Uptown Theatre
764 Yonge Street,
Toronto,
ON
M4Y
764 Yonge Street,
Toronto,
ON
M4Y
9 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1 - 25 of 43 comments found
The decision to close the Uptown was probably more related to Real Estate assets rather than anything to do with Wheelchair Access.
If the story of the Uptown is anything like the Capitol 6 was in Vancouver, FP owned the property. Even in 2005 dollars, the property was worth tens of millions of dollars. Guess what replaced it? “ The Capitol Residences ”. Sound familiar?
The overly bloated figure of $700,000 ( maybe they got quotes from government contractors ) seems to be totally unrealistic, and used the whole fiasco as a vehicle to unload some prime Toronto real estate.
That’s my thoughts on the subject.
Yeah I know “milanp”, many theatres were lost during T.I.F.F.’s existence and were used by the organization. Then again,the closure of Uptown, University, Showcase, etc, has nothing do with T.I.F.F. T.I.F.F. didn’t use the Varsity despite being modern on their last festival and it didn’t closed. How would you know T.I.F.F.was demanding modern facilities? Where is your evidence? This is just plain coincidence those old theatres were used for T.I.F.F. There are a lot of demolished, closed and abandoned theatres in the U.S.lots of examples on this website. Those every demolished, closed and abandoned theatres in the U.S.shows Americans really cares about their preservation of their old cinemas. Talk about hypocrisy.
Hey “milanp”, its not end of the story yet. Where is the proof that the T.I.F.F. caused the Uptown to close? Where did you get the facts? Why are you defending Viacom? Just because you said so? Sure T.I.F.F. is a big film festival. Just plain ignorance and refusing to listen to everyone on this board. I can give you the links as proof it has nothing to do with T.I.F.F. I can email to you the links of news articles of Uptown’s closure if you want. But you won’t because you are afraid of admitting being wrong.
No offence Milanp, sounds like you have attended TIFF at some point, but definitely didnt follow the Uptown story long enough as mentioned earlier. Tiff only ran the Uptown for a matter of days to finish the rental back in 2003, the year it closed and screened the final 20 films or so. But it was Famous, not TIFF, who ran/owned the building and abandoned it when the lease was up for other ventures when they and Cineplex were merging in the early Aughts. After the merger that was talk of a new multiplex under the One Bloor property but with the location of the Varsity, and now Cumberland along with the recession, that project was abandoned. Dont get me wrong I miss the venue loads too, but make sure to point the finger in the right direction.
TIFF is an unholy monster, and the Uptown was just one of many casualties in their march to world (film festival) dominance. End of story, eh, Canucks?
A photo from 1970
http://i51.tinypic.com/2yynyar.jpg
Hogwash about TIFF — as stated above, they merely rented the space. If anything, TIFF programmer Colin Geddes toasted the Uptown’s screen on its final night of operation (video here). As booming as the Ryerson is at 2 in the morning, Midnight Madness screenings haven’t been the same since the Uptown closed.
A quick history of the building is available at Silent Toronto.
“Sad, but typical of those cynical, pretentious, p.c.-to-a-fault Canucks.” Yeah, becoming an American citizen will make me a saint.
Get your facts straight milanp and stop misleading readers to the site. Besides, I worked for Famous Players and I could confirm its my former employer who shut down the Uptown. Sounds too “P.C.” to be honest eh?
TIFF had nothing to do with the Uptown. It was owned and operated by Famous Players and they were the ones that refused to spend the cash. It was just one of the many cinemas used by TIFF for the festival. Thanks for the Canucks insults.
I blame the Toronto Film Festival organization for letting the Uptown die.
With the (seemingly) gazillions of dollars they rake in each year, they could have easily spent the needed cash to make the theater handicap accessible.
But even in the early ‘00s those greedy TIFF-ers had their eyes on the prize: that absurd, museum-like monstrosity downtown they’re now calling home.
Sad, but typical of those cynical, pretentious, p.c.-to-a-fault Canucks.
A.K.A Loews Uptown.
The facade of the Uptown, circa ‘05—>
http://www.flickr.com/photos/89618539@N00/3356218/
And as it is unfortunately even the Cumberland is on its last legs, they are apparently only renewing their lease a month at a time since the rest fo the tenants for the buillding have pretty much moved out and the rest of the chain has being gradually shutting their doors. Woudn’t be surprised within the next two years if we loose the cumberland as well unfortunately since it is the best place for foreign films in the city.
The Yonge/Bloor/Bay area used to have more theatres than anywhere else in the city. The Uptown 5, Showcase Cinema, Towne Cinema, Plaza Twins, Varsity Twin, University, Cumberland 4….those were the days. Now it’s just the Varsity 12 and Cumberland 4. :–(
Yeah I heard that project was in the running at one point and it was shifting from the Uptown condos and the new project that is stagnated across the street but like you said, after the merger with Varsity so close along with Parascotia not far away as well it died a quick death. So miss it ;–(
I just looked up their websites. The Crystal Blu is at 21 Balmuto St and the Uptown is at 35 Balmuto St. So, south of Bloor, the Crystal Blu will be the first building, the Uptown the next building. Too bad they couldn’t have included a new Uptown theatre somehow at the bottom of the Uptown condo, but alas Famous Players is no more, and Cineplex Entertainment already has the Varsity 12 across Balmuto St in the Manulife Centre. That is why plans for a new 10 screen multiplex by Famous Players at 1 Bloor E (if IT ever gets built) have been dropped by Cineplex.
As far as I know, the Crystal Blu is a different condo, both on Balmuto St. I haven’t been by lately but the Uptown condo is more or less on the site of the Uptown theatre itself. I think the Crystal Blu is north of that.
really? Whats with the actual branding of Crystal Blu condos then, separate project or something? You see the singage in front of the balumto side.
That IS the Uptown condos…the one that is at 5 stories…glad to know it is finally above ground. Yes, I agree with you….it took so long to sell the condos, they could have kept the Uptown for another few years but I guess they had to close since they weren’t going to make it accessable for the disabled.
Does anyone know when the construction for the Uptown condos is actually starting? They have been tryign to sell those for ages. I know the one that was over the Backstage area is well under way being 5 stories or so above street level. With how much they were dragging their feet I am sure they could have kept the venue going a lot longer ;–(
This was and probably still is my favorite theatre in the GTA~! First introduction to it was the great White Squall followed closely by the Toronto Premiere of ST First Contact. When I started working front of house for the Toronto Film Fest, before and after my shift, this was the place to be for films like School of Rock, Barbarian Invasions, Haute Tension and so many others. The Uptown 1 with the thx rumble. How I miss thee.
Check out an ad from 1927 for the Uptown. The film was “Get Your Man” starring Clara Bow.
Plenty more Canadian movie theatre nostalgia over at 32 Elvis Movies!
Here is the entrance to the Condominium sales Office where the “Uptown” use to be.
View link
Although I’ve never been to Toronto, this cinema looked flat out amazing and it is a crime that it ever closed, let alone the horrible accident that cost a human life. The $700,000 cost to make this place accessible (does a ramp and a bathroom really cost that much?) to wheelchairs also screams of stupidity.
Here is a Flickr set of photos, as well as a Live Journal post that explains the closing. Does anyone have any more photos? Someone, somewhere, has to have photos of the massive screen in Uptown 1.
Furthermore, what were the two downstairs cinemas like? Were the screens large?