Roxy Theatre (Toronto)

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Shell of the theatre, in 2009. Avalon Theatre, Toronto.JPG
Shell of the theatre, in 2009.

Roxy Theatre was the final name of a theatre that operated from 1935 to 2006 at 1215 Danforth Avenue, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada's east end. It was designed by the architectural firm Kaplan & Sprachman, which designed dozens of neighbourhood cinemas, and opened under the name Allenby Theatre. [1] [2] [3] [4]

In the 1930s the Allenby allowed neighbourhood children to enroll in the Popeye Club, where they could watch a double bill, and two episodes of the popeye cartoon serials, for ten cents. [1]

During the 1970s, the theatre was run by Gary Topp and Jeff Silverman, reported to have introduced midnight screenings to Toronto. [5] It was the first theatre to play daring films, like John Waters' Pink Flamingos . In addition to serving as a repertory cinema, the location was an early venue for the performance of punk rock. [6]

The Roxy is known for playing cult-classic Rocky Horror Picture Show, every week, from 1976 to 1983. [7]

In its final decades the theatre was one of the Festival chain of repertory cinemas of similar age.

The building's Art Deco facade earned it a listing as a building of heritage interest. [2] [3] [4] This designation, short of a full heritage designation, only preserved its facade. The building stood vacant, for several years, making the work of conservators more difficult.

Following its final period as an English language repertory cinema, it reopened as the Apollo Theatre, and played Greek language films. [8] [1] However, it retained hand-painted Star Wars murals. [3]

The bulk of the building was demolished in November 2009, [6] and an Esso gas station, convenience store, and Tim Hortons were constructed on the site. The facade of the building was restored with an Allenby Theatre marquee, including its ticket booth. A commemorative plaque was installed on the building with its designation as a heritage site, and historical photos are featured inside. [9] [10] [11]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Doug Taylor (2016). Toronto's Local Movie Theatres of Yesteryear: Brought Back to Thrill You Again. Dundurn Press. pp. 14, 62–65, 100. ISBN   9781459733428.[ permanent dead link ]
  2. 1 2 Bert Archer (2006-09-16). "Is it curtains for good at the Roxy Theatre?". The Globe and Mail . Archived from the original on 2017-05-22. Retrieved 2017-05-20. And now, like a gratuitous kick when the Toronto cinephile community's down, comes news that the old Roxy at Danforth and Greenwood -- a former member of the Festival group that has been closed and vacant for more than a decade -- has been sold as well. And it could soon be a gas station.
  3. 1 2 3 Jonathan Castellino (2008-12-12). "Toronto's Forgotten Landmarks: A Night at the Roxy". BlogTO. Archived from the original on 2017-03-01. Retrieved 2017-05-20. The chief architectural designers of this low-rise theatre were Kaplan & Sprachman, responsible for many of the smaller concert venues and theatres in the area.
  4. 1 2 "The Roxy Theatre". Eraarch.ca. Archived from the original on 2017-02-26. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  5. ↑ "THE ORIGINAL 99 CENT ROXY THEATRE: A BRIEF HISTORY". The last pogo. 2015-10-21. Archived from the original on 2015-11-01. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  6. 1 2 "Remake-remodel". The last pogo. 2009-11-06. Archived from the original on 2016-08-29. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  7. ↑ Don Wall (2015-03-11). "Flashback 1975: Rocky Horror – Do the Time Warp again". Forever Young magazine. Archived from the original on 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2017-05-20. Back in 1980, it was the Roxy theatre that served as the host of weekly midnight showings in Toronto. They'd show up in lace and lots of mascara, throw toast and rice and yell at Janet and Brad onscreen – "Get an umbrella," as they walked in the rain.
  8. ↑ Doug Taylor. "Toronto's old Allenby (Roxy, Apollo) Theatre on the Danforth". Archived from the original on 2016-08-08. Retrieved 2017-05-20.
  9. ↑ "1930s-era Roxy Theatre reopens with a new purpose after major restoration and preservation". YongeStreet. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  10. ↑ Torontoist (2010-10-19). "From Double Feature To Double-Double". Torontoist. Retrieved 2018-04-14.
  11. ↑ "Hume: Tim does its bit on the Danforth". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2018-04-14.

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