On Mt Pleasant Road, just north of Davisville Ave. is the Regent Theatre.  It is a rather nondescript brick building with an ugly white piece of something across the front.  Sometimes the names of the movies that are showing appear on the south side of that white thing (on the side you can’t see in the photo!).

The front of the Regent theatre, a two storey red brick building with a large ugly blank white sign across the bottom of the upper storey.

The Regent theatre today.

It was built in 1920 as the Belsize Theatre.  As you can see, the front of the building hasn’t changed much after almost 90 years.

old black and white photo of a stretch of Mt. Pleasant showing some stores and the Belsize Theatre.

Even back then the hydro poles and wires were an eyesore!

A mid life name change and it became the Crest Theatre.

old photo of the Crest Theatre from the late 60's or early 70's.

Crest Theatre – The movie ‘The 7 Year Itch’ came out in 1955.  I have been corrected (see comments below).  Between 1954 and 1966 the Crest Theatre was not a movie house, but was devoted almost exclusively to live theatre.  The “now playing” refers to the theatre production of ‘The 7 Year Itch’ which pre-dated the movie.  The original stage play was by George Axelrod (1962) and was presented live at the Crest in December of 1963.  Their production starred Toby Tarnow and Douglas Rain.  (with thanks to David Rain for the correction and added information).

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Comments
  1. David Rain says:

    Fascinating photos. Small correction: the “Seven Year Itch” on the Crest Theatre marquee refers not to the 1955 film, but rather to the original 1952 stage play by George Axelrod, which was presented live at the Crest in December 1963, starring Douglas Rain and Toby Tarnow. From 1954 to 1966 the Crest Theatre was devoted almost exclusively to live theatre.

  2. David Rain says:

    Thanks, the 1954-1966 Crest Theatre story is a remarkable one and an important part of Canadian social history…

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