Ed Mirvish Theatre
244 Victoria Street,
Toronto,
ON
M5B 1V8
244 Victoria Street,
Toronto,
ON
M5B 1V8
10 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Mirvish Theatres (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, Famous Players, Pantages
Architects: Thomas White Lamb, Mandel C. Sprachman
Functions: Live Theatre, Stage Shows
Styles: Adam, Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Pantages Theatre, Imperial Theatre, Imperial Six, Pantages Cinema, Canon Theatre
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jul 15, 2010 — Extreme Usher: The Imperial Six
- Jul 15, 2008 — Remembering "Die Hard" -- A 20th Anniversary Tribute
- Jul 15, 2008 — Remembering "Die Hard"
The Pantages Theatre was Canada’s largest theatre when it opened on August 27, 1920, attended by Charlie Chaplin in person. It had 3,373-seats and was equipped with a 26 ranks Warren theatre pipe organ. It remained a single screen theatre in the Famous Players chain until March 15, 1930. On July 5, 1930 it was re-named Imperial Theatre.
Following a 9-month run of “The Godfather”, in June 1973 it was divided into six auditoriums to the designs of architect Mandel C. Sprachman and renamed the Imperial Six. Cinema 1 was between the front of the former balcony and the screen. Cinema 2 was the former balcony seating. Cinemas 3 & 4 were in the former backstage. Cinemas 5 & 6 were in the orchestra seating.
The Imperial Six was taken over Cineplex Odeon in May 1986 and was partially renovated, re-opening as the Pantages Cinema on December 12, 1987. This closed in August 1988 with Bruce Willis in"Die Hard". A full restoration project began to return the building to a single auditorium with 2,267-seats which was fully completed in September 1989 reopening as the Pantages Theatre with “Phantom of the Opera” which ran for ten years.
It was purchased by Clear Channel Entertainment and re-named Cannon Theatre in September 2001. On December 6, 2011 it was renamed Ed Mirvish Theatre and is used mostly for Broadway touring companies.
Contributed by
Jason R
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Recent comments (view all 41 comments)
1964 postcard of Yonge Street added, Imperial Theatre to the right of center.
Link with photos of the Imperial and other theatres.
https://tayloronhistory.com/2013/02/26/torontos-lost-movie-theatresthe-downtown-theatre-on-yonge-st-south-of-dundas/
The Wikipedia page has quite the intriguing history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Mirvish_Theatre?fbclid=IwAR0or0JkaBusnGNx3g3etIViC6qfMUqqovepWH1S6NP_HsfPzDTFe9e7RYw
Ed Mirvish was really a champion of theater in Toronto. He even built a theater so that the helicopter could fly in Miss Saigon.
the 1986 coup
Cineplex Odeon coup of Imperial 6 Sat, Jun 14, 1986 – 5 · National Post (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.com
reopening as Imperial on July 5th, 1930.
The Imperial was also the first movie house in Canada to have CinemaScope on October 23, 1953.
Now that the Mirvish is primarily a live event venue, they. look to be harkening back to their movie theatre days.
During the performances of “Chicago”, popcorn was being popped fresh and sold in the lobby. Photo uploaded.
Taken over by Odeon Theatres Canada in June 1941. At the time, it was operated by O'Connor Estate.
June 27th, 1941 listings state that Imperial theatre was a Famous Players theatre. and the June 6th, 1941 does not state it was an Odeon theatre according to the Toronto Star.