Inside the 1964 Renovation of the Academy Theatre
In 1953, the owner of the Academy Theatre faced hard competition with the new Century Cinemas down the street. Suddenly no one wanted to watch live theatre anymore. Interest dwindled, and by 1963, the Academy Theatre was put up for sale.
After years of neglect, the building needed a lot of repairs.
The outside wasn’t looking so good.
Photo by Alan Capon.
The inside was worse.
The Academy was headed for demolition.
Photo by Alan Capon.
Fundraising efforts began with big names getting involved in the campaign to save the theatre, from the Premier Leslie Frost to the Tommy Hunter Show with local doctors, lawyers and judges all pitching in to raise $100,000. By the summer of 1964, the theatre reopened with Tommy Hunter as the first performance with many more over the next several year. That summer also marked the return of the Kawartha Summer Theatre.
Ownership of the theatre was handed over to the Academy Theatre Foundation for a ceremonial $1 and fundraising efforts focused on building a foundation that could pay for a manager. Under the leadership of Dennis Sweeting, the theatre flourished over the next few decades.
Photo by Alan Capon.
Photo by Alan Capon.
Photo by Alan Capon.
Photo by Alan Capon.
Photo by Alan Capon.
Photo by Alan Capon. 1967. The facade has remained relatively the same since.
In 1965, Leslie Frost told the Post, “The Academy Theatre project is one of the most remarkable projects of its kind in Canada today. It would be impossible to build a theatre such as the Academy for less than three-quarters of a million dollars today, yet Dr. Service and his committee have purchased, renovated, and opened the theatre for a little over $100,000.”
Frost further pointed out that in connection with the maintenance, the Foundation had been very successful, but it must be remembered that cultural and educational centres such as this really require subsidization, either from endowment funds or from government agencies, or from individuals.
The Academy Theatre Foundation continues to support the theatre today.
