Runnymede Theatre

2223 Bloor Street West,
Toronto, ON M6S 1M7

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Famous Players

Architects: Alfred Chapman

Firms: Chapman & Oxley

Functions: Retail

Styles: Atmospheric

Nearby Theaters

Runnymede Theatre

The Runnymede Theatre opened on June 2, 1927 with “The Fire Brigade” and “Rookies”. It was twinned in the 1980’s and closed in 1998.

The Runnymede Theatre reopened as a Chapter’s bookstore in November 1999. The theatre’s Atmospheric style interior is intact and well preserved.

One of only three Atmospheric style theatres still left in Canada.

Contributed by Jason R

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

SilentToronto
SilentToronto on February 24, 2008 at 7:57 pm

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!

peteraivalis
peteraivalis on August 12, 2008 at 1:34 am

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.

Azzaelea
Azzaelea on January 15, 2010 at 5:17 am

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—>
View link

gordonmcleod
gordonmcleod on May 22, 2013 at 5:08 pm

The Obrien in Renfrew is the same as the runnyemede

Azzaelea
Azzaelea on November 13, 2013 at 11:06 pm

Some good news about the Runnymede. The next tenants intend to preserve it. From the Star, November 7th:

“Shoppers Drug Mart will move into the old Runnymede Theatre now occupied by a Chapters Indigo bookstore, but the heritage building will be preserved.”

“We will be retaining all of the existing historical features, interior and exterior, including the stage and interior walls,” according to a statement issued by Shoppers Drug Mart on Thursday.

DavidDymond
DavidDymond on November 14, 2013 at 12:38 am

This theatre was built by Famous Players Canadian Corporation. N. L.Nathanson was the President of F.P.C.C. at this time!!

rivest266
rivest266 on March 5, 2014 at 10:40 pm

1927 and 1980 grand opening ads in photo section.

telliott
telliott on April 23, 2015 at 10:28 pm

And here’s an article about the Shopper’s Drug Mart that is now open for business.

http://www.thestar.com/business/2015/04/20/shoppers-preserves-and-transforms-historic-runnymede-theatre.html

telliott
telliott on April 25, 2015 at 6:35 pm

The ironic thing is that the location that Shoppers is moving from down the street was the former Esquire theatre, but there is no resemblance to what it once was.

Trolleyguy
Trolleyguy on August 23, 2019 at 3:57 pm

Past and present pictures posted in Photos

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