CAA Theatre
651 Yonge Street,
Toronto,
ON
M4Y 1Z9
651 Yonge Street,
Toronto,
ON
M4Y 1Z9
1 person
favorited this theater
Related Websites
Mirvish Theatres (Official)
Additional Info
Operated by: Mirvish Theatres
Previously operated by: Cineplex Odeon, National Amusements
Architects: Harold Solomon Kaplan, Abraham Sprachman
Firms: Kaplan & Sprachman
Styles: Streamline Moderne
Previous Names: Victoria Theatre, Embassy Theatre, Astor Theatre, Showcase Cinema, Festival Theatre, New Yorker Theatre, Panasonic Theatre
Nearby Theaters
Opened as the Victoria Theatre in 1911. It was a conversion of two private residences on 651-653 Yonge Street into a silent movie theatre. Over the years it had several name changes. Following the installation of sound equipment in 1932 it was renamed Embassy Theatre. By 1938 it had been renamed Astor Theatre. It was renovated to the plans of architectural firm Kaplan & Sprachman and reopened on November 10, 1949. Later renamed Chowcase Cinema followed by Festival Theatre. By the 1960’s it was operating as the New Yorker Theatre following another remodel. By that time most of its interior had been lost over time. The theatre has since been closed and all but a portion of its façade demolished.
The façade was incorporated into the new Panasonic Theatre which was built on the site of the New Yorker in 2008 and operated by David Mirvish. Operating as a live theatre similar to New York’s “Off Broadway” theatres. The Panasonic Theatre had been renamed CAA Theatre by 2018, presenting live entertainment.
Contributed by
Jason R
Want to be emailed when a new comment is posted about this theater?
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater.
Recent comments (view all 28 comments)
Thanks for clearing up the confusion.
Here is a snap I took on Monday February 8th 2010
http://i49.tinypic.com/hryctd.jpg
I figure it looks better in the dark when it is all lit up.
The 1947 Toronto Telephone book lists the “Victory Theatre” as being at “287 Spadina”
If you want to check performance times telephone ( WAverley 5006 )
The Victory theatre on Spadina already HAS a page here on Cinema Treasures.
Yes I posted that in response to the post five above this one.
I am sorry if I inadvertently triggered an off-topic discussion; At the time I posted the comment about the Victory above, I was primarily interested in the issue raised by Joe Vogel about the whether the New Yorker was or was not at one time the Victoria.
However, at the time of the posting, “Victory” was listed in the aka list for the New Yorker, and I could not find any support for that name. Quite possibly, Victory was confused with Victoria by someone in the past. It has since been deleted from the aka list above the headnote, but now my remark seems out of place. My attempt at killing two birds with one stone had an unintended result.
Actualy I apologize for posting on the wrong thread.
I was just quoting a source of reference to confirm the address of the “Victory Theatre”
With this I bid you farewell I have a plane to catch.
1935 photo as the Embassy via Toronto Public Library.
https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?R=DC-PICTURES-R-1182&fbclid=IwAR2MXXnWObQh-CJRlD9YOIGcJMUDKsQ-OS11Spfoi652FM5-dv45-EoEwP8
Reopened as Astor on November 10th, 1949. Grand opening ad posted.
Since 2018, it’s been presenting live entertainment as the CAA Theatre.