Entertainment District, Toronto
Encyclopedia
The Toronto Entertainment District is an area in Downtown
Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. It is concentrated around King Street West between University Avenue
and Spadina Avenue
. It is home to theatres and performing arts centres, Toronto's four major-league sports teams, and an array of cultural and family attractions.
With the rise of free trade and deindustrialization
, the industries began to leave the area in the 1970s. They left behind an array of historic warehouses and factories that began to be converted to other uses. The most notable arrival to the area were nightclub
s. In 1981 the Twilight Zone, Toronto's first large dance club, opened in the area. Other clubs soon followed and by the 1990s, the area became home to one of the largest concentrations of night clubs in North America.
The railway lands to the south were also converted to other uses. The SkyDome opened in 1989, bringing thousands of sports fans to the area. The CN Tower, which opened in 1976, also brought many tourists to the neighbourhood. Along with the nightclubs many bars and restaurants opened to serve these crowds. In 1982 Roy Thomson Hall
, home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
, opened at King and Simcoe.
The Mirvish family had bought the historic Royal Alexandra Theatre
in 1968, and converted it from a movie house back into live theatre. It proved a considerable success and in 1993 they built the new 2000 seat Princess of Wales Theatre
a block over. Independent theatre also moved into the area with the Theatre Passe Muraille
taking over a former warehouse and the Factory Theatre
in a former manse. Toronto has emerged as the world's third-largest centre for English-language theatre, behind only London
(West End theatre
) and New York
(Broadway theatre
)."
The Toronto condo boom of the early 21st century began to transform the area in the early 2000s. The abandoned warehouses began to be transformed into lofts, or demolished to make way for condominium towers. The core of the Entertainment District had only 750 residents in 1996, but this had gone up to 7,500 by 2005. The crowds, noise, and occasional crime especially associated with the clubs caused conflict with the new homeowners. However, local councillor Adam Vaughan is doing his best to try to shut down this area for businesses which he has deemed 'inappropriate' or likely to attract the wrong type of crowds. Subsequently, greater restrictions on venues in the area resulted in loss of jobs; by 2011, the number of clubs had decreased substantially.
Downtown Toronto
Downtown Toronto is the central business district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is approximately bounded by Bloor Street to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don River to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west...
Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is concentrated around King Street West between University Avenue
University Avenue (Toronto)
University Avenue is a major north-south road in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. At its north end, University Avenue is the site of the Ontario Legislative Building. The eight-lane wide street is the location for several hospitals, numerous office buildings, Osgoode Hall and the Four Seasons...
and Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue
Spadina Avenue is one of the most prominent streets in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Running through the western section of downtown, the road has a very different character in different neighbourhoods....
. It is home to theatres and performing arts centres, Toronto's four major-league sports teams, and an array of cultural and family attractions.
History
In the first half of the 20th century the area original name of the neighbourhood was the Garment District and was almost wholly industrial. The railways controlled a huge amount of land along the waterfront, and to the north many firms took advantage of the easy access to rail and the harbour. The most important industry was textiles and fashion, and the area had few residents.With the rise of free trade and deindustrialization
Deindustrialization
Deindustrialization is a process of social and economic change caused by the removal or reduction of industrial capacity or activity in a country or region, especially heavy industry or manufacturing industry. It is an opposite of industrialization.- Multiple interpretations :There are multiple...
, the industries began to leave the area in the 1970s. They left behind an array of historic warehouses and factories that began to be converted to other uses. The most notable arrival to the area were nightclub
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
s. In 1981 the Twilight Zone, Toronto's first large dance club, opened in the area. Other clubs soon followed and by the 1990s, the area became home to one of the largest concentrations of night clubs in North America.
The railway lands to the south were also converted to other uses. The SkyDome opened in 1989, bringing thousands of sports fans to the area. The CN Tower, which opened in 1976, also brought many tourists to the neighbourhood. Along with the nightclubs many bars and restaurants opened to serve these crowds. In 1982 Roy Thomson Hall
Roy Thomson Hall
Roy Thomson Hall is a concert hall located at 60 Simcoe Street in Toronto, Ontario. It is the home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Opened in 1982, its circular architectural design exhibits a sloping and curvilinear glass exterior. It was designed by Canadian...
, home of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
, opened at King and Simcoe.
The Mirvish family had bought the historic Royal Alexandra Theatre
Royal Alexandra Theatre
The Royal Alexandra Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada located near King and Simcoe Streets. Built in 1907, the Royal Alex is the oldest continuously operating legitimate theatre in North America.-History:...
in 1968, and converted it from a movie house back into live theatre. It proved a considerable success and in 1993 they built the new 2000 seat Princess of Wales Theatre
Princess of Wales Theatre
The Princess of Wales Theatre is a 2000-seat theatre located at 300 King Street West in the heart of Toronto's Entertainment District in the downtown area...
a block over. Independent theatre also moved into the area with the Theatre Passe Muraille
Theatre Passe Muraille
Theatre Passe Muraille is a theatre company in Toronto, Canada.-Brief history:One of Canada's most influential alternative theatres, Theatre Passe Muraille was founded in 1968 by director and playwright Jim Garrard, who started the company out of Rochdale College.Its radical intention was create a...
taking over a former warehouse and the Factory Theatre
Factory Theatre
Factory Theatre is a theatre in Toronto, Ontario, founded as Factory Theatre Lab in 1970 by Ken Gass and Frank Trotz.Factory was the first theatre to announce that it would exclusively produce Canadian plays, but it soon became a widely emulated policy by other theatre companies...
in a former manse. Toronto has emerged as the world's third-largest centre for English-language theatre, behind only London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(West End theatre
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
) and New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
)."
The Toronto condo boom of the early 21st century began to transform the area in the early 2000s. The abandoned warehouses began to be transformed into lofts, or demolished to make way for condominium towers. The core of the Entertainment District had only 750 residents in 1996, but this had gone up to 7,500 by 2005. The crowds, noise, and occasional crime especially associated with the clubs caused conflict with the new homeowners. However, local councillor Adam Vaughan is doing his best to try to shut down this area for businesses which he has deemed 'inappropriate' or likely to attract the wrong type of crowds. Subsequently, greater restrictions on venues in the area resulted in loss of jobs; by 2011, the number of clubs had decreased substantially.