Donlands Theatre

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The Donlands Cinema, in Toronto, has been repurposed as a sound studio.

The Donlands Theatre is located at 387 Donlands Avenue near Plains Road in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1][2] It operated as a movie theatre in the Bloom and Fine chain, until 1969.[3] In the 1970s, it reopened, showing Bollywood films. It seated 838 patrons[4] and is now a recording studio.[5]

The Biographical Dictionary of Canadian Architects asserts it was designed in 1946, and was one of 69 theatres designed by the architectural firm Kaplan & Sprachman.[1] However, local Toronto film historian Doug Taylor asserts it was designed by Herbert Duerr in 1949.[6][3] Another source asserts it was constructed in 1948.

John Michailidis, writing in the East York Mirror, reported that actor John Candy had grown up nearby, and speculated that patronizing the theatre contributed to his love of movies.[5]

Early in his career, Canadian writer Pierre Berton, his wife, and two young children lived in a one room apartment next door to the theatre.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b "Kaplan, Harold Solomon | Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada". dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  2. ^ Taylor, Doug (2014-07-22). Toronto Theatres and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 54, 116, 131–132. ISBN 9781625849823.
  3. ^ a b Michailidis, John (2015-10-15). "EAST YORK REFLECTIONS: Memories of shopping at Ron's Smoke Shop, watching movies at Donlands Theatre and other Donlands commercial area businesses of the 1960s and '70s". Toronto.com. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  4. ^ Sedore, Clair. "Toronto Theatres". World Theatres. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  5. ^ a b "Pie in the Sky Studios - Toronto Film Studio, Gear Packages, Lights..." piestudios. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  6. ^ "Toronto's old movie theatre—the Donlands | Historic Toronto". 2016-04-28. Archived from the original on 2016-04-28. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  7. ^ Brian McKillop (2011). "Pierre Berton: A Biography". McClelland & Stewart. p. 232. ISBN 9781551996226. Retrieved 2019-08-10.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)

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