Ever wonder what it’s like to step into a time capsule of theatrical history? The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres await us. They stand as a testament to a bygone era of entertainment. These stacked theatres whisper tales of vaudeville, silent films, and a whole lot of ghostly happenings.
Originally, the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres were Marcus Loew’s flagship Canadian theatres. That was back in 1913. Loew envisioned a grand entertainment complex. Thomas W. Lamb, the architect, delivered a masterpiece. He also designed the Ed Mirvish Theatre nearby.
The Elgin Theatre was known as Loew’s Yonge Street Theatre. It was the opulent, accessible venue. Imagine a gold-and-marble palace showing continuous vaudeville acts and silent movies. It catered to the general public. Above it all sat the Winter Garden. This was an escape to a fantastical realm. It was designed as an atmospheric country garden under the stars. Murals of plants and garden trellises adorned the walls. Tree trunk columns and lantern lights completed the illusion.
The Winter Garden targeted affluent patrons. They paid premium prices for reserved seats. It served as a testing ground for new acts. This setup allowed for experimentation without jeopardizing the lower theatre’s success.
However, by 1928, silent films faded away. Sound films grew in popularity. The Elgin adapted and converted to sound. The Winter Garden closed its doors. For nearly sixty years, it remained untouched. It was a time capsule. A vast collection of vaudeville scenery and flats lay dormant inside. This became the world’s largest surviving collection.
In 1969, Loews sold the Elgin to Famous Players. By the 1970s, it screened B-movies and adult films. A far cry from its glory days. In 1981, the Ontario Heritage Foundation stepped in. They bought the Elgin. The Elgin closed as a movie theatre on November 15, 1981.
From 1985 to 1987, “Cats” took the stage. The musical proved the theatre’s potential. A full restoration followed. The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres reopened in 1989.
Did you know the Elgin Theatre hosted Late Night with Conan O’Brien? In 2004, Conan taped four episodes here. Toronto paid NBC to bring the show to town. It boosted tourism after the SARS epidemic. Many Canadian talents appeared on the show.
The theatres have also appeared in several films. “The Shape of Water” and Sofia Coppola’s “Priscilla” featured the Winter Garden. Rush’s 1981 live album “Exit…Stage Left” used photos shot at the Winter Garden.
But the history doesn’t end there. The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres are said to be haunted. A lavender-scented ghost roams the Winter Garden. She is believed to be a woman stabbed in the washroom. A man in a brown suit appears during rehearsals. A worker named Stan haunts the stairs. He fell to his death during the restoration.
Today, the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres stand as a beautifully restored testament to Toronto’s rich cultural history. They are the last surviving Edwardian stacked theatres in the world. From vaudeville to film to ghostly encounters, these theatres continue to captivate audiences.