Tivoli Theatre

110 James Street N,
Hamilton, ON L8R

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Famous Players

Architects: Herbert George Duerr, B. Kingston Hall

Firms: Hall & Duerr

Styles: Art Deco

Previous Names: Wonderland Theatre, Colonial Theatre, Princess Theatre

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News About This Theater

Interior in 1991

The Tivoli Theatre was the home of vaudeville shows and movies from its opening on September 29, 1924. In 1950, the Tivoli Theatre started showing movies full time and was operated by Famous Players Corp. It was remodeled in 1954. It remained a popular movie house until it closed in 1990.

In 1995, the Tivoli Theatre returned to its roots as a venue for live stage shows. Closed in 2004 after a portion of the frontage collapsed, the lobby area was demolished, but the auditorium remains and by 2014 was in use by the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble.

Contributed by Chad Irish

Recent comments (view all 74 comments)

DavidDymond
DavidDymond on July 16, 2013 at 5:31 am

Good information Brock — the original owners of the Tivoli property would NOT sell to Famous Players Canadian Corporation and so Famous created a “fake” company to acquire it and they sold to this “fake” company!!

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on July 16, 2013 at 5:53 am

BrockKing13: The Colonial/Wonderland/Princess has a its own page at Cinema Treasures.

BrockKing13
BrockKing13 on August 4, 2013 at 12:06 pm

This theatre and the Century were my two favorites of all time. When I worked there I did a lot of exploring. All the history and ‘ghosts’ never leave my memory. Thanks Joe, I will check out the page.

Roger Katz
Roger Katz on November 19, 2014 at 2:48 am

The auditorium still stands and is being restored for use by the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble.

http://www.mississauga.com/news-story/4572107-developer-hopes-to-take-tivoli-to-new-heights/

Coate
Coate on August 17, 2016 at 1:46 am

BrockKing13… Regarding your “Gone with the Wind” comment from July 15th, 2013, it would appear you’re confusing the original run with the film’s 1941 general release or a later re-release. While I was researching the original release of “GWTW” for this retrospective article I found the first run in Hamilton was actually at the Capitol in February 1940. And it was a roadshow (reserved seats) and so the cost of admission was more than the 35 cents you’re recalling (much closer to a dollar). It ran for two weeks followed by a one-week moveover run at the Savoy.

Chief_Brody
Chief_Brody on July 1, 2017 at 10:47 am

Saw so many great movies at the Tivoli during the 80s — Raiders (6 times during the summer of ‘81), Star Wars/Empire double bill in early '83, Jedi a few months later, Never Cry Wolf, Aliens…too many to list. Loved the huge screen and great surround sound. I did see the last movie ever shown there (Last Crusade) sometime before the theater closed in Sept of '89. Great memories, like the Century and Avon, but the Tivoli was my favourite.

Belcoron
Belcoron on February 14, 2018 at 4:34 am

I wonder if anyone remembers a man by the name of Johnny Claus, he used to put up the posters for the theatre in the 50’s. His wife’s name was Grace and they lived on George St.

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 18, 2018 at 11:02 am

2014 related article.

https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/4755201-tivoli-condo-project-a-monstrosity-/?fbclid=iwar1acndzja6ougympevwlfq1oeuz2frpwqowrgp-otpxjdngp9rudw35su0#.U-tAdcMgD0o.facebook

DavidZornig
DavidZornig on October 18, 2018 at 11:28 am

August 1954 photo added credit Superior Engravers, courtesy of Randy Watts.

Brian Morton
Brian Morton on October 20, 2021 at 11:06 am

The Tivoli Theatre is certainly not open! It was last used in the spring of 2004, as a live performance venue. Since then, other then brief opportunities to tour the building, the public has had no access to it.

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