RELATIVE IMPORTANCE: No performing arts facility in Toronto’s history quite equals that of the Grand Opera House.

REFERENCE SOURCES: Miles’ Atlas 1878 Goad’s Atlas 1884, 1890, 1900, 1910 Joan Parkhill Baillie, Look at the Record, 1985 Fred McClement, The Strange Case of Ambrose Small, 1974 Community History Project collections. In 1927, eight years after Small’s disappearance, the opera house was demolished. The Grand Opera House also demonstrated clearly that home grown impresarios had what it takes to reach the highest success.

The Small affair has overshadowed the brilliant history of the performing arts in the opera house, which brought the best in the world to Toronto and gave local talent many opportunities to shine. The case was never solved and remains a mystery today. At the end of her life, his wife confessed to murdering him and burning half of his dismembered body in the furnace of the opera house and disposing of the other half in the Rosedale Ravine. Small was in the process of closing a sale of his theatrical assets to a syndicate, Trans Canada Theatres Ltd., when he vanished without a trace. But it was mainly, and sadly, Ambrose Small for whom the opera house is remembered. Sheppard was a later manager, and moved on to manage the Princess. Charlotte Morrison owned and managed the opera house, and gave it a brilliant record. This event was pictured in the Canadian Illustrated News issue of January 1875. The Toronto Philharmonic Society gave concerts, including Handel’s Messiah with singers from Mrs. A fire destroyed the building in 1879, but it was rebuilt in only 51 days! Maurice Barrymore (father of Lionel, John, and Ethel) appeared there, as did Ellen Terry, Sarah Bernhardt, and a host of others. It opened in September 1874 with Sheridan’s School for Scandal, then hosted a succession of international singing and stage stars. HISTORICAL DESCRIPTION: The Grand Opera House was built in 1874 to become the major venue in the city for grand opera and for important theatrical performances. Near its southwest corner were the Empire newspaper offices.ĬURRENT USE OF PROPERTY: A building housing Wood Gundy. On its west side was a lane way named Johnson’s Lane, now named Grand Opera Lane.īoundary History: Bounded by Adelaide on the north side, Johnson’s Lane on the west side, an unnamed lane on the east side, and backing onto an empty lot leading south to the Manning Arcade and the North of Scotland Chambers. Major musical and theatrical institution.ĭETAILS OF SITE LOCATION: Located at 11 Adelaide Street West, the opera house was on the south side of Adelaide between Yonge and Bay.

The grand opera house