Donlands Theatre

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This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

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

The Donlands Theatre, at 387 Donlands Avenue near Plains Road.[1][2] It seated 838 patrons.[3] It operated as a movie theatre in the Bloom and Fine chain, until 1969.[4] In the 1970s it reopened showing Bollywood films It 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][7] 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.[4]

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.[8]

## References[edit]

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kaplan, Harold Solomon, Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada. Retrieved on 2016-02-29.
2. ↑ Doug Taylor (2014). Toronto Theaters and the Golden Age of the Silver Screen. The History Press, 54, 116, 131-132. ISBN 9781626194502. Template:Dead link
3. ↑ Toronto theatres & music venues, World Theatres, 2016-02-22. Retrieved on 2016-02-29. “Donlands – 397 Donlands Ave – 838 seats (1949-1969) – still there but in use as Pie in the Sky Studios”
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 John Michailidis. Memories of shopping at Ron’s Smoke Shop, watching movies at Donlands Theatre and other Donlands commercial area, East York Mirror, 2015-10-15.
5. ↑ Donlands Theatre. Pie in the sky labs.
6. ↑ Doug Taylor. Toronto’s old movie theatre—the Donlands.
7. ↑ {{cite news |url = https://www.toronto.com/news-story/5961297-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/ |title = 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 |work = [[East York Mirror] |author = John Michailidis |date = 2015-10-15 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20190810235758/https://www.toronto.com/news-story/5961297-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/ |archivedate = 2019-08-10 |accessdate = 2019-08-10 |deadurl = no |quote = Designed by Toronto architect H.G. Duerr, who also designed the Creeds Storage Vaults on Davenport Road in Toronto, the theatre opened in late 1948. The large letters B&F on the marque stood for the Toronto-based theatre chain Bloom and Fine, which operated theatres from the 1920s to the 1970s. }}
8. ↑ Brian Mckillop. Pierre Berton: A Biography, McClelland & Stewart, p. 232. Retrieved on 2019-08-10.