Odeon Carlton

18 Carlton Street,
Toronto, ON M5B

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Odeon Theatres (Canada) Ltd.

Architects: Jay I. English

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Odeon Toronto

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Odeon Carlton

The Odeon Toronto opened 9th September 1948 with the North American Premiere of the Rank Organisation’s production of “Oliver Twist”, directed by David Lean and starring Robert Newton & Alec Guinness. British film stars Patricia Roc and Trevor Howard attended ‘in person’. It was described as the “Showplace of the Dominion”. It was an enormous theatre with two spacious lobbies on the main floor and another one on the balcony level. Up the magnificent staircase at the first landing was a restaurant overlooking the lower level. It was equipped with a Hillgreen-Lane 3Manual/19Ranks organ which was opened by Al Bollington.

It was part of the Odeon building which housed the offices of Odeon Theatres Canada. It’s name was changed to the Odeon Carlton in 1956, and it premiered some of the biggest films of the day. For years it showed reserved seat roadshow films such as “Lawrence of Arabia” and “Oliver”. It also was home of James Bond movies for several years and even had a few Cinerama movies starting with “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” in 1963.

Sadly, in later years it could no longer attract the big crowds and it’s last attraction before closing in 1973 was “White Lighting”. It was offered to the city of Toronto for one dollar as a performing arts centre, but they passed saying it didn’t have enough room for a backstage area. It was a real loss for movie lovers and for the city of Toronto.

It was demolished later that year and replaced with an apartment building. Ironically, next door Cineplex Odeon opened a nine-screen art house, also called the Carlton, so the name still lives on.

Contributed by Tim Elliott

Recent comments (view all 25 comments)

AJOHMSS
AJOHMSS on January 12, 2011 at 2:03 pm

Found this picture of the Carlton at City of Toronto archives.
This is a very good view of the marquee.

View link

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on April 22, 2015 at 9:02 pm

1963 photo added courtesy of Mike T. Cancemi.

Mike_Blakemore
Mike_Blakemore on April 23, 2015 at 3:48 am

Hmm. Its amazing how great buildings are replaced by total mediocrity

rivest266
rivest266 on May 20, 2017 at 3:11 pm

A major article about this cinema (En Français) can be found in the November 1948 issue of the Architecture-bâtiment-construction. http://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/2673612

vicmarks
vicmarks on July 15, 2020 at 2:09 pm

I have a ‘GRAND OPENING SOUVENIR PROGRAMME’ for The Odeon Toronto which says September 9th 1948. Your info says 1949. Which is correct?

The program is in pristine condition

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on July 15, 2020 at 2:57 pm

The below image dated the same was posted to the Photos section in 2012. So it likley did not got overlooked until now. The Overview now states the same date as your Programme.

http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4871/photos/33130

gordonmcleod
gordonmcleod on July 20, 2020 at 6:49 pm

The organ survives and is in storage at my house

vicmarks
vicmarks on July 26, 2020 at 10:38 am

Does anyone know someone who might be interested in buying the Program?

MSC77
MSC77 on April 26, 2023 at 4:28 pm

What was the premiere date for “Oliver!” at this venue?

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