Toronto Architecture from the 1940's and 1950's

[EVCco]

Only recently did I notice the similarity in design between the Allenby and Royal cinemas. Is this a common style?

In Toronto I've noticed, of the remaining old theatres, that the "big-box" seems to be equally prevalent...:

http://www.emporis.com/building/paradisecinema-toronto-canada
http://www.emporis.com/building/bloorcinema-toronto-canada
http://www.emporis.com/building/metro-theatre-toronto-cinema-toronto-canada

...or more of an "integrated" style...:

http://www.emporis.com/building/gerrard-cinema-toronto-canada
http://www.emporis.com/building/regent-theatre-toronto-canada
http://www.emporis.com/building/mount-pleasant-theatre-toronto-canada


...along with the Kaplan & Sprachman deco:
http://www.emporis.com/building/eglintongrand-toronto-canada

 

[Goldie]

In Toronto I've noticed, of the remaining old theatres, that the "big-box" seems to be equally prevalent...:

http://www.emporis.com/building/paradisecinema-toronto-canada
http://www.emporis.com/building/bloorcinema-toronto-canada
http://www.emporis.com/building/metro-theatre-toronto-cinema-toronto-canada

...or more of an "integrated" style...:

http://www.emporis.com/building/gerrard-cinema-toronto-canada
http://www.emporis.com/building/regent-theatre-toronto-canada
http://www.emporis.com/building/mount-pleasant-theatre-toronto-canada


...along with the Kaplan & Sprachman deco:
http://www.emporis.com/building/eglintongrand-toronto-canada

Thanks EVCco, that's a fine selection of designs.
I was not aware of those residental conversions.

One of my favourite cinemas was the Cameo (Pape Ave.) which I once attended regularly.
The only clues to the old building today are the remaining anchors on the wall which once held the marquee.

 

[EVCco]

Interesting! I probably used to attend that bank regularly, when I lived in the area, without ever knowing it was a theatre...
(...as with the grocery store near where I currently live, which I've since learned used to be the Prince of Wales Theatre)

 

[k10ery]

Only recently did I notice the similarity in design between the Allenby and Royal cinemas. Is this a common style?
I'm not presently up to researching; but yes, don't be surprised if Kaplan & Sprachman (I presume) had a "formula" going in the mid-to-late 30s...

I'm not presently up to researching; but yes, don't be surprised if Kaplan & Sprachman (I presume) had a "formula" going in the mid-to-late 30s...

Actually it's by Benjamin Swartz according to DAIC, his only theatre in Toronto.

It was built by Ray Lewis (Mrs Joshua Smith) - who I thought might be Swartz's only non-Jewish client in Toronto! But no, that was the stage name of Rae Levinsky, vaudeville star.

The Royal/Pylon in 1982, showing a bit more original detail:

 

[Goldie]

Thanks for that history, k10ery.
The "COLON" - that's an odd name isn't it - or is it just a language I don't understand?
What does it mean?

 

[k10ery]

Spanish name for (Christopher) Columbus I think. I was surprised to see a Spanish-language theatre there in 1982.

 

[thecharioteer]

Thanks for that history, k10ery.
The "COLON" - that's an odd name isn't it - or is it just a language I don't understand?
What does it mean?

Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires:

 

[Lone Primate]

Well, a lot of Natives are of the opinion that Columbus was a colon.

 

[thecharioteer]

Garden Court Apartments, 1477 Bayview Avenue, Forsey Page & Steele, original landscape design by Dunington-Grubb and Stennson, completed in 1941.

Winner of the Silver Medal in the first Massey Medals for Architecture 1950.

B&W photographs from the 1980's (collations thread on flickr):

http://www.hpd.mcl.gov.on.ca/scripts/hpdsearch/english/popupSearch.asp?pid=967

http://archives.chbooks.com/online_books/eastwest/154.html

http://www.tobuilt.ca/php/tobuildings_more.php?search_fd3=6348

 

[junctionist]

It's a gem of a complex for that landscape and site plan.

 

[Chip?]

Beautiful complex--but the pathways could use a redoing in stone.

 

[thecharioteer]

Eglinton, east of Bathurst: Four more apartment buildings by Page & Steele in the 1940's.

TObuilt gives a date of 1940 to Forest Hill Manor and includes both Forsey and Parkin as architects. Panda gives the date of 1948 for all of them and assigns them only to P&S:

 

[LowPolygon]

Garden Court Apartments, 1477 Bayview Avenue, Forsey Page & Steele, original landscape design by Dunington-Grubb and Stennson, completed in 1941.

View attachment 11472

View attachment 11476

View attachment 11478

absolutely spectacular. those original windows make a massive difference. imagine if they'd been replaced by the ubiquitous and hideous sliders that have ruined the appearance of so many buildings

 

[thecharioteer]

absolutely spectacular. those original windows make a massive difference. imagine if they'd been replaced by the ubiquitous and hideous sliders that have ruined the appearance of so many buildings

You're absolutely right, deepend, and I seem to remember a fight over the replacement of the Garden Court windows and the original (or close to it) design remained (it is hard to replicate the thinness of the original steel mullions on those single-paned windows with modern aluminum). Unfortunately, the Eglinton buildings (the three westerly, Chalfonte Court and Forest Hill Manor are owned by the City) were not so fortunate.

Another view, late 40's:

 

[junctionist]

Too bad they didn't build entire neighbourhoods with midrise apartment buildings like those ones.