the Madison Theatre (1913), which was demolished in 1940. Known as the Midtown, Capri, Eden and Bloor Cinemas. Took the name Bloor when the old Bloor, now Lee's Palace, closed. Today, it is operated as the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema, with documentary films predominantly featured, but also a host to other film festivals. Purchased by the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival in 2016, using a $4 million gift from the Rogers Foundation, and was rebranded as the Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema.[16]
Humber Cinemas Bloor St W at Jane St 1948 2019 4 One of the five original Odeon theaters built in Toronto. Closed in 2003 due to poor attendance. Reopened in April 2011 by Rui Pereira (owner of the Kingsway Cinema).[17] Expanded from 2 to 4 cinemas in 2012. Permanently closed in May 2019.[18]
Imperial Yonge and Dundas 1927 1988 1-6 Originally a single cinema and vaudeville house called the Pantages; renamed the Imperial in 1930 and exclusively a movie house; converted 1973 to the 6-screen Imperial Six; converted back to single-screen Pantages 1987; closed 1988 and eventually converted to become one of Toronto's main stage venues, first called the Pantages again, then the Canon, and now the Ed Mirvish Theatre.
International Cinema 2061 Yonge St c1933 c1987 1 Originally the Oriole.
Island Theatre Toronto Islands c.1949 1955 1
Joy Theatre Queen and Jones Closed 1 Today, a restaurant.
Kingsway Theatre Bloor St W at Royal York 1939 2006; 2009–present 1 Today, running first run and recent releases.[1]
Lakeshore New Toronto 1
Lansdowne Theatre Bloor and Lansdowne 1936 1958 1
Lightbox King and John 2010 present 5 Headquarters for the Toronto International Film Festival. Plays retrospectives and series as part of TIFF Cinematheque, along with new releases of independent, foreign, and Canadian films.
Madison (1913) Bloor St W at Bathurst 1913 1940 1 Demolished in 1940 and replaced by Midtown Theatre (known today as Hot Docs)
Madison 4950 Yonge St., north of Sheppard
Market Square Front and Jarvis 1983 present 6 Opened as the Cineplex Odeon Market Square, now the Imagine Cinemas Market Square
Metro Theatre Bloor and Christie 1939 2013 3 Has been an adult movie theatre since 1978; the last such cinema in Toronto. In August 2012 it was announced that the Metro would become home to the art schlock indie foreign cinematic model under the same management of Projection Booth. However, after a falling out among the owners, The Metro closed permanently in December 2013.[19][20]
Mount Pleasant Cinema Mount Pleasant and Eglinton 1926 1 Opened in 1926 as the Hudson Theatre.
New Yorker Theatre Yonge and Bloor 1919 unknown 1 Opened as the Victoria in 1919. Demolished, but some of the facade used in the Panasonic Theatre on the site.
Northeast Drive-In Theatre Sheppard Avenue East and Victoria Park 1947 1976[21] 1
North West Drive-In Theatre Dixon Road and Highway 401[21] 1948 1977[22] 1
Nortown 875 Eglinton Av W at Bathurst 1948 1974 1
Odeon 1558 Queen St. W near Queen and Lansdowne[23] 1919 1968 1 Not connected to the Odeon chain. Now a F45 gym.
Odeon Carlton Yonge and Carlton 1947 1973 1 Demolished.
Odeon Danforth Pape and Danforth 1947 unknown 2 Now a fitness centre.
Odeon Fairlawn Yonge and Lawrence 1947 1985 2 Demolished.
Odeon Hyland Yonge and St. Clair 1948 2003 2 Demolished.
Odeon York Yonge and Eglinton 1969 2001[24] 2 Closed due to a court decision about accessibility. Became an event venue, then a fitness club, then a condo sales center, then demolished 2012.
Ontario Place Cinesphere Ontario Place 1971 2012 – closed as part of government decision to close Ontario place. Reopened 2017–present. 1 The world's first permanent IMAX theatre.
Opera House Queen and Broadview 1909 1 Today, a music venue.
Orpheum Theatre Queen and Bathurst 1
Oxford Theatre Danforth and Coxwell 1928 (renovated May 1937) 1
Palace Theatre Danforth and Pape 1924 1987 3
Paradise Theatre Bloor and Dovercourt 1937[25] present 1 Built on the location of the 1910 Bloor Palace (renamed The Kitchener in 1918). Reopened in late 2019.[25]
Park Theatre Yonge and Lawrence 1921 1984 1 Opened as the Bedford Theatre. Renamed Park Theatre in 1949.
Parkdale Theatre Queen St W at Roncesvalles 1924 1970 1 Building still exists and is used as an antique furniture market.
Parkway Drive-in Woodbine and Steeles 1
Parliament Theatre Parliament and Gerrard 1929 1963 1
Pickford Theatre Queen and Spadina 1910 1940s 1 Opened as the Auditorium in 1908. Was renamed the Avenue Theatre in 1913.
