Uptown Theatre

Screen one reopened December 25th, 1969, Screens 2 & 3 opened January 30th, 1970, and Backstage 1 & 2 opened March 20th, 1970.

Condos rising on the Uptown site. Article with theatre photos below.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/film/article-best-old-movie-theatres-toronto/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=Referrer%3A%20Social%20Network%20%2F%20Media&utm_campaign=Shared%20Web%20Article%20Links&fbclid=IwAR3zRmRWbMEuKMpEZgIAwSfAo4QRmiBxPnnBN2heAfdmQphrgYInQyNMfqE

September 18th, 1920 grand opening ad in photo section.

LaserboyTO is absolutely correct about the refusal of Famous Players to retrofit some of their older theatres for handicapped. It would have been cost prohibitive and these theatres were at the end of their commercial lives. They had built the Paramount just a few blocks to the south but what did the handicapped do— they went and protested and actually sued Famous Players over the uptown. The decision was made just to close these old theatres and that decision was the correct one! I worked for Famous Players 11 years and actually worked at the Uptown for a while!!

Ignore the troll. Here’s the story, I have worked for Famous Players (now Cineplex) since the late 1980’s. A human rights complaint was made at another downtown theatre for not being accessible, the ruling came down that cinemas had to be made accessible (including restrooms) and they had two years to do it. The cost was prohibitive in many theatres plus the Uptown was an expensive old theatre to keep operating so Famous closed all of their theatres that they owned and sold off the properties and once leases expired in locations that they leased they didn’t renew and closed them too. Other casualties of this era in downtown/uptown Toronto were the Plaza, Hollywood, Eglinton & Sheraton theatres. Their new “brand” theatres were built on properties with much better leasing terms and were much more efficient (read, profitable) to run. The Uptown was demolished despite an attempt to get it designated a heritage building but because there are two surviving examples of architect Thomas Lamb’s theatres in Toronto, The Ed Mirvish Theatre (formally Canon Theatre/Pantages Theatre/Imperial Six cinemas/Imperial Theatre) and the Elgin Wintergarden Theatres (formally the the Yonge theatre in the late 60’s/70’s early 80’s and before that, Loew’s Yonge Street theatre) so the heritage designation was not granted and was demolished to make way for a condominium development – the Uptown condos. The Uptown was a great place to see movies and a favorate for movie goers. Each year TIFF paid rental rates for the theatres they used during the film festival and theatre staff and management operated during the theatres along with an army of TIFF volunteers and paid festival reps. who pretty much took charge of all front-of-house operations.

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.

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.

A photo from 1970

http://i51.tinypic.com/2yynyar.jpg

“Sad, but typical of those cynical, pretentious, p.c.-to-a-fault Canucks.” Yeah, becoming an American citizen will make me a saint.

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.

A.K.A Loews Uptown.

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.

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 ;–(