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. The walls were decorated with a mural, which produced an illusion of being in a courtyard.[6] 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. The movie theatre closed in February 1999 and You've Got Mail was the last film that was shown. 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]
^ abRainford, Lisa (April 17, 2015). "Shoppers Drug Mart store in old Runnymede Theatre opens in Bloor West Village". Inside Toronto. Retrieved April 18, 2015.
^ abKopun, Francine (November 7, 2013). "Runnymede Chapters closing, with Shoppers Drug Mart moving into heritage premises". Toronto Star. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
^ abFane, Kate (November 14, 2013). "Ghost City: The Runnymede Theatre". The Grid. Retrieved March 21, 2015.
^Serbert, John: "The 'Nabes': Toronto’s wonderful neighbourhood movie houses.", page 67. Mosaic Press, 2001
^Hendley, Nate (December 24, 1998). "Run-in at the Runnymede". Eye Weekly. Archived from the original on November 8, 2013. Retrieved November 8, 2013.
runnymede, theatre, historic, building, located, bloor, west, village, affluent, west, toronto, neighbourhood, building, operated, vaudeville, theatre, movie, theatre, bingo, hall, chapters, bookstore, building, shoppers, drug, mart, building, several, days, a. 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 The building several days after it opened as a Shoppers Drug Mart in 2015 Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 External linksHistory editCommonly 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 The walls were decorated with a mural which produced an illusion of being in a courtyard 6 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 The movie theatre closed in February 1999 and You ve Got Mail was the last film that was shown 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 See also editRunnymede TorontoReferences edit a b Doug Taylor 2014 Toronto Theaters and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen The History Press pp 54 116 174 184 ISBN 9781626194502 a b Rainford Lisa April 17 2015 Shoppers Drug Mart store in old Runnymede Theatre opens in Bloor West Village Inside Toronto Retrieved April 18 2015 a b Kopun Francine November 7 2013 Runnymede Chapters closing with Shoppers Drug Mart moving into heritage premises Toronto Star Retrieved November 8 2013 a b Fane Kate November 14 2013 Ghost City The Runnymede Theatre The Grid Retrieved March 21 2015 Serbert John The Nabes Toronto s wonderful neighbourhood movie houses page 67 Mosaic Press 2001 Hendley Nate December 24 1998 Run in at the Runnymede Eye Weekly Archived from the original on November 8 2013 Retrieved November 8 2013 External links editCinema Treasures 43 39 03 N 79 28 36 W 43 650730 N 79 476530 W 43 650730 79 476530 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Runnymede Theatre amp oldid 1163316179, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
