Address: 17 Richmond Street East
Also Known As: The Tivoli
Dates: 1917 - 1965
History
The magnificent Allen Theatre […] was located at 17 Richmond Street East, on the southwest corner at Victoria Street. It opened on November 10, 1917 […]
People entered the Allen through a grand lobby that led to a spacious foyer. Opposite it was an attractive lounge, referred to as a “rendezvous area.” Carpeted sloping ramps on either side of the foyer led to the auditorium, which was a staggering size. The Allen was the first theatre in Toronto that departed from the first traditional format of an auditorium and balcony. Instead, it possessed a single sloping floor that began at the stage and ascended to the rear wall.
The architect of the 13,500-square-foot space, which contained 1,553 plush seats, was C. Howard Crane. […]
The Allen was constructed in the Adams style, highly decorative but light and airy. It was originally designed for vaudeville and plays, so it contained dressing rooms for the actors. However, it was easily covered to permit the screening of films […]
In 1923, the name of the theatre was changed to the Tivoli, licensed to Tivoli Theatre of Toronto Ltd.
The theatre was closed in 1965 and was soon demolished.
Taylor, Doug. “Allen (Tivoli)” Toronto Theatres and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen. History Press, 2014.
View of the slanting floor from the rear of the Tivoli Theatre, circa 1930. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 160.
