Was able to spend the mornings this week to watch the destruction of the Century. Spent time with Mark M. and I believe Rich and Rob who was a usher there in it’s last days as a movie theatre. Will post on facebook the pictures I took. Was also able to get one of the Hamilton red bricks from the outside walls and a white brick fron the original back wall of the stage area.
Went down to have a last look at the Century Friday. I parked off King William Street which is behind/next to the Century. It then dawned on me that I was parking where the Palace auditorium use to stand. A short distance down the street is where the Capital auditorium use to stand as well. Add another parking lot to that area.
Brian. You are right. There was only one balcony. Sorry about that. My parents who came from England made Hamilton their home in 1950 remember all the theatres and buildings Hamilton once had and neglected to save and or protect. From the picture with the ( one ) balcony it’s a shame that it ended up as as it did when it ended its life as a theatre.
There is a great artical in the Hamilton Spectator January 13 paper about the Lyric/Century. There is even a picture of the auditorium in 1914 with two balconies. What a differance in 96 years.
Check out the CHCH news on Monday, They show a shot of the Century auditorium with three abstact murals on one of the walls.
On another topic, I was looking at a web site for Ontario Archives which shows the Tivoli auditorium in 1944 with four different light fixtures then the four chandaliers that are there now. Could these be the ones that were removed from the Century during the renovations.
Probably not, but it would be interesting if they were.
I recall reading that the organ was removed from the theatre and was re-installed some where in Ancaster. The Hamilton Spectator newspaper from what I can recall stated that there was a rush to remove it because they had started to demolish the auiditorium.
It’s a sad day. On the CH news they showed a arial view of the building and you could see the missing section of the roof as well as other sections that are in sad shape. It did not take long for the front entrance section of the Tivoli to be torn down, and with Mary street closed off to all trafic, it won’t be long before the Century is torn down as well.
I can remember standing in line to see movies at this theatre (and many others) when the line would stetch down Mary Street and around the corner down King William Street. You don’t stand outside in a line these days to see a movie.
It also did not matter what the weather was like either. Mark.
Brian. I checked out the web site for the present owners but I did not find any information about what they are doing to prevent any further damage to the Tivoli auditorium such as a new roof which is desperatly needed from what I understand or keeping it secure from people entering it without permision.(if you know what I mean.)
One last comment, it is funny that the only part of the Century that is protected is the front part of the theatre and compared to the rest of the building it is in the worst of shape.Mark.
With the resent collaping of a building in the Lister Block ( not the Lister building) a short distance away from this theatre, time only knows if this could happen to this theatre. The roof collaped on a historic but vacant building causing a chain reaction floor by floor. The building was torn down this past week. With the roof on the front half of the Century theatre already collaped,this could happen as well. DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT is common in Hamilton when buildings are left to rot. The auditorium of what’s left of the Tivoli could be next as well. Mark
Brian. I remember going to the Delta in the late seventies but I don’t recall there being a balcony. It’s been almost thirty years but I thought it was more plain and square shaped. I do recall that you could enter from either King or Main street. As stated in my earlier post, it was called the $1.50 Delta around 1978 and you could see a double feature for that price..
I also recall seeing groups such as Sparks and Gentle Giant from England in the late seventies as well.
After logging into Google Earth, you can see the section of the roof that has caved in. It is the front section where the office were and where the balcony was. The rest of the roof appears to be intact for the time being(of coarse).
After visiting the Hamilton Library,I found out that The original ceiling was removed when the false ceiling was put in. There were also four chandellers that were also removed. Unfortunatly, there are no pictures on file of the inside of the Lyric/Century before the conversion. Mark
Mike. Just logged on to this site and looked at your upgraded pictures posted on March 3. The photo’s of the balcony and the view of the stage from the projectors booth are great.
Those curtains that are hanging I believe are not from when the theare closed. I believe they were red but I could be wrong.
Thanks again, Mark.
Mike. Thanks for the pictures. From what I can recall of this theatre from the 70’s it’s present state looks rather depressing. It’s hard to imagin what this theatre would have looked like pre conversion days. I am glad that you were able to capture one of the images on the auditorium walls. I think there were three on either side but they were covered by red drapes when I went to the movies during the 70’s.
One question though, if you looked towards the front of the auditorium, was there a wall where the screen was or was one added after the seats were removed?
From outside, it’s is still a impressive building.
Thanks again for the pictures, Mark
Mike. Is the lobby of the Hyland the pawn shop with the auditorium and balcony seating area closed off to the public? From what I can remember, the upstairs leading the the balcony had its own lobby area with washrooms and refreshment stands. This is probably the storage area the young gentlemen was talking about. Mark.