Plaza Theatre Hudson's Bay Centre 1976 2001 2
Prince of Wales Theatre Danforth and Woodbine 1927 1966 1
Radio City Bathurst and St. Clair 1936 1975 1
Red Mill Yonge and Queen 1906 unknown 1 Toronto's first "permanent" movie theatre. Originally named the Theatorium.
Regent Theatre Davisville 1927 present 1 Formerly the Crest.
Revue Cinema Roncesvalles 1912 present 1 The Revue is the oldest purpose-built movie theatre presently operating in Toronto. The Revue operated continuously from 1912 to 2006. It re-opened in 2007 under new ownership and is managed by a non-profit organization.
Rialto Theatre Yonge and Shuter Early 20th century 1
Rio Theatre Yonge and Gerrard 1913 1991 1 Opened as The Big Nickel Theatre in 1913. By 1922 it had been renamed National Theatre and was renamed Rio Theatre in 1943 serving as a grindhouse until it closed in 1991.
Robinson's Musee Theatre Yonge and Adelaide (91-93 Yonge Street) 1890 1905 1 Originally a curio museum, this hall was the site of the first screening of a motion picture in Toronto on August 31, 1896.[26] On the second floor, it had a curio shop and waxworks, and the roof had an animal menagerie. It changed hands several times, was renamed the Bijou[27] and was the first site of Shea's Theatre. Destroyed by fire in 1905.
Roxy Theatre The Danforth 1936 2006 3 Opened as the Allenby Theatre.
Royal Alexandra Theatre Theatre District 1 Major performing arts venue that also served for a time as a cinema.
Royal Cinema College Street between Grace and Clinton 1939 present 1
Runnymede Theatre Bloor St W at Runnymede 1927 1999 2 Converted first to a Chapters book store, then to a Shoppers Drug Mart, it retains most of the original interior decoration.
Scarboro 960 Kingston Road at Victoria Park 1936 1967 1 Was for a time a pool hall and then a sports bar. Today, rebuilt as condos.[28]
Scarboro Drive-In Theatre Kennedy Road at Ranstone Gardens (south of Lawrence Avenue East) 1952 late 1970s 1 Claimed to have the biggest screen in Canada. Included a "kiddieland". Now the site of Jack Goodlad Park and community centre.[29]
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto John and Richmond 1999 present 14 Originally named the Paramount. Features a bar and arcade. Licensed for beer in cinema.
The Screening Room Bloor St W at Royal York 1 Was located above the Kingsway Theatre and earlier was called the Kingsway 2.
Shea's Hippodrome Queen and Bay 1909 1954 1 Former vaudeville theatre that became one of Canada's largest cinemas.
Sheraton Centre Sheraton Centre 1974 1990s 2 Designed as a first-run theatre by Toronto-based architectural firm Searle, Wilbee, Rowland. Seating was provided for 682 & 344. Was a live cabaret venue for a short period. Now used as conference rooms.
Sherway Cinemas Sherway Gardens 1971 2001 13 Replaced by Queensway in 2001. Now a Sears store.
SilverCity Fairview Fairview Mall 1970 present 9 Originally Cineplex Odeon Fairview, became Rainbow Cinemas Willowdale from 1988 to 2008 with 8 screens. The theatre features a Screening Room and Lounge.
SilverCity Yonge-Eglinton Yonge and Eglinton 1998[30] present 9
SilverCity Yorkdale Yorkdale Shopping Centre 1963 present 3?-10 First shopping mall cinema in Canada. Rebuilt 1999 at a new location in the mall.
Skyway 6 Cinemas Airport Road 1980 1999 6
Standard Theatre Spadina and Dundas 1921 1994 1 Began as a Yiddish live theatre, becoming a cinema in the mid-1930s first as the Strand, then as the Victory. Was a live burlesque theatre from 1959 until the mid-1970s. As the Mandarin and the Golden Harvest was a Chinese-language cinema from the late-1970s until it closed.
Stanford Theatre Queen and Spadina Early 20th century 1
Teck Theatre Queen and Broadview 1
Tivoli Theatre Yonge and Richmond 1965 1 Site of the first talking film in Toronto in 1928.
Towne Cinema Yonge and Bloor 1949 1985 1
Underground Cinema Spadina and Queen 2010 2012[31] 1 Repertory cinema opened in what was formerly the Golden Classics venue.
University Theatre 100 Bloor Street West 1949 1986 1 For a time the largest cinema in Canada. Demolished except for the facade, which was incorporated into a store.
Uptown Theatre Yonge and Bloor 1920 2003 3-5 Originally the single-screen Loew's Uptown Theatre. Converted into one of the world's first multiplexes. At that time the Backstage Theatre, then called the Uptown Backstage, was considered part of it. Eventually closed due to a court decision on accessibility, and demolished.
