Willow Movie Theatre

5255 Yonge Street,
Toronto, ON M2N 1X9

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noricem
noricem on June 1, 2015 at 12:16 pm

Years ago my friends mother had a lovely print of the willow theatre hanging in her hall and like the previous comment would love to know if and when I can still get one somewhere? I discovered the cinema 6 months before it closed and we loved it! From the outside I remember it being spooky, but the inside was gorgeous! Can anyone help? Thanks

gordonmcleod
gordonmcleod on July 9, 2014 at 3:53 pm

I worked there as the relief projectionist often just before it closed the booth was Simplex XL with SH1000 soundheads Peerless Magnarc Lamps and a Teco mono sound system That wide auditorium cried out for stereo and 70mm

rivest266
rivest266 on March 5, 2014 at 7:08 pm

June 17th, 1948 grand opening ad in photo section.

theprofessor1961
theprofessor1961 on March 2, 2014 at 3:43 pm

Hi Everyone, just stumbled across this site. I grew up a few blocks away from the Willow Theatre and spent a lot of time there in the 60s. Recently at the Kane Funeral home on Yonge St I saw the prints of artist Charles Dowson hanging on their walls there > of the Willow Theatre, Mings variety etc. Can anyone please tell me where I get get prints??? or anything about the artist….much appreciated! Robert

Joe Vogel
Joe Vogel on December 6, 2012 at 3:43 am

The page for architect Herbert George Duerr at the Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada lists his design for an unnamed theater at Yonge Street and Norton Avenue in North York as a 1947 project. It must have been the Willow Theatre.

marydowson2
marydowson2 on January 10, 2012 at 9:00 am

The artists name for the Willow theatre print is Charles DOWSON. Charles is my very talented brother and was a resident of Willowdale until 1991. He did many prints of local historical importance, including the old Fire Hall, Dempsey’s Hardware and the Gibson House. Charles was born in Willowdale and was one of 7 children born to William and Stella Dowson. I remember when the Willow was being built. We’d sneak in there and do a couple of cartwheels on the stage…Having the Willow theatre meant that Willowdale was now going to grow up…it would no longer be the sleepy little village north of Toronto. Mary Dowson

Sommerhouse
Sommerhouse on June 17, 2011 at 11:27 pm

I have a 20x24" print of the Willow Theater done in 1989 by Charles Dawson? Not sure of his last name as the speeling is not really clear. It matches the “Postcard” view posted by C SWalczak. Kanes Funeral Parlor on Yonge Street has this print as well as a number of other local buildings. I spend many a Saturday and/or Sunday of my childhood at this theater. I am trying to track down more information about the artist who did the Willow Theater painting.

socal09
socal09 on June 17, 2011 at 10:05 am

There is a Willow Theatre Facebook page.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on April 8, 2011 at 11:29 am

A postcard view of the Willow: View link.

CSWalczak
CSWalczak on April 8, 2011 at 11:21 am

According to this webpage about the Willow, the theatre opened in 1947: http://www.mustangdrive-in.com/history.php?id=49