GC589JE (OCH) The Walkerville-Tivoli Theatre (Traditional Cache) in Ontario, Canada created by RayQix

GC589JE ▼

A cache by RayQix Message this owner

Hidden : 11/28/2014

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Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

The Ontario Cinema History (OCH) caches are dedicated to the local creation,
viewing, or enjoyment of cinema-related items in the local area.

This can include, and is not limited to, people, places, and things
relating to Cinema or both past-and-present.

This series is a companion to
the Detroit Cinema History (DCH) and
the Michigan Cinema History (MCH) series.

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Ontario Cinema History:
The Walkerville/Tivoli Theatre
(Walkerville from 1920-1930; Tivoli from 1930-1964)
1564 Wyandotte St E, Windsor, ON N9A 3L3
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

OPENED: 1920 | CLOSED: 1965 (originally) | SEATS: 1205

Special thanks to Chatsie40 for the idea on this hide
and her original one that was nearby

1920 view of the Walkerville Theatre

The Walkerville Theatre is a showpiece from a time when movie theatres were a place to visit not only for the film that was showing, but to enjoy the ambiance of the theatre itself.

Area of Windsor that was once Walkerville

It resides in an area that is now a neighbourhood in the vast city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. However, many people do not know that at one time, Walkerville was it's own entity, with it's own cityscape and population. Nowadays, it is a "Heritage Precint" of the greater City of Windsor.

1920 view of the Walkerville / Tivoli with
"The Daughter Pays" listed on the Marquee
(from "Michigan Architecht and Engineer" magazine)

Walkerville, Ontario was incorporated in the year 1890 and was founded by Hiram Walker, owner and producer of Canadian Club Whiskey. Walker planned it as a 'model town’ and his hope is that it would be the envy of both the region and the continent. Originally, it was named "Walkers Town" with this hope and dream alive and well with the fledgling metropolitan area.

Hiram Walker
(July 4, 1816 – January 12, 1899)

Hiram Walker established a distillery on the Detroit River, later diversifying the business by growing grain, milling flour, and raising cattle and hogs. Later, the town supported other major industries, the most notably being automotive supplies and manufacturing, much like it's neighbor to the north, Detroit, Michigan, USA.

For his workforce at the company, Walker established homes, a school, and a Methodist church in 1870. It would later be converted into an Anglican church in 1874, and renamed St. Mary’s, in honour of Walker’s late wife, Mary.

St. Mary's Anglican Church (recent)

The town, which developed outwards from the distillery, included buildings designed by Albert Kahn, with one of the most noted being Willistead Manor which was the home of Walker's second son, Edward Chandler Walker. Upon Walkerville’s eventual amalgamation with Windsor, the Manor became heritage-protected property of the city, being used as an art gallery and, currently, a public-function venue.

1927 view of the mezzanine

The neighbourhood is characterized by large homes, wide streets and abundant greenery. A three-story high school, carrying the name 'Walkerville', stands next to Willistead Manor. Other structures include former Prime Minister Paul Martin’s home, Khan-designed houses, the distillery (now belonging to Wiser’s) and the Via Rail station (which has since gone through some remodeling of it's own).

Divided into three sub-precincts, Walkerville was an mix of business, commercial, and residential land use, at times all nestled together. This cohesive character gave the community its uniqueness as compared to surrounding cities. Hiram Walker acted as self-appointed overseer of everything, including the police, fire and church facilities.

The Tivoli (Walkerville) Theatre - 1945

The Tivoli Theatre (also known as the Olde Walkerville Theatre), is of late 1910's-early 1920s art-deco design by C. Howard Crane (who also designed the Fox Theater in Detroit, Michigan) and included a large performance stage, ornate fixtures, balconies, and grating-lattice decor. All these features hint at the community's grandeur and architectural details from those days of the early 20th century.

As the area flourished, the need for local entertainment (versus going to "The City" in Downtown Windsor) became apparent with the ever-increasing population of the town. A theatre was something that the city leadership thought would be a good fit, and they were right. The design was commissioned with C. Howard Crane, a noted Detroit/Windsor area architect who was later known for designing many of the grand moviehouses on both sides of the Detroit River.

The Auditorium (1945)

Crane completed the design of the Walkerville in 1918 and construction was completed in 1920 with a Grand Opening that was heralded as one of the best around at the time.

When it was built, the Walkerville actually sat on the border between Walkerville and Windsor, and early theatre goers could choose to watch the shows from either Windsor or Walkerville as the town border ran right down the middle of the theatre!