Mike. From what I know, the Carrige/Lobby was the front portion of the building, the former Princess theater was behind which was incorperated into part of the lobby and the auditorium was next which is what is still standing. If you go to the Tivoli, you can get more history on the Tivoli including the Princess and Wonderland theatre. Mark.
The Hamilton Spectator states (Dec. 8 ) that years of neglect are showing on the old theatre. There are large holes in the ceiling from water leaks and the north wall may be bowed. The ballet company are raising money to pay architects to determine whether the building can be saved. They estimate it may cost upwards of 12M to complete the project. From the picture in the paper, the theatre still looks great. Just as I remembered it. Mark.
The theatre/building still looks the same as it did when it was closed dowm many years ago. The idea of turning it into condos must have fallen thru. Every week I drive by this location to see if there is any activity (camera ready). WE can only hope.
The A&E program aired on Sunday August 20th. What a theatre. At least the theatre is still standing. Hamilton Ontario has lost all of it’s grand theatres of which most are still parking lots when the destruction started in the 70’s.
This theatre was use in the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” which aired on Wednesday June 7 2006. You were shown great shots of both the inside and outside of this theare.
What a fantastic looking theatre.
mjc. It was the Bennett theatre that was next to the terminal building off King street not the Temple. Sorry about that. Both these building where torn down to make room for the building that now sits on the site. Check out the post cards and let me know. Mark
mjc. if you go to http://wwwpostcardsofhamilton.com and search the post cards. click on “t” and then theatres you will find a picture of the Savoy Theatre next to the Hotal Stoud on Merrick Street off McNab Street. There is also postcards showing the Temple theatre which is next to the terminal building. This theatre is not listed. All have been demonished. the Temple I believe was off King Street. is this of any help. Mark
Nothing has change from the outside since they demolished the front section. When they were tearing down the front section, I managed to see inside the back stage doors which were open. The gentlemen that was inside clearing out the balance of his stage equipment (using flashlights)said time will only tell it’s fate. With no heat or hydro in the auditotium, winter my seal it,s future of another lost theatre of Hamilton’s past.
Was able to spend the mornings this week to watch the destruction of the Century. Spent time with Mark M. and I believe Rich and Rob who was a usher there in it’s last days as a movie theatre. Will post on facebook the pictures I took. Was also able to get one of the Hamilton red bricks from the outside walls and a white brick fron the original back wall of the stage area.
Went down to have a last look at the Century Friday. I parked off King William Street which is behind/next to the Century. It then dawned on me that I was parking where the Palace auditorium use to stand. A short distance down the street is where the Capital auditorium use to stand as well. Add another parking lot to that area.
Brian. You are right. There was only one balcony. Sorry about that. My parents who came from England made Hamilton their home in 1950 remember all the theatres and buildings Hamilton once had and neglected to save and or protect. From the picture with the ( one ) balcony it’s a shame that it ended up as as it did when it ended its life as a theatre.
There is a great artical in the Hamilton Spectator January 13 paper about the Lyric/Century. There is even a picture of the auditorium in 1914 with two balconies. What a differance in 96 years.
Check out the CHCH news on Monday, They show a shot of the Century auditorium with three abstact murals on one of the walls.
On another topic, I was looking at a web site for Ontario Archives which shows the Tivoli auditorium in 1944 with four different light fixtures then the four chandaliers that are there now. Could these be the ones that were removed from the Century during the renovations.
Probably not, but it would be interesting if they were.
I recall reading that the organ was removed from the theatre and was re-installed some where in Ancaster. The Hamilton Spectator newspaper from what I can recall stated that there was a rush to remove it because they had started to demolish the auiditorium.
It’s a sad day. On the CH news they showed a arial view of the building and you could see the missing section of the roof as well as other sections that are in sad shape. It did not take long for the front entrance section of the Tivoli to be torn down, and with Mary street closed off to all trafic, it won’t be long before the Century is torn down as well.
I can remember standing in line to see movies at this theatre (and many others) when the line would stetch down Mary Street and around the corner down King William Street. You don’t stand outside in a line these days to see a movie.
It also did not matter what the weather was like either. Mark.
Brian. I checked out the web site for the present owners but I did not find any information about what they are doing to prevent any further damage to the Tivoli auditorium such as a new roof which is desperatly needed from what I understand or keeping it secure from people entering it without permision.(if you know what I mean.)
