Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series
Alterations to Loew's Theatre, 189 Yonge Street, Toronto sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
27
Series
1-1-9
Material Format
architectural drawing
Responsibility
Kaplan & Sprachman
Date
1959-1961
Physical Description
14 drawings : blueprints and blueline prints ; 79 x 121 and 73 x 103 cm
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-series includes orchestra, mezzanine and balcony floor plans, longitudinal sections, reflected ceiling plan and details.
Notes
Project reference no. 59-K-25.
Title is derived from the formal titles of the drawings.
Name Access
Elgin Theatre (Toronto)
Accession Number
2003-6-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series
Level
Sub-series
ID
Fonds 27; Series 1-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series
Level
Sub-series
Fonds
27
Series
1-1
Material Format
architectural drawing
textual record
Date
1913-1959
Physical Description
57 drawings : pencil on tracing paper, blueprints and other reproductions ; 72 x 114 cm or smaller
1 cm of textual records
Admin History/Bio
Built in 1913, Loew's Yonge Street Theatre and Winter Garden Theatre complex was the flagship of Marcus Loew's Canadian theatre chain. The theatres were designed by Thomas Lamb as a "double-decker" theatre, with the Winter Garden located seven-stories above the street-level Yonge Street Theatre. This was the only double-decker theatre built in Canada and one of less than a dozen built internationally. The design was considered economical in that it provided a greater amount of seating on a given piece of real estate while allowing the theatre operator to present the same daily show in two theatres. The shows included both vaudeville acts and silent movies.
In 1928, there was a major fire on the site and the Winter Garden Theatre was closed due to the decline in popularity of vaudeville. By 1930, the Yonge Street Theatre was solely a movie theatre, equipped for sound movies. Over the years it gradually fell into disrepair, but continued as a movie theatre until 1981. It was renamed the Elgin Theatre in 1978.
In 1981, the Elgin and Winter Garden were purchased by the Ontario Heritage Foundation, and in 1987 the foundation began a two and half year, $30 million restoration of the theatres. The theatres re-opened in Dec. 1989 exclusively for theatrical productions.
Scope and Content
Sub-series consists of seating plans, blueprints of structural details, and floor plans, sections and elevations for successive alterations (to the entrance, lobby, basement, etc.) of the theatre. The sub-series includes a copy of a city building permit dating from 1934 for renovations carried out by Loew's Theatres Engineering Division. Some of the blueprints date from the original construction of the theatre in 1913.
The sub-series is organized into 9 sub-sub-series, corresponding to project dates of 1913, 1919, 1934, 1939, 1949 (two projects), 1952, 1957 and 1959. The earliest materials, such as those from 1913 and 1919, were not created by Kaplan & Sprachman, but were no doubt used as reference materials for their work at the theatre.
Please note that the blueprints of structural details such as columns and roof reinforcing beams may apply to the theatre complex as a whole, including the Winter Garden Theatre.
Notes
Title is derived from the formal titles of the drawings.
Name Access
Lamb, Thomas
Elgin Theatre (Toronto)
Winter Garden Theatre (Toronto)
Subjects
Theaters
Physical Condition
Some drawings are torn & damaged.
Some are discoloured or damaged by deteriorating pressure-sensitive tape.
Places
Yonge Street (Toronto, Ont.)
Accession Number
2003-6-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series
Alterations to inner lobby, 189 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ont., for Marcus Loew's Inc. sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
27
Series
1-1-7
Material Format
architectural drawing
Responsibility
Kaplan & Sprachman
Date
1952
Physical Description
3 drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 62 x 129 cm
Scope and Content
Drawings of details of the doorways to the theatre.
Notes
Project reference no. 52-K-36.
Name Access
Elgin Theatre (Toronto)
Physical Condition
Some damage to edges of the drawings.
Accession Number
2003-6-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series
Second exit from second floor of Loew's Theatre, 189 Yonge Street sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
27
Series
1-1-8
Material Format
architectural drawing
Date
1957
Physical Description
3 drawings : pencil (1 on tracing paper) ; 59 x 89 cm or smaller
Scope and Content
1 floor plan of 1st and 2nd floors of theatre and 2 rough sketches with annotations.
Notes
Project reference no 57-K-10.
Title is taken from the formal title of one of the drawings.
Name Access
Elgin Theatre (Toronto)
Accession Number
2003-6-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series
Proposed alterations to store basement, 191 Yonge Street, Toronto, adjoining Loew's Theatre sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
27
Series
1-1-5
Material Format
architectural drawing
Responsibility
Kaplan & Sprachman
Date
1949
Physical Description
3 drawings : pencil on tracing paper ; 52 x 91 cm and 41 x 81 cm
Notes
Project reference no. 49-K-41.
Name Access
Elgin Theatre (Toronto)
Accession Number
2003-6-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) sub-series
Loew's Theatre, Toronto : [floor plan of street-level entrance and lobby] sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
27
Series
1-1-4
Material Format
architectural drawing
Responsibility
Kaplan & Sprachman
Date
1939
Physical Description
1 drawing : pencil on tracing paper ; 46 x 106 cm
Notes
Title is derived from the formal titles of the drawings.
Project reference no. AU 1754.
Name Access
Elgin Theatre (Toronto)
Accession Number
2003-6-1
Source
Archival Descriptions
Part Of
Harold S. Kaplan fonds
Architectural projects series
Loew's Theatre (189 Yonge St., Toronto) architectural plans and drawings sub-series
Alterations to lobby and new opening to main theatre mezzanine sub-sub-series
Level
Sub-sub-series
Fonds
27
Series
1-1-3
Material Format
architectural drawing
textual record
Date
1934
Physical Description
7 drawings : blueprints ; 71 x 84 cm and 38 x 81 cm
11 p
Scope and Content
Sub-sub-series consists of blueprints and building permits for alterations made for a new store in the lobby area at street level on Yonge Street. The building permit contains a detailed description of the work to be done. Includes a seating plan for the theatre.
Notes
Title is derived from the project description in the building permit.
Name Access
Elgin Theatre (Toronto)
Physical Condition
1 drawing, of theatre seating plan, is torn and in poor condition.
Accession Number
2003-6-1
Source
Archival Descriptions