Shea's Hippodrome

Shea's Hippodrome was a major early twentieth-century entertainment venue in downtown Toronto, Ontario. Built by brothers Jerry Shea and Michael Shea, it opened in 1914 at the southwest corner of Albert and Teraulay streets, directly across from Toronto's then-city hall and on the site that later became part of Nathan Phillips Square. At its opening, the theatre was described as the largest movie palace in Canada and one of the largest vaudeville theatres in the world. The venue combined several forms of popular entertainment that were central to urban leisure in the period before television: live vaudeville, orchestral accompaniment, organ performance, and motion pictures. Its grand Renaissance-style architecture featured arched, electrically illuminated ceilings, twelve opera boxes, a full-size orchestra pit, and an allegorical painting by George Brant. The building also contained a coin-operated candy dispenser, an example of the novelty features used to enhance the experience of visiting a large entertainment palace. The Shea family had already established a presence in Toronto entertainment before constructing the Hippodrome. In 1899, Jerry and Michael Shea took over the former Robinson's Musee Theatre, also known as the Bijou, and operated it as Shea's Yonge Street, a venue also associated with the name Strand. They later built Shea's Victoria nearby. The Hippodrome represented a much larger expression of their theatre business and reflected the growing importance of purpose-built cinemas and vaudeville houses in Canadian cities. For much of its life, the Hippodrome operated on the Family Time and later Super Time vaudeville circuits. It hosted prominent performers from the international vaudeville industry while also developing as a film venue. Before the installation of a Wurlitzer organ in 1926, the theatre used an Orchestron machine, a punch-tape-controlled instrument that functioned as an early automated musical accompaniment system. Organists associated with the venue included Kathleen Stokes, Colin Corbett, Quentin Maclean, and Al Bollington. Film gradually became more important as vaudeville declined. In 1924, the theatre presented The Studio Murder Mystery, its first phonofilm, marking its transition into the era of non-silent movies and synchronized sound. Although talking pictures were initially viewed as a novelty, they eventually became the principal commercial support for the theatre as vaudeville revenues weakened. The Hippodrome screened major popular films, including The Ten Commandments and several Elvis Presley vehicles. Abbott and Costello's Buck Privates had a particularly notable run, playing for fourteen weeks in 1941. The theatre was operated by Famous Players and was managed for decades by Leonard N. Bishop. It remained one of the last major North American vaudeville theatres to continue operating after the Second World War, but its location became strategically important to Toronto's civic redevelopment plans. The City of Toronto approved the purchase of the site in 1947 as part of a plan to clear the block for a new civic centre. Shea's Hippodrome received formal notice to close in 1956 and ended operations shortly after Christmas that year. The building was demolished in 1957. Its replacement civic complex, including the new Toronto City Hall project, was not completed until 1965. The Wurlitzer organ was removed and sold to Maple Leaf Gardens; it was subsequently sold again to Casa Loma. Shea's Hippodrome therefore survives primarily through historical accounts of Toronto theatre, cinema, vaudeville, and the city's transformation of its downtown civic core.

Shea's Hippodrome developed out of the Shea brothers' earlier involvement in Toronto's theatre business. Jerry Shea and Michael Shea first took over the Robinson's Musee Theatre, also known as the Bijou, in 1899. They operated the venue under the name Shea's Yonge Street, with the alternative name Strand also associated with it, and later constructed Shea's Victoria nearby. These ventures gave the brothers experience in managing the rapidly expanding market for popular urban entertainment. In 1914, the brothers opened Shea's Hippodrome at the southwest corner of Albert and Teraulay streets in central Toronto. The site stood directly across from Toronto's former city hall, in an area that was later incorporated into Nathan Phillips Square. The new theatre was built in the Renaissance style and was conceived on a scale intended to compete with the grand movie palaces and vaudeville houses emerging in major North American cities. Although the name hippodrome historically referred to a large circular Greek performance structure, the Toronto building was not circular. The term was nevertheless used at the time for imposing theatres. The building's design and equipment supported both stage and screen entertainment. It contained twelve opera boxes, a full orchestra pit, and arched ceilings equipped with electric illumination. An allegorical painting by George Brant contributed to the decorative programme. A coin-operated candy dispenser added a novelty attraction for patrons. The Hippodrome also offered mechanical and live musical accompaniment. Before its Wurlitzer organ was installed in 1926, the theatre used an Orchestron, a punch-tape-operated machine that anticipated later automated and electronic music systems. Organists connected with the venue included Kathleen Stokes, Colin Corbett, Quentin Maclean, and Al Bollington. Vaudeville was central to the Hippodrome's identity. The theatre appeared on the Family Time and later Super Time circuits and presented performers from the international vaudeville industry. Its large capacity and elaborate facilities made it an important stop for touring acts. The venue also participated in the transition from live variety entertainment to cinema. In 1924, it presented The Studio Murder Mystery as its first phonofilm. The arrival of synchronized sound initially appeared to be a novelty, but talking pictures soon became increasingly important as vaudeville revenues declined. During its film era, the Hippodrome showed major popular releases, including The Ten Commandments and a number of films featuring Elvis Presley. Buck Privates, the Abbott and Costello comedy, played for a record fourteen weeks in 1941. By the later period, the theatre was being used as a first-run film house under Famous Players, the company that operated it. Leonard N. Bishop managed the theatre for decades, providing continuity through the shift from vaudeville-led programming to cinema-led operations. The Hippodrome was unusual in surviving as a major vaudeville venue into the postwar period. It was among the last remaining North American vaudeville theatres still operating after the Second World War. However, the theatre's prominent downtown location became part of Toronto's civic-centre plans. The city approved purchase of the site in 1947, with the whole block scheduled for redevelopment. Shea's Hippodrome received notice to close in 1956 and ceased operations just after Christmas that year. The building was demolished in 1957. Its Wurlitzer organ was sold to Maple Leaf Gardens and later transferred to Casa Loma, preserving part of the theatre's musical legacy in another Toronto setting. Toronto's replacement civic centre was not completed until 1965. Shea's Hippodrome is consequently remembered as both an important entertainment institution and a casualty of postwar urban redevelopment. Its history illustrates the evolution of Toronto's commercial culture from vaudeville and silent-era accompaniment to synchronized sound, first-run cinema, and modern civic planning.

