Royal Alexandra Theatre

260 King Street W,
Toronto, ON M5A 4L5

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Related Websites

Mirvish Theatres (Official)

Additional Info

Architects: John M. Lyle

Firms: Carrere & Hastings

Functions: Stage Shows

Styles: Beaux-Arts, French Renaissance

Phone Numbers: Box Office: 416.872.1212
Manager: 416.872.1212

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News About This Theater

Early 1900's photo courtesy of the Vintage Toronto Facebook page.

This beautiful legit theater opened on August 26, 1907 and closed in 1962, after several decades of successful operation.

Ed Mirvish saved the theater in 1963 and has since restored it. The theater has briefly been used to show movies.

Contributed by Jason R

Recent comments (view all 5 comments)

wpaq
wpaq on November 11, 2004 at 10:41 am

Thank you Ed Mirvish.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on October 26, 2006 at 4:21 pm

The architect was John Lyle, who also designed the great Toronto Union Station. The theatre was built for Cawthra Mulock and opened on August 26, 1907. It originally had 1525 seats. (This info is from THSA Marquee Magazine, 1994.) Around 1990, Ed Mirvish published a book about the theatre which was unique: it had 2 front covers and also featured the Old Vic Theatre in London. After reading the first half of the book, one turned it over and upside-down to read the second half !

PGlenat
PGlenat on July 13, 2007 at 11:18 am

Ed Mirvish, who purchased the Royal Alexandra theatre in 1962 thus saving it from demolition, passed away this week at age 92. His contributions to the arts and entertainment in Toronto will be sadly missed.

rsalters (Ron Salters)
rsalters (Ron Salters) on July 13, 2007 at 6:23 pm

Ed Mirvish not only saved the Royal Alexandra, but also the historic Old Vic Theatre in London. And he built a large new theatre, to traditional designs, just steps away from the Royal Alexandra. He was a very accomplished man, “A do-er, not a dreamer”.

PGlenat
PGlenat on July 13, 2007 at 7:20 pm

That “new” theatre is the Princess of Wales theatre. The Mirvishes, under the corporate banner of Mirvish Productions, also operates the historic Pantages theatre in downtown Toronto (now renamed the Canon theatre after it’s current sponsor). Ed Mirvish is probably best known for his bargain emporium “Honest Ed’s” with it’s corny sayings plastered all over both the interior and exterior of the building. It was the success of that enterprise which eventually allowed him to pursue his theatrical interests beginning with the Royal Alex.

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