It was built in the 1920s as a Vaudeville house and was converted into a movie theatre in 1969. It was huge. It was successful. It was the last of my three favourite movie theatres to close. It was the Uptown. Not only has it been demolished, it refused to go quietly, taking at least one life with it and possibly another still lost in the rubble. When Warren and I passed it on Tuesday, the demolition had only just begun, there was a great big hole in the backstage area to the rear. It looked weird; not like any demolition I'd ever seen. Today, something went horribly awry when one wall collapsed into a neighbouring building.

The fact that the Uptown was allowed to be destroyed is horrible. It was an historic Toronto landmark. Everyone used it's huge verticle sign as a marker for directions. It was a grand theatre. Its loss is a great shame. Yet another showing of Toronto's typical idea of historic preservation.

"The Uptown, built by Loews in 1922, and subsequently taken over by Famous Players, was the first Toronto movie house equipped for sound. Although the main entrance was on Yonge Street, the bulk of the theatre faced on the less expensive back stree, Balmuto, where there was a unique backdoor entrance." -- The "Nabes" by John Sebert

The last time I was there was for Pirates of the Caribbean with Nick back in July. I called it my almost favourite theatre. My all-time favourite, the Eglinton, was also closed by Famous Players and is now a rental theatre. At least that one was saved from demolition.

Read about it here.