Danforth Music Hall Theatre
147 Danforth Avenue,
Toronto,
ON
M4K 1N2
147 Danforth Avenue,
Toronto,
ON
M4K 1N2
5 people
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Music Hall, Danforth (Official)
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Allen's Theaters Ltd., Famous Players
Architects: Charles Howard Crane, Isadore Feldman, James Patrick Hynes, Harold Solomon Kaplan, Abraham Sprachman, Albert Edward Watson
Firms: Hynes, Feldman, and Watson, Kaplan & Sprachman
Functions: Concerts, Live Performances, Live Theatre
Styles: Adam
Previous Names: Allen's Danforth Theatre, Century Theatre, New Century Theatre, The Music Hall
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
416.778.8163
Nearby Theaters
News About This Theater
- Aug 7, 2009 — Music Hall celebrates 90th
- Mar 11, 2004 — Danforth Music Hall Now Closed?
Originally opened as the Allen’s Danforth Theatre on August 18, 1919 with Madge Kennedy in “Through the Wrong Door”. It was later known as the Century Theatre and was remodeled in 1934 by the architectural firm Kaplan & Sprachman.
It last showed mostly second-run movies before its closing in February of 2004. It reopened in May of 2004 under the Festival chain but closed once again in August of 2004.
It re-opened in 2006 as the Danforth Music Hall Theatre.
Contributed by
Jason R
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Recent comments (view all 25 comments)
An early picture of the theatre, as Allen’s Danforth, probably taken not long after its opening in 1919:
View link
Here are two pictures from 1947 when it was the Century:
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0021770.jpg
http://ao.minisisinc.com/Webimages/I0021771.jpg
Weirdly enough I have never seen a movie here but have fond memories of shooting Don Mckellar’s a Word from the Management short in the auditorium along with seeing the Tragically Hip play a pretour show here to several hundred screeming fans. A beautiful restoration for sure. Do they still do the occasional film or is it all live perofrmance now?
Here’s an updated link to the picture of the theatre as Allen’s Danforth that I posted on June 4, 2008:
View link
The Music Hall is once again in the deadpool. A beautiful structure, here’s hoping something is done with it sometime soon.
Here’s a link to a Toronto Star article I wrote about the former Allen’s Danforth in August, 2009. (Original article here)
Has there been any updates as to who might take over the site? And if I remember correctly it has been named a heritage site so it can’t be torn down correct?
What IS it about this area that can’t support this venue as either a movie theatre or live performance venue!?? It’s a very popular part of town, Greektown/Riverdale and once had this one, then known as the Century, the Palace (which was turned in to 3 by Famous Players in ‘82, and only lasted 5 yrs) and the Odeon Danforth. This Music Hall was even part of the very successful Festival chain for a few years and even THAT didn’t work! Don’t people in this area go to the movies or concerts?? I just don’t get it about this place. The Kingsway, Revue, Royal came back..the Fox never left and the Humber is coming back. WHY not here??!!
I know it seems like that whole stretch of Danforth is just a dead zone for theatres with the Allenby/Roby also being bulldosed for an Esso/Timmy’s with only the fascade left standing. I know from Coxwell to V Park there is a lot of land being redeveloped for more screens to be developed, and the Hall should be used for sure, maybe even snapped up by Dancap that showed the Toxic Avenger there a year or two ago.
Saw a band last night at the Danforth Music Hall. It was great venue for that. They’ve removed the seats on the main level now, but, there are still seats in the balcony.
1919 and 1948 grand opening ad in photo section.