Runnymede Theatre

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The building, several days after it opened as a Shoppers Drug Mart in 2015.

The Runnymede Theatre is a historic building located in Bloor West Village, an affluent west end Toronto neighbourhood.[1] The building has operated as a vaudeville theatre, a movie theatre, a bingo hall, and a Chapters bookstore. The building is now a Shoppers Drug Mart.[2][3][4]

History

Commonly known as the "Runny", the Runnymede was built by the Capitol (later Famous Players) as an atmospheric vaudeville theatre, the first of this type in Toronto.[1] It officially opened in June 1927. The building was designed by Alfred Chapman, father of Chris Chapman, an accomplished Toronto filmmaker. Known for its music and stage shows, the large 1400-seat theatre, branded "Canada's Theatre Beautiful", quickly became popular and brought prestige to the west end of the city.[5] As an atmospheric theatre, the interior of the Runnymede was designed to transport its guests to an exotic place. The painted blue sky ceiling was adorned with clouds, where a complex lighting system projected an array of stars and airplanes.

Visitors who are impressed by the stunning preservation of the Art Deco decor, and try to take pictures, are ejected by Shopper's employees.[6]

The walls were decorated with a mural, which produced an illusion of being in a courtyard.[7] The building discontinued to be used for plays and live entertainment with the gradual death of vaudeville, and was subsequently converted to a movie theatre in the late 1930s. In the early 1970s, the building became a bingo hall in order to capitalize on bingo's popularity. In 1980, the building reopened as a movie theatre again, featuring two screens.

In 1990, the building was designated as a heritage property under the Ontario Heritage Act.[8] The movie theatre closed in February 1999 and You've Got Mail was the last film that was shown.[8] Later that year, the building reopened as a Chapters bookstore, which closed in February 2014. In April 2015, the building reopened as a Shoppers Drug Mart.[2][3][4]

Due to the heritage designation Chapters, Shoppers, and the building's owners were required to preserve the building's unique details.[8][9] Observers agree they did a good job.

Shoppers policy against photographs

When Chapters turned the theatre into a retail space admirers of the architecture were concerned its beautiful interior would be forgotten.[6] In fact efforts were made to preserve the sky-blue domed ceiling, the intricate wall decorations, the theatre's box office and historic projector. According to Blog TO, first time visitors are routinely stunned by the beautiful interior, and then shocked to find Shoppers employees vigourously enforcing a policy barring photographs.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Doug Taylor (2014). Toronto Theaters and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen. The History Press, 54, 116, 174–184. ISBN 9781626194502. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Rainford, Lisa (April 17, 2015). Shoppers Drug Mart store in old Runnymede Theatre opens in Bloor West Village. Inside Toronto. Retrieved on April 18, 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Kopun, Francine. Runnymede Chapters closing, with Shoppers Drug Mart moving into heritage premises, November 7, 2013. Retrieved on November 8, 2013.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Fane, Kate. Ghost City: The Runnymede Theatre, November 14, 2013. Retrieved on March 21, 2015.
  5. ↑ Serbert, John: "The 'Nabes': Toronto’s wonderful neighbourhood movie houses.", page 67. Mosaic Press, 2001
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Jack Landau. People are being kicked out of Shoppers Drug Mart in Toronto for taking photos, Blog TO, 2022-08-24. Retrieved on 2022-08-25. “It no longer houses 1,400 seats and hosts rowdy shows as it did upon opening in 1927, but the Runny still lives on, with its restored painted sky ceiling and ornate finishes making shoppers feel like they're in an open-air courtyard as they browse beauty supplies and protein bars. But if customers dare pull out a phone or camera to enjoy the space for later consumption, they are quickly shown the door.”
  7. ↑ Hendley, Nate. Run-in at the Runnymede, December 24, 1998. Retrieved on November 8, 2013.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Erin Sylvester. Before TIFF, There Was the Runnymede Theatre, Torontoist, 2016-09-14. Retrieved on 2022-08-25. mirror
  9. ↑ Francine Kopun. Shoppers preserves and transforms historic Runnymede Theatre, Toronto Star, 2015-04-20. Retrieved on 2022-08-25. “On the second floor, a projector from the original movie house was preserved in the meticulous renovation undertaken by Chapters Indigo and the building owners. The projector was preserved by Shoppers Drug Mart. 'We looked at relocating it in different spots, but that is where it’s always been', said Cathy Masson, vice-president of category management for Shoppers Drug Mart. On shelves near the projector, shoppers can buy movie theatre treats, including cotton candy and jumbo peanuts in the shell. 'It’s part of the ambiance. We are trying to keep the feel of the theatre,' said Masson.” mirror

External links

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