Love the building history. Thanks!
The whole Dundas square looks messy and tree-less to me
Why do people compare it to Time Square where there are so many more heritage historic theaters and buildings in NYC while you have to go on King West for that in Toronto
I have always felt the aspiration to Times Square was misplaced.
I'm not even particularly fond of Times Square. Billboards, digital or old-school are just not my speed.
Besides which, Toronto should aspire to be original, not an imitation of anywhere else.
****
That said, the aspiration was there, the thought process that this could be a square that conveyed that you are amidst the futuristic, hustle-bustle of a large 'metropolis'
Hence the extensive use of billboards/screens and the focus on a relatively spare design ethos.
In my personal opinion.............wrong idea, badly executed.
****
Though your reference to heritage theatres is incorrect.
There are 3 within 2 blocks of Yonge-Dundas.
The Ed Mirvish Theatre (previously Canon, Pantages and Imperial)
The Elgin-Winter Garden
and Massey Hall.
That's a larger cluster of
Heritage theatres than you'll find on King West, given that The Princess of Wales is comparatively new, and Roy Thomson Hall only dates from the early 80s.