The Revue Cinema

The cinema now known as the Revue was constructed by May 1912 for the Suburban Amusement Company Ltd. and renamed the Revue Theatre by 1917. This is according to the City of Toronto’s tax assessment rolls.

At that time, much of the Parkdale/High Park area was in its early stages of development. John Wright built the very oldest house in the neighbourhood on Wright Avenue in the 1870s.

Though the Revue has remained at its present location since it was built, its original address was 320 Roncesvalles Avenue. The City subsequently renumbered properties on the street and the Revue became listed as 400 Roncesvalles.

From its inception until June 2006, the Revue never closed its doors, making it one of the oldest continuously running movie theatres in the country.

The building’s design is an example of a World War One era theatre with features of Edwardian Classicism. The style developed after 1900 and represented a return to restrained Classical detailing that was popular for all building types during the subsequent decades.

The Revue Theatre is a landmark on Roncesvalles Avenue. Roncesvalles was a major artery that developed between the communities of Parkdale and Brockton. It attracted both commercial and institutional buildings, including the High Park Library built in 1916 at 228 Roncesvalles; the Church of St. Vincent De Paul built between 1915 and 1924 at 263 Roncesvalles; and the S. S. Kresges Store built in 1936 at 179 Roncesvalles. These are all recognized on the City of Toronto Inventory of Heritage Properties.

© 2007 Revue Film Society