What is now known as The Canon Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, actually started as a dual-purpose theatre in 1920. As part of the Pantages circuit, the Toronto site was used as a vaudeville stage theatre and as a motion picture theatre. This venerable structure was the largest cinema venue in Canada when it was built. The theatre could seat 3,373 people!
The Theatre at 244 Victoria Street now accommodates more than 2,000, offering rock music concerts, Monty Python comedy and Broadway musicals. A project of motion picture distributor Nathan L. Nathanson, the Toronto venue was owned by Famous Players Canadian Corporation. The interesting name comes from the founder of the theatre circuit — Pericles Alexander Pantages. This enterprising Greek citizen originally intended to make his fortune in Yukon gold during the gold rush of the late 1890s. Instead, Pantages had part ownership in a small Dawson City theatre that was known for entertaining prospectors and adventurers with burlesque and vaudeville acts. This man's theatre holdings eventually topped 100 sites.
The theatre in Toronto, designed by the well-known Thomas Lamb, was eventually sold to RKO Pictures. It was called the Imperial at one time, and eventually became a multi-screen cinema site. During some legal wrangling in the 1980s, the building was renovated as a live theatre venue, opening in 1989 with the name of the original owner, Pantages, on the front.
Clear Channel Communications gained ownership in 1999 and the historic place is now known as The Canon Theatre. More information about this magnificent theatre is available by calling (416) 872-1212.
