Masonic Temple (Toronto)

Last updated
Masonic Temple
The Concert Hall
Info-Tech Research Group Toronto Office at Masonic Temple 2016.jpg
The Masonic Temple from the south-east corner in May 2016.
Masonic Temple (Toronto)
Address888 Yonge Street
Location Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Coordinates 43°40′23″N79°23′18″W / 43.673003°N 79.388293°W / 43.673003; -79.388293
Owner Info-Tech Research Group [1]
Genre(s) Rock, Blues, Folk, Jazz, HipHop, Big Band, Pop, Grunge, Metal
Seating typeStanding room main floor, seated + standing mezzanine, private boxes
Capacity 1,200
Construction
BuiltNovember 2, 1916 (1916-11-02)–January 1, 1918 (1918-01-01)
OpenedJanuary 1, 1918 (1918-01-01)
Construction cost$220,864

The Masonic Temple is a hall in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-west corner of Davenport Road and Yonge Street.

Contents

History

Construction began November 2, 1916, when the contract was signed and approved by the Board of The Masonic Temple Company for the tearing down of an existing church and excavation. The Masonic ceremony of laying the cornerstone occurring November 17, 1917, with the first Lodge meeting taking place on New Year's Day, 1918. [2] At its peak, the Masonic Temple was home to 38 different Masonic bodies: 27 Craft Lodges, six Chapters (York Rite), two Preceptories (Knights Templar), two Scottish Rite Bodies and Adoniram Council. [2]

The hall functioned as a ballroom in the 1930s and began to host rock acts in the late 1960s. [3]

In the years before its sale to CTV, the building housed live music clubs known as The Concert Hall, and in the 1960s, Club 888 and The Rock Pile, a sitting-on-the-floor style concert venue that featured not only showcases for top local talent but also appearances by major international recording stars, including Toronto's first Led Zeppelin concert on February 2, 1969, during the band's inaugural North American Tour.

Although the location remained historically significant and was added to the City of Toronto Heritage Property Inventory in 1974, the building has changed hands a number of times. In 1997, it was threatened with demolition: a developer had planned a new highrise residential building marketed to Asians, solely to exploit its "lucky" address of 888 Yonge Street, [4] It was designated under the Ontario Heritage Act in the same year. [4]

Also in the 1990s, the studio was the home of Open Mike with Mike Bullard , and was one of CTV Toronto's news bureaus. Also, notably, it has been rented as a rehearsal space by the Rolling Stones. From March 2006, the building became the broadcast home of the new MTV Canada and has hosted the Polaris Music Prize since 2009.

The building's fate was once again placed under a cloud on November 2, 2012, when Bell Media announced the moving of MTV Canada studio production to 299 Queen Street West and that the building would be sold, possibly for condominiums. [4] Bell Media officially listed the property for sale on March 4, 2013. [5] On June 17, 2013, the building was purchased by the Info-Tech Research Group for $12.5 million. [6] [1] Info-Tech announced that its plans for the building include staging an annual charity rock concert in the auditorium. [7]

In 2017, as part of the press for the Toronto Jazz Festival, [3] [6] it was announced that 888yonge Inc., operating as The Concert Hall, intended to re-establish itself as a premier Toronto events space, year-round, and open to the public.

From 2018 to 2023, the venue leased its space for the Sunday services of Hillsong Canada, a charismatic Christian megachurch pastored by Damian and Julie Bassett. The church's inaugural service was held on September 23, 2018. [8] [9] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in-person services were suspended on March 15, 2020, [10] and resumed with health and safety measures on July 11, 2021. [11] The church's final service at The Concert Hall was held on May 28, 2023. [12]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Toronto’s historic Masonic Temple sells to consultancy firm for $12.5-million". The Globe and Mail , June 17, 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Tale of Two Temples". Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 21 June 2010.
  3. 1 2 "Masonic Temple returns as concert venue in June | Toronto Star". thestar.com. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  4. 1 2 3 "Iconic Masonic Temple closing". torontosun.com. 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2012-11-05.
  5. ↑ "Heritage Masonic Temple for sale by Bell Media". Toronto Star , March 14, 2013.
  6. 1 2 "Legendary music venue the Concert Hall is reopening in June". NOW Magazine. 2017-05-02. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  7. ↑ "Bell Media sells Toronto Masonic Temple to IT consulting firm". Toronto Star , June 17, 2013.
  8. ↑ Hillsong Toronto (August 27, 2018). "Instagram post". Instagram. Retrieved August 12, 2019. In just 4 weeks we'll be worshipping our hearts out as @hillsongcanada launches in Toronto and Ottawa! It's hard to believe we're now…
  9. ↑ Hillsong Toronto (September 26, 2018). "Instagram post". Instagram. Retrieved August 12, 2019. The fun's not stopping, this week we have three services BACK AT 888 YONGE! We'll see you at 11am or at the 4pm and 6pm with @carllentz .…
  10. ↑ Hillsong Toronto (March 13, 2020). "Post on Instagram". Instagram . Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  11. ↑ Hillsong Toronto (June 30, 2021). "Post on Instagram". Instagram . Retrieved October 25, 2021. Our team has been working hard preparing to welcome you back to 888 Yonge Street on July 11th!
  12. ↑ Hillsong Toronto (May 22, 2023). "Instagram post". Instagram. Retrieved September 24, 2023. …This means that on May 28, join us for our final services at 888 Yonge…
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