University Theatre

Thirty-five years ago today, Toronto’s University was among three North American theaters to open Francis Ford Coppola’s “Apocalypse Now” in a reserved-performance, guaranteed-seat exclusive engagement. A 35th anniversary retrospective article was posted today at The Digital Bits.

This theatre’s first Manager was the late A. E. “Bert” Brown and they desired to get this theatre open in time for President John J.Fitzgibbon’s birthday. This theatre was one of the first theatres to have the modern hanging urinals and the Famous Players Head of Purchasing Jules Wolfe called down to Chicago and asked them when they were going “to have the hanging pisspots ready.” This theatre had NO right angles in it and was Famous Players most prestige theatre in downtown Toronto!!

In the early 60’s Richard Burton was in Toronto appearing onstage in the John Gielgud production of Hamlet. One morning Burton’s new movie Becket was being screened in 70mm at the University for the local critics. As the lights dimmed and the film began, Elizabeth Taylor quietly took her place at the back of the theatre to watch her new husband’s new movie. No one in the audience even knew she was there.

I found this on “Flickr"
A night time photo from December 1969

View link

Here are fresh links for the July 2, 1949, Boxoffice items posted above by ken mc and Gerald A. DeLuca:

Cover photo of the main floor lounge.

Page one of the two-page article about the University Theatre in the Modern Theatre section of the same issue.

re SoCal09’s posting of Nov 2/09: This isn’t the University. It’s the Imperial. The Henry Faber mens wear and haberdashery is seen clearly across Yonge St. Also the University’s box office was attached to the building, the Imperial’s was free standing as in the photo. Anyway I grew up with and loved both theatres…the Imperial was where I first saw a movie at night, taken by my older brother. I was 8 or 9. Samson and Delilah was the flick.
JerryR

…and a story with more photos, Boxoffice, July 2, 1949:
View link

The University holds so many fond memories for me; I’m sad that I will never get to share the joy of watching a film there with my sons (both teenagers and both professional actors). Frederic Forrest sat in front of me when I saw ‘Apocalypse Now’ there; I saw ‘Alien’ there when I was 17 and looked about 12 (it was rated R…she wasn’t paying attention clearly). Saw at least onme of the original 3 ‘Star Wars’ there….had an advance ticket for ‘Heaven’s Gate’ but UA yanked it after one day so I didn’t get to use it!

I still go to the cinema at least once a week…but it isn’t the same, and never will be. When I took my oldest boy to the cinema for the first time (Holloway Road Odeon in north London to see ‘Lion King’ on its first run) I told him as we were going in (he was 2) ‘This is the closest this family gets to going to church; no talking!’. Sadly, we have no more St Pauls or Trinity of theatres…so goes the world.

Great site by the by, stumbled on it today while researching the Lyric/Century in Hamilton that is about to be torn down as it is very unsound…another great bloody shame.

Exterior shot when ‘The Return of the Jedi’ was playing: View link

Adults at a University that would be something NEW!Thanks Tim E.

Tim Thanks for the info.I did not mean any harm! I used to work for LOEWS THEATERS in the U.S.’s WE closed one house that started showing porno and the new owner did not take down the LOEWS SIGNS, it looked as if we were doing it,hope you have a good day!

THIS HOUSE LOOKED TO NICE TO BE SHOWING"ADULT FILMS"

Here are some pictures of the University Theatre from the Ontario Archives:
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0012606.jpg
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0012607.jpg
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0012608.jpg
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0012609.jpg
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0012610.jpg