Runnymede Theatre

Certainly was one of the nicer neighborhood theatres in Toronto. Although I never saw a movie there, I did see the inside of the theatre when it was still operating. The second screen was added where the balcony is so the main auditorium was left intact. The theatre was run by The Famous Players chain when it closed forever. I know the theatre was also closed for several years earlier and then reopened. The theatre was designed by the architectural firm, Chapman and Oxley. A sister theatre exists in Cornwall, Ontario. The address, in case you want to look at the building, is 2223 Bloor St. West

The Runnymede's sister theatre, The Capitol, in Cornwall, Ontario was demolished several years ago. Still retained its original atmospheric interior in its final years. Photos of both theatres (interior and exterior) can be seen in the book 'Palaces of the Night, Canada's Grand Theatres" by John Lindsay.

Link to photo of Runnymede theatre before conversion into a bookstore:
http://webhome.idirect.com/~jleeson/runnymede.jpg

Link to photographs of the Runnymede's now demolished sister theatre, The Capitol in Cornwall, Ontario:
http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/exhibits/theatres/theatres/capitol_cornwall.htm

My dad, who grew up in that neighborhood, recalls seeing the first sound film, The Jazz Singer, at the Runnymede. He also remembers the siloette of an airplane being projected on the domed blue ceiling and twinkling stars, all part of the atmospheric effects. Glad it still stands.

Here is a photo of the bookstore/former Runnymede Theater.

Have a look at a recent tribute to The Runnymede over at 32 Elvis Movies, including a Toronto Star ad for its opening night back in 1927!

It was late one Saturday night in the winter of 1993, all my friends and family had gone away for the weekend , I felt like seeing a movie but felt akward going by myself. I found a late performance at the Runnymede Theatre in the local newspaper so I looked it up on a map and found it, when I entered the the theatre for the first time had so much fun there even though I was by myself. The Theatre looked like a marvel of a movie house but it was sad that it looked a little slow in the theatre looked like it was losing bussiness somehow,It seemed like the charm I saw in it was maybe a little too old fashioned for others. I Made it a habit to go there from that point on, I loved going there for movies up until it closed for good. That feeling of discovering something great and magical only to learn it was dying was very sad for me. Today it is a bookstore and the theatre's interior was restored ,that was somewhat comforting to me that it didnt turn into a parking lot.

They've lovingly preserved enough of Runnymede, that she could be easily re-converted into a cinema at future date. This is the way to go with older theatres. No more gutting, please.

December '09 picture-->
http://www.flickr.com/photos/skylinemarc/4187947175/