Metro Theatre, Art Deco movie theater on Bloor Street, Toronto, Canada
Metro Theatre is an Art Deco movie house located on Bloor Street in Toronto. The building contains two screening rooms with a combined seating capacity of about 600 and displays the typical design features found in cinemas from the 1930s.
Architects Kaplan and Sprachman designed this cinema in 1938 when Toronto was experiencing rapid expansion of movie houses. The building opened in 1939 and went through several major changes in its programming before closing in 2013.
The theater served as a gathering place where the neighborhood's entertainment tastes evolved and shifted noticeably over time. Visitors could observe how the types of films shown adapted to reflect what audiences in the area wanted to see.
The building no longer operates as a cinema since closing in 2013 and has been converted to other commercial uses. Visitors can view the Art Deco exterior and architectural details from the street and get a sense of how movie theaters looked during that era.
The theater served as a backdrop for music videos and independent films shot by artists who wanted to capture the 1930s aesthetic. Its entrance hall with decorative elements made it an appealing location for filmmakers during its later years.
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