• 1957

  Building demolished

  [1]Shea's Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The former theatre was demolished to make way for Toronto's new city hall project.

• 1956

  The theatre closes

  [1]Shea's Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  After receiving closure notice, Shea's Hippodrome ended operations shortly after Christmas.

• 1947

  City purchase of the site is approved

  [1]Shea's Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Toronto approved acquisition of the block for a planned civic-centre redevelopment.

• 1941

  Buck Privates achieves a record engagement

  [1]Shea's Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The Abbott and Costello film played for fourteen weeks, one of the venue's notable film runs.

• 1926

  Wurlitzer organ installed

  [1]Shea's Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  A Wurlitzer organ replaced the earlier Orchestron machine used for musical accompaniment.

• 1924

  First phonofilm presentation

  [1]Shea's Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The Studio Murder Mystery became the venue's first non-silent film presentation.

• 1914

  Shea's Hippodrome opens

  [1]Shea's Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  The brothers opened the large Renaissance-style theatre in downtown Toronto, creating what was described as Canada's largest movie palace at the time.

• 1899

  Shea brothers enter a larger Toronto theatre venture

  [1]Shea's Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org

  Jerry and Michael Shea took over the former Robinson's Musee Theatre, also known as the Bijou, and operated it as Shea's Yonge Street or the Strand.

A grand urban entertainment palace combining international vaudeville with film exhibition and live musical accompaniment.

• Live entertainment · 1914

  Vaudeville programmes

  Vaudeville was the Hippodrome's defining early offering. The theatre participated in the Family Time and later Super Time circuits, presenting touring variety acts in a large purpose-built auditorium. Its scale, orchestra pit, opera boxes, and backstage-oriented facilities enabled it to host major performers and multi-act bills. Vaudeville remained important even as film exhibition expanded, making the Hippodrome one of the prominent Toronto venues in the city's early twentieth-century live-entertainment network.

• Cinema · 1914

  Motion-picture exhibition

  The Hippodrome screened silent films, phonofilms, talking pictures, and later first-run commercial releases. Its programming included The Ten Commandments, films starring Elvis Presley, and Abbott and Costello's Buck Privates. As synchronized sound improved and vaudeville declined, feature-film exhibition became the venue's principal source of business. Under Famous Players, the theatre ultimately functioned as a first-run film house before its closure.

• Musical accompaniment · 1926

  Wurlitzer organ performances

  Installed in 1926, the Wurlitzer organ supplied musical accompaniment for films and theatrical programmes and became one of the theatre's best-known technical features. It followed the earlier Orchestron machine, a punch-tape-controlled device used before the organ was installed. After the Hippodrome closed, the Wurlitzer was sold to Maple Leaf Gardens and later to Casa Loma.

• Sound film · 1924

  Phonofilm presentations

  The venue entered the sound-film era in 1924 with The Studio Murder Mystery, identified as its first phonofilm. This presentation marked a transition from silent-film accompaniment and live variety programming toward synchronized motion pictures, which later became central to the theatre's business.

• 1956

  Close the HippodromeOther

  Background

  The theatre's site had been acquired for Toronto's civic-centre redevelopment.

  Action taken

  The venue closed shortly after Christmas following formal notice to cease operations.

  Aftermath

  The building was demolished the following year, while its Wurlitzer organ was transferred first to Maple Leaf Gardens and later to Casa Loma.

  Source

• 1947

  Toronto approves acquisition of the theatre siteOther

  Background

  The city planned to redevelop the entire block as part of a new civic centre.

  Action taken

  Toronto approved purchase of the property, placing the theatre within the planned redevelopment area.

  Aftermath

  The Hippodrome later received notice to close, ceased operations in 1956, and was demolished in 1957.

  Source

• 1926

  Install a Wurlitzer organProduct launch

  Background

  The theatre had previously relied on an Orchestron machine and live musical support for its programmes.

  Action taken

  Shea's Hippodrome installed a Wurlitzer organ for film and theatrical accompaniment.

  Aftermath

  The organ became a notable part of the venue's identity and was later relocated to Maple Leaf Gardens and Casa Loma after the theatre closed.

  Source

1. 1Shea's Hippodromeen.wikipedia.org