One last comment, it is funny that the only part of the Century that is protected is the front part of the theatre and compared to the rest of the building it is in the worst of shape.Mark.
With the resent collaping of a building in the Lister Block ( not the Lister building) a short distance away from this theatre, time only knows if this could happen to this theatre. The roof collaped on a historic but vacant building causing a chain reaction floor by floor. The building was torn down this past week. With the roof on the front half of the Century theatre already collaped,this could happen as well. DEMOLITION BY NEGLECT is common in Hamilton when buildings are left to rot. The auditorium of what’s left of the Tivoli could be next as well. Mark
Brian. I remember going to the Delta in the late seventies but I don’t recall there being a balcony. It’s been almost thirty years but I thought it was more plain and square shaped. I do recall that you could enter from either King or Main street. As stated in my earlier post, it was called the $1.50 Delta around 1978 and you could see a double feature for that price..
I also recall seeing groups such as Sparks and Gentle Giant from England in the late seventies as well.
After logging into Google Earth, you can see the section of the roof that has caved in. It is the front section where the office were and where the balcony was. The rest of the roof appears to be intact for the time being(of coarse).
After visiting the Hamilton Library,I found out that The original ceiling was removed when the false ceiling was put in. There were also four chandellers that were also removed. Unfortunatly, there are no pictures on file of the inside of the Lyric/Century before the conversion. Mark
Mike. Just logged on to this site and looked at your upgraded pictures posted on March 3. The photo’s of the balcony and the view of the stage from the projectors booth are great.
Those curtains that are hanging I believe are not from when the theare closed. I believe they were red but I could be wrong.
Thanks again, Mark.
Mike. Thanks for the pictures. From what I can recall of this theatre from the 70’s it’s present state looks rather depressing. It’s hard to imagin what this theatre would have looked like pre conversion days. I am glad that you were able to capture one of the images on the auditorium walls. I think there were three on either side but they were covered by red drapes when I went to the movies during the 70’s.
One question though, if you looked towards the front of the auditorium, was there a wall where the screen was or was one added after the seats were removed?
From outside, it’s is still a impressive building.
Thanks again for the pictures, Mark
Mike. Is the lobby of the Hyland the pawn shop with the auditorium and balcony seating area closed off to the public? From what I can remember, the upstairs leading the the balcony had its own lobby area with washrooms and refreshment stands. This is probably the storage area the young gentlemen was talking about. Mark.
Mike. From what I know, the Carrige/Lobby was the front portion of the building, the former Princess theater was behind which was incorperated into part of the lobby and the auditorium was next which is what is still standing. If you go to the Tivoli, you can get more history on the Tivoli including the Princess and Wonderland theatre. Mark.
Hello Bryan. Any pictures? Mark
The Hamilton Spectator states (Dec. 8 ) that years of neglect are showing on the old theatre. There are large holes in the ceiling from water leaks and the north wall may be bowed. The ballet company are raising money to pay architects to determine whether the building can be saved. They estimate it may cost upwards of 12M to complete the project. From the picture in the paper, the theatre still looks great. Just as I remembered it. Mark.
The theatre/building still looks the same as it did when it was closed dowm many years ago. The idea of turning it into condos must have fallen thru. Every week I drive by this location to see if there is any activity (camera ready). WE can only hope.
The A&E program aired on Sunday August 20th. What a theatre. At least the theatre is still standing. Hamilton Ontario has lost all of it’s grand theatres of which most are still parking lots when the destruction started in the 70’s.
This theatre was use in the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance” which aired on Wednesday June 7 2006. You were shown great shots of both the inside and outside of this theare.
What a fantastic looking theatre.
mjc. It was the Bennett theatre that was next to the terminal building off King street not the Temple. Sorry about that. Both these building where torn down to make room for the building that now sits on the site. Check out the post cards and let me know. Mark
mjc. if you go to http://wwwpostcardsofhamilton.com and search the post cards. click on “t” and then theatres you will find a picture of the Savoy Theatre next to the Hotal Stoud on Merrick Street off McNab Street. There is also postcards showing the Temple theatre which is next to the terminal building. This theatre is not listed. All have been demonished. the Temple I believe was off King Street. is this of any help. Mark
Nothing has change from the outside since they demolished the front section. When they were tearing down the front section, I managed to see inside the back stage doors which were open. The gentlemen that was inside clearing out the balance of his stage equipment (using flashlights)said time will only tell it’s fate. With no heat or hydro in the auditotium, winter my seal it,s future of another lost theatre of Hamilton’s past.