The University Theatre in Toronto opened on Friday, March 25, 1949, in a building that took two years to construct.

It closed briefly in 1959 to reconfigure for showing 70mm film.

The theatre closed in 1986 and largely demolished. Only the curving façade remains, now fronting a retail store and condominium tower.

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University Theatre, Toronto, exterior, 1948
Theatre photographs
Reference Code: RG 56-11-0-323-13
Archives of Ontario, I0012609

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University Theatre, Toronto, lobby, 1948
Theatre photographs
Reference Code: RG 56-11-0-323-14
Archives of Ontario, I0012610

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University Theatre, Toronto, front of auditorium, 1948
Theatre photographs
Reference Code: RG 56-11-0-323-11
Archives of Ontario, I0012608

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University Theatre, Toronto, lounge, 1948
Theatre photographs
Reference Code: RG 56-11-0-323-6
Archives of Ontario, I0012606

In 1963, the theatre had a policy allowing smoking in the loges or box seats only, charging extra for the privilege of a loge seat. Patrons persisted in smoking in the balcony, however.

The folks paying extra for the loges had no complaints, although a patron in the balcony complained to the branch that every sixth person was smoking!

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University Theatre, Toronto, rear of auditorium, 1948
Theatre photographs
Reference Code: RG 56-11-0-323-10
Archives of Ontario, I0012607

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