Victory (see Standard Theatre, above) Northeast corner of Spadina and Dundas
Warden Woods 725 Warden Ave at St. Clair Closed multiple
Westwood Theatre Bloor and Kipling 1951 1998 3 Demolished.
Willow Theatre Yonge and Ellerslie 1950s 1987 Demolished; site is now a condominium.
Woodside Cinemas McCowan and Finch 1977 present 3 Currently shows Hindi, Tamil, and Punjabi films.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Toronto's Carlton Cinema to re-open in June" Archived 2012-09-24 at the Wayback Machine. Xtra!, February 18, 2010.
  2. ^ Ferenc, Leslie (2016-07-06). "Camping for a cause: Movie-goers help raise money for Fresh Air Fund". The Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. Retrieved 2017-10-28.
  3. ^ "Cumberland theatre closing after 30 years in Yorkville", CBC News, May 6, 2012
  4. ^ "AMC could be next in Toronto's movie theatre shakeup" Archived 2012-05-10 at the Wayback Machine, Toronto Star, May 9, 2012
  5. ^ Doug Taylor (2014). Toronto Theaters and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen. The History Press. pp. 54, 116, 131–132. ISBN 9781626194502.[permanent dead link‍]
  6. ^ Mudhar, Raju (21 May 2019). "Grand Gerrard Theatre brings a 100-year-old tradition back to life - Correction". Toronto Star. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  7. ^ Plummer, Kevin (29 January 2012). "Historicist: Nights Out At The Naaz Theatre". Torontoist. Daily Hive. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  8. ^ Hudson, Andrew (16 June 2015). "Dinner and a movie the start of the Gerrard India Bazaar". Beach Metro Community News. Ward 9 Community News. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  9. ^ Landau, Jack (October 2021). "Beloved Toronto movie theatre shuts down after more than three decades of flicks". blogTO. Retrieved October 26, 2021.
  10. ^ "Toronto's old movie theatres–the Garden Theatre on College St". tayloronhistory.com. 29 September 2012.
  11. ^ "Cinema Lumiere: Promoting Toronto's Alternative Art Community : Local Film Cultures". Archived from the original on 2014-09-11. Retrieved 2014-09-11.
  12. ^ "Chang's Theatre in Toronto, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org.
  13. ^ "Insurance Plan of Toronto Vol 6, Plate 440", Chas. E. Goad, 1913.
  14. ^ "Projection Booth Cinema mired in internal conflict". blogto.com.
  15. ^ Mudhar, Raju (20 May 2019). "Grand Gerrard Theatre brings a 100-year-old tradition back to life". Toronto Star. Retrieved 3 June 2019.
  16. ^ "Hot Docs Receives $5-Million Gift From Rogers Foundation". Hot Docs. Archived from the original on August 13, 2016. Retrieved June 23, 2016.
  17. ^ Stephen Michalowicz (September 22, 2010). "The Humber Cinema Is Set To Return". Torontoist. Retrieved April 6, 2011.
  18. ^ Peter Howell (May 30, 2019). "Humber Cinemas' last picture show is Thursday as condo projects claim another landmark". Toronto Star. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  19. ^ Gale, Kimberly (Aug 15, 2012). "Toronto's last porn theatre goes back to its roots". CBC. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
  20. ^ "Metro Theatre closes, ending an era of porn cinema in Koreatown". CBC News.
  21. ^ a b "Toronto Drive-In Theatres: the show starts at dusk - The Star". thestar.com. 27 November 2015.
  22. ^ "North West Drive-In, Toronto, ON, Canada - Facts & Highlights". drive-ins.com.
  23. ^ "Early Cinema Filmography of Ontario (ECFO) - Events & Conferences". www.imagearts.ryerson.ca.
  24. ^ "Vintage Toronto Ads: Coming Christmas Day—The Odeon York!". Torontoist. December 20, 2011.
  25. ^ a b "About Paradise". Paradise Theatre. Retrieved 5 October 2019. In 1910, the "one-storey brick theatorium" Bloor Palace is built on the corner of Bloor and Westmoreland. The venue is renamed The Kitchener in 1918 ... Paradise Theatre is born in 1937, built in the Art Deco and Art Moderne styles under the direction of one of Toronto's earliest practising Jewish architects, Benjamin Brown. The new venue had 643 seats ...
  26. ^ "Toronto's first movie screening and first movie theatre". March 13, 2013.
  27. ^ "That time when the movies came to Toronto". www.blogto.com.
  28. ^ "The Golden Age of movie houses". 9 September 2014.
  29. ^ "Scarboro Drive-In in Scarborough, CA - Cinema Treasures". cinematreasures.org.
  30. ^ "Indigo bookstore advertisement". Globe and Mail. 1998-11-07. p. D11.
  31. ^ Johnny Larocque (August 16, 2012). "Toronto Underground Cinema to close". blogTO. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
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