This talk illustrates the history of cinema in Toronto, and some of the old movie houses that were popular across the city.
The first short movies appeared in a basement in downtown Toronto in the 1890s. Since then, Toronto has been dubbed “Hollywood North” and is a mecca for fans of the silver screen. We’ll follow the history of silent movie greats like Mary Pickford and Rudolph Valentino, and then meet stars like Al Jolson, who made the world’s first talking movies.
This talk also includes an inventory some of the late great neighbourhood cinemas of days gone by, and takes a look back at the gritty Yonge Street Strip through the 1960s and 1970s.
If you like this subject, you might also like the presentation on “Toronto’s Music & Entertainment History”.