Danforth Music Hall Theatre

147 Danforth Avenue,
Toronto, ON M4K 1N2

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Related Websites

Music Hall, Danforth (Official)

Additional Info

Previously operated by: Allen's Theaters Ltd., Famous Players

Architects: Charles Howard Crane, Isadore Feldman, James Patrick Hynes, Harold Solomon Kaplan, Abraham Sprachman, Albert Edward Watson

Firms: Hynes, Feldman, and Watson, Kaplan & Sprachman

Functions: Concerts, Live Performances, Live Theatre

Styles: Adam

Previous Names: Allen's Danforth Theatre, Century Theatre, New Century Theatre, The Music Hall

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 416.778.8163

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News About This Theater

Music Hall theatre

Originally opened as the Allen’s Danforth Theatre on August 18, 1919 with Madge Kennedy in “Through the Wrong Door”. It was later known as the Century Theatre and was remodeled in 1934 by the architectural firm Kaplan & Sprachman.

It last showed mostly second-run movies before its closing in February of 2004. It reopened in May of 2004 under the Festival chain but closed once again in August of 2004.

It re-opened in 2006 as the Danforth Music Hall Theatre.

Contributed by Jason R

Recent comments (view all 25 comments)

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on June 4, 2008 at 9:52 am

An early picture of the theatre, as Allen’s Danforth, probably taken not long after its opening in 1919:

View link

igoudge
igoudge on June 26, 2009 at 1:20 pm

Weirdly enough I have never seen a movie here but have fond memories of shooting Don Mckellar’s a Word from the Management short in the auditorium along with seeing the Tragically Hip play a pretour show here to several hundred screeming fans. A beautiful restoration for sure. Do they still do the occasional film or is it all live perofrmance now?

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on June 26, 2009 at 3:06 pm

Here’s an updated link to the picture of the theatre as Allen’s Danforth that I posted on June 4, 2008:
View link

SilentToronto
SilentToronto on January 23, 2011 at 10:33 am

The Music Hall is once again in the deadpool. A beautiful structure, here’s hoping something is done with it sometime soon.

Here’s a link to a Toronto Star article I wrote about the former Allen’s Danforth in August, 2009. (Original article here)

igoudge
igoudge on January 23, 2011 at 11:22 am

Has there been any updates as to who might take over the site? And if I remember correctly it has been named a heritage site so it can’t be torn down correct?

telliott
telliott on January 23, 2011 at 12:55 pm

What IS it about this area that can’t support this venue as either a movie theatre or live performance venue!?? It’s a very popular part of town, Greektown/Riverdale and once had this one, then known as the Century, the Palace (which was turned in to 3 by Famous Players in ‘82, and only lasted 5 yrs) and the Odeon Danforth. This Music Hall was even part of the very successful Festival chain for a few years and even THAT didn’t work! Don’t people in this area go to the movies or concerts?? I just don’t get it about this place. The Kingsway, Revue, Royal came back..the Fox never left and the Humber is coming back. WHY not here??!!

igoudge
igoudge on January 23, 2011 at 1:32 pm

I know it seems like that whole stretch of Danforth is just a dead zone for theatres with the Allenby/Roby also being bulldosed for an Esso/Timmy’s with only the fascade left standing. I know from Coxwell to V Park there is a lot of land being redeveloped for more screens to be developed, and the Hall should be used for sure, maybe even snapped up by Dancap that showed the Toxic Avenger there a year or two ago.

menright
menright on September 21, 2012 at 11:20 am

Saw a band last night at the Danforth Music Hall. It was great venue for that. They’ve removed the seats on the main level now, but, there are still seats in the balcony.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 4, 2014 at 4:51 pm

1919 and 1948 grand opening ad in photo section.

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