The Auditorium (recent)

Also, during the early times of the theatre being here, it was illegal to show movies on Sunday. The theatre kept busy every day of the week by offering both silent movies and vaudeville acts, guaranteeing it an audience every day of the week and ensuring the success of the business. A few short years after it opened, it would be renamed the Tivoli and also receive an update to the Art-Deco style facade that graced the building. It would remain the Tivoli for a few decades after this change.

During the 1930's, it was advertised as having "the best sound around" for a moviehouse and the patrons agreed. One of the first big movies "David Copperfield" played there and the soundtrack to the film was just incredible for it's time.

The foyer of the Tivoli Theatre - 1945

When the 1940's came along, tickets were ten-cents each and patrons could purchase many confectionaries and snacks to go-along with their motion-picture entertainment such as Necco-Wafers, Hershey bars, Raisinettes and Sno-caps. This was, of course, to go along with the standard popcorn and soda-pop that most movie-houses had.

The Tivoli also began hosting the Windsor Symphony Orchestra beginning in 1949. Giving it the live performances that it had once had when it first opened.

With the film-audiences back in the 1950's, folks could go to the theatre on a Saturday for the two features and some candy for only a quarter. Roy Rogers was King of the Cowboys and would have films paired-up with offerings from other stars such as the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Westerns were one of the favourites for the many movie-goers back then and the popularity of these films helped to build the success of most local movie theatres such as this one. There were also the “Coming Attractions” bi-fold flyers that were printed in a different color every week for the movies that were on their way to the theatre.

Night view of the Walkerville/Tivoli in its heyday.

Towards the end of the 1950's, something new in the Entertainment realm appeared. Television would take the place of much of a family's entertainment needs and the movie theatres of the time felt the impact almost immediately. Audiences would stay home and watch this smaller, less sophisticated "box" in the comfort of their own homes instead of traveling elsewhere, mainly because of the novelty and the convenience, especially during inclement weather when folks just didn't want to travel anywhere....and yet still be entertained.

In 1958, the WSO would later move to downtown Windsor to another location, the Capitol Theatre. That move only lasted two years and the WSO would later move to the Chrysler Theatre in October of 1961.

Sept 19, 1921 Newspaper ad for the Walkerville Theatre

Live theatre made a short-lived comeback in 1959 when the Windsor Light Opera Association staged a musical production and briefly considered buying the acoustically exquisite building for its permanent home, however the options to do this far outweighed the costs involved in moving the Opera here.

The Tivoli was instead converted back into a movie house and was known as "The Tiv" until closing in 1965. In later years, the building was converted into a bingo hall and then as a community music/dance studio.

The north side of Wyandotte Street looking east from Gladstone (1940's)

Times changed and eventually the use of the building would evolve again and in 2000 it became a nightclub that was given the name "Life". This brought more folks to the area and the other businesses in the area flourished along with the nightclub.

This evolution was short-lived and the nightclub would close in 2004. From that time until recently, the building remained empty, awaiting it's next incarnation of entertainment life for the community and its residents. Some folks passed-by the aging facade, not taking a second-look at what was there or even apparently caring about what had been a major area attraction for so many people.

Recent view of the Walkerville Theatre (front)

A few short years later, activity began once again inside the building that had so much history attached to it. It began by getting a facelift once again both inside and out and soon was transformed into the jewel that it's designer originally envisioned that it would be, so many years ago.

Recent view of the stage area of the theatre

The owner of a neighbouring business recently purchased and took possession of the theatre and the facility has since undergone even more renovations with plans to hold neighbourhood events, fundraisers, mystery dinner theatre, a televised town hall and much much more.

Close-up of one of the exits.
Note the ornate and colourful details surrounding the doorways.

For what was once a building that many area residents barely gave a second glance to, into something that will be a staple of the community once again. It's nice to see this piece of history saved for future generations to enjoy.

Recent view of the seating area balcony

Not only has the building been in the process of being restored to its former grandeur, it was given it's original name back and is now known as the "Olde Walkerville Theatre" with a revival of it being a performing arts venue including much of the state-of-the-art things that make theatres an attraction to patrons of the 21st century.

Close-up of one of the chandeliers

What's been done so far to save and revive the Walkerville Theatre is truly amazing indeed and should prove that unlike many of these historic venues that have since been demolished and forgotten, this piece of Ontario Cinema History is a local gem for many future generations to enjoy.