Tivoli Theatre
110 James Street North,
Hamilton,
ON
L8R
110 James Street North,
Hamilton,
ON
L8R
6 people
favorited this theater
The Tivoli Theatre was the home of vaudeville shows from 1925 to 1949. In 1950, the Tivoli Theatre started showing movies and operated by Famous Players Corp. it was remodeled in 1954. It remained a popular movie house until it closed in 1990.
In 1995, the Tivoli Theatre returned to its roots as a venue for live stage shows. Closed in 2004 after a portion of the frontage collapsed, the lobby area was demolished, but the auditorium remained several more years until it too was demolished.
Contributed by
Chad Irish
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Recent comments (view all 68 comments)
So here we are, over six years later. There is nothing we can do about past and people are going to have their opinions about the failure of former owners or tenants. What we have left is pretty fantastic, even in its current state. This is the last theater we have in this city, that is as old or beautifully designed. Unfortunately, there are many stages in town, and this could be a stumbling block against support for this type of building. Also, we don’t have a complete building. And if you restore it, you have to use it. It’s a delicate building and a delicate situation. Here’s hoping!
Just to clarify my Dec. 3/9:04 comment: The ceiling in the “lounge” was added during the 1924 remodelling, when the Tivoli auditorium was built.
If you would like to see the former Tivoli marquee “in action”, see the Showtime movie “Rated X”. The theater was used to represent the O'Farrell Theater in San Francisco (in the 1970’s). “Rated X” is the true story of the Mitchell brothers (Jim & Artie) who created a porn empire. It was Jim’s idea to make their own films and show them in their own theater. It stars Charlie Sheen and Emilio Estevez, and was directed by Estevez.
The Tivoli marquee is shown in all its glory…lots of lights…chaser lights and flashing lights. The Tivoli name is covered to read: “The Mitchell Brothers' O'Farrell Theater”. The marquee and the theater entrance are shown a number of times, throughout the movie. The interior of the second floor was used as the brothers' office. The arched windows can be seen, as well as the TIVOLI sign letters (in reverse, from behind, outside of the windows). The shots of the audience in the theater, watching the films, were not filmed in the Tivoli auditorium. There is a scene later in the movie (at 1:38:00) that was shot on the steps that descend from the exit doors of the Tivoli auditorium. (They can be seen on the street view.)
There is no credit given for the Tivoli or Hamilton as a shooting location. There is no mention in the commentary or on-screen in the credits. The end credits state: Filmed on location in Toronto, Ontario. I don’t know how much of the movie was actually filmed in Toronto. It’s a fairly good movie and a very interesting story. I haven’t seen “Behind the Green Door”, but I’ve seen the Tivoli. I saw “Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS” at the Tivoli. Does that count?
According the information at the IMDb for “Rated X”, filming took place in Hamilton, at the Tivoli, in Toronto, and in Uxbridge, Ontario. Portions of the also made-for-TV film, “Laughter on the 23rd Floor” based on the play by (and really about) Neil Simon, made the year after “Rated X,” were also filmed at the Tivoli.
The page for architect B. Kingston Hall at the Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada lists the Tivoli Theatre in Hamilton as a 1924 project of the firm of Hall & Duerr. The page lists a total of five theater projects for the firm.
After the firm was dissolved in 1926, partner Herbert George Duerr established his own practice and went on to design at least twenty more theaters.
Finally, some action at the Tivoli. The Hamilton Spectator reported (Wednesday, December 26) that a buyer is interested in developing the vacant portion of the Tivoli property. The end of January is the target for the finalization of the deal. You can see the article at thespec.com: Tivoli shall rise again, Ballet pledges.
There is still no word on any development at the Tivoli Theatre. As mentioned in my December 27 comment, the finalization of the deal has not been announced. If you are interested in the saving and restoration of old theatres (or any kind of building) see “The Cost of History” on this site. Go to the home page and see “Latest Movie Theater Videos”. It is short, but there is a lot of information about what goes along with the restoration and the upkeep of a building.
If you are interested in other comments about the Tivoli Theatre project, see the “Skyscraper” forum. There are comments as current as early February 2013. (A direct address to the forum would not work for me.) Do a Google search for “Tivoli Theatre Hamilton”/go to page 2 of “web results”/and select “Tivoli Theatre [Archive]-Skyscraper Page Forum…”. It is the 8th item on the list on page 2. There are many comments, including some from somebody who made an offer to develop the property/project.
The Hamilton Spectator (our city newspaper) reported on Friday, February 15 that Bella Diamante has finally found a developer to buy the Tivoli…HER HUSBAND!! More details later…