Standard Theatre

The Standard Theatre is a three-story Art Deco building featuring buff brick walls, ornamental stone details, and a dentiled cornice at the corner of Spadina and Dundas avenues. The upper floors retain their theatrical character while ground-level retail, including a pharmacy, now occupies the street-facing spaces.

Built in 1921 as North America's first dedicated Yiddish language theatre, the building marked a turning point for Jewish cultural life in the region. It later became the Victory Theatre and Victory Burlesque before closing that chapter in 1975.

The venue served as a gathering place for Toronto's Jewish community, hosting performances in Yiddish and welcoming touring companies from New York. It became a space where people gathered not just for entertainment but also for political discussions and community events that shaped their collective experience.

The building sits at 287 Spadina Avenue at the intersection with Dundas Street West, making it easy to locate and access from surrounding streets. The location is well-integrated into the neighborhood with other businesses and services nearby.

The building received its heritage designation in 2007, officially recognizing its significance as Canada's first purpose-built Yiddish language theatre venue. This recognition honors an often-overlooked chapter in North American theatrical history.