Adelphi Theatre

hsnider on May 19, 2021 at 7:59 am

My Father, Dave Snider was a licensed (IATSE 173 Union member too!) Projectionist in Toronto and area from the 1920’s through his passing in 1973.

In the 1940’s he owned and operated the Adelphi on Dovercourt and lived in the apartment upstairs with my Mother and Brother. I actually have one of the Usher’s uniforms, red jacket (labelled “Handmade by Tip Top Tailors” in Toronto), pillbox hat, and striped pants .

Summers 1940s-50’s he operated the Skyview Theatre in Wasaga Beach, an auditorium style open air theatre building with no roof.

He kept a lot of records - Theatres Branch, union and licensing letters notes, theatre concession orders and receipts, Canadian Picture Pioneers, and more, which I donated to the Ontario Archives, all from a Projectionists point of view.

I also gave them a few Vitaphone record platters used for synchronizing sound before talkies, several Nitrate film spools, and information for “The Tingler” movie, for which he wired the seats (of the Glendale I think) to vibrate on cue.

I kept a few things, his leather bound journal listing every film he screened from the 1920’s through ‘73 (Scarborough Drive In) with Theatre, date, Title, and some numbers which may have been the number of reels and number of showings.

I also have his engraved membership card for the Canadian Picture Pioneers. He knew the city’s theatres' local executives, owners and of course other projectionists very well.

I have a book called “The Nabes”, John Sebert, which documents Toronto’s Neighbourhood theatres including photos from then and now. Also, of note is the Ontario Archives has records of all theatres including (for fire safety), outdoor and indoor photos and details.