Ed Mirvish Theatre
244 Victoria Street,
Toronto,
ON
M5B 1V8
244 Victoria Street,
Toronto,
ON
M5B 1V8
9 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Mirvish Theatres (Official)
Additional Info
Architects: Thomas White Lamb
Functions: Live Theatre, Stage Shows
Styles: Adam, Neo-Classical
Previous Names: Pantages Theatre, Imperial Theatre, Imperial Six, Pantages Cinema, Canon Theatre
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Jul 15, 2010 — Extreme Usher: The Imperial Six
- Jul 15, 2008 — Remembering "Die Hard" -- A 20th Anniversary Tribute
- Jul 15, 2008 — Remembering "Die Hard"
The Pantages Theatre was Canada’s largest theatre when it opened in 1920. It was equipped with a 26 ranks Warren theatre pipe organ. This 3,626 seat palace remained a single screen theatre in the Famous Players chain until 15th March 1930. On July 15, 1930 it was re-named Imperial Theatre.
In June 1973 it was divided into six auditoriums and renamed the Imperial Six. Cinema 1 was between the front of the former balcony and the screen. Cinema 2 was the former balcony seating. Cinemas 3 & 4 were in the former backstage. Cinemas 5 & 6 were in the orchestra seating.
The Imperial Six was taken over Cineplex Odeon in May 1986 and was partially renovated, re-opening as the Pantages Cinema in December 1987. This closed in August 1988 and a full restoration project to return the building to a single auditorium was completed fully completed in September 1989.
The theatre was re-named Pantages Theatre again and was home to the stage musical “The Phantom of the Opera” for ten years. Now used mostly for Broadway touring companies, the theatre was renamed the Canon Theatre in September of 2001 and in 2011 was renamed Ed Mirvish Theatre.
Contributed by
Jason R
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Recent comments (view all 37 comments)
Actually, no. As previous comments indicate, the historical main entrance to the Pantages was on Victoria Street; the Yonge Street entrance was actually a later addition (although constructed a long time ago now and well-blended architecturally into the original design). The Yonge Street entry actually takes one over O'Keefe Lane and then into the the original main foyer. Because Yonge is such a main thoroughfare, it is easy to assume the Yonge Street entry always was the main entry, especially if you are among those who recall the theater in its days as the Imperial 6 cinema.
Shouldn’t this now be listed as the Ed Mirvish Theatre? Name was changed over 2 years ago.
As you can see, telliott, it now is. But the last name used it not always the case on CT, for whatever reason.
Sorry, my mistake, I thought it was.
1964 postcard of Yonge Street added, Imperial Theatre to the right of center.
Link with photos of the Imperial and other theatres.
https://tayloronhistory.com/2013/02/26/torontos-lost-movie-theatresthe-downtown-theatre-on-yonge-st-south-of-dundas/
The Wikipedia page has quite the intriguing history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ed_Mirvish_Theatre?fbclid=IwAR0or0JkaBusnGNx3g3etIViC6qfMUqqovepWH1S6NP_HsfPzDTFe9e7RYw
Ed Mirvish was really a champion of theater in Toronto. He even built a theater so that the helicopter could fly in Miss Saigon.
the 1986 coup
Cineplex Odeon coup of Imperial 6 Sat, Jun 14, 1986 – 5 · National Post (Toronto, Ontario, Canada) · Newspapers.com
reopening as Imperial on July 5th, 1930.