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==History== |
==History== |
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[[File:Lyceum-playbill-1849.png|thumb|150px|Listing of 1849 performance at Royal Lyceum]] |
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The two-storey brick building was constructed from 1847-1848 by John Ritchey (or Ritchie) and leased to T.P. Besnard.{{sfn|Marie|2024}} The theatre opened on December 28, 1848.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Globe |location=Toronto |date=December 27, 1848 |title=Article 5 |page=2}}</ref> with a ‘philharmonic performance’.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Globe |date=December 30, 1848 |title=Philharmonic Concert |page=418}}</ref> The theatre was described as being able to seat up to 700 comfortably.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=British Colonist |date=December 29, 1848 |title=Opening of the Royal Lyceum – Philharmonia Society’s First Concert |page=4}}</ref> The theatre had an orchestra pit, balcony, dressing rooms and was gaslit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://willyorwonthe.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/on-the-bill-part-i/ |title=On The Bill – Part I}}</ref> |
The two-storey brick building was constructed from 1847-1848 by John Ritchey (or Ritchie) and leased to T.P. Besnard.{{sfn|Marie|2024}} The theatre opened on December 28, 1848.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Globe |location=Toronto |date=December 27, 1848 |title=Article 5 |page=2}}</ref> with a ‘philharmonic performance’.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Globe |date=December 30, 1848 |title=Philharmonic Concert |page=418}}</ref> The theatre was described as being able to seat up to 700 comfortably.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=British Colonist |date=December 29, 1848 |title=Opening of the Royal Lyceum – Philharmonia Society’s First Concert |page=4}}</ref> The theatre had an orchestra pit, balcony, dressing rooms and was gaslit.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://willyorwonthe.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/on-the-bill-part-i/ |title=On The Bill – Part I}}</ref> |
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Latest revision as of 12:11, 27 October 2025
The Royal Lyceum was a live theatre and opera house in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Built in 1848, it housed Toronto’s first opera company, that of George Holman. It burnt down in 1867 and was not rebuilt. It’s address was 99 1/2 King Street West between Bay Street and York Street on the south side of the street, although the actual hall was one block south, on Adelaide Street. The location is now the site of the Toronto-Dominion Centre.
The two-storey brick building was constructed from 1847-1848 by John Ritchey (or Ritchie) and leased to T.P. Besnard. The theatre opened on December 28, 1848.[2] with a ‘philharmonic performance’.[3] The theatre was described as being able to seat up to 700 comfortably.[4] The theatre had an orchestra pit, balcony, dressing rooms and was gaslit.[5]
On January 16, 1849, the hall had its first performance of live theatre, composing of excerpts “Celebrated Pieces, Songs &c” performed by the Hamilton Amateur Theatrical Society, and ‘distinguished amateurs’ of Toronto.[6] The first operatic performance was on June 20, 1849, with selections from Daughter of the Regiment, followed by two further performances: a selection from Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love by a Miss Brianti, Mr. Manvers and Mrs. Clark. Tickets were 2s. 6d for boxes, pit 1s. 10d and gallery 1s. 3d. (this being before Canadian currency existed).[7] and a final night presenting selections of Lucia di Lammermoor.[7]
The theatre was destroyed on January 30, 1874 in a fire. Smoke was noted rising from the roof of the hall by Police Constable Cranston at about 7:30 pm that night. By the time firefighters arrived, the roof was fully engulfed in fire. Water failed to extinguish the fire and it spread to the interior. It was reported to be completely gutted by 1 am.[9] The building represented no loss to the owner Mr. Robert French who had insured the building, but it threw the actors and crew out of work.[10]
Notable appearances
[edit]
Opera:
- ^ “Article 5”. The Globe. Toronto. December 27, 1848. p. 2.
- ^ “Philharmonic Concert”. The Globe. December 30, 1848. p. 418.
- ^ “Opening of the Royal Lyceum – Philharmonia Society’s First Concert”. British Colonist. December 29, 1848. p. 4.
- ^ “On The Bill – Part I”.
- ^ “T. P. B. Toronto Royal Lyceum”. The Globe. January 13, 1849. p. 3.
- ^ a b “Royal Lyceum”. The Globe. June 23, 1849. p. 3.
- ^ “FIRE: Destruction of the Royal Lyceum”. The Mail & Empire. January 3, 1874. p. 1.
- ^ “The Royal Lyceum Burned”. The Globe. January 31, 1874. p. 4.
- ^ “Royal Lyceum: For one night only”. British Colonist. July 8, 1853.
- Baillie, Joan Parkhill (1985). Look At The Record: An Album of Toronto’s Lyric Theatres 1825–1984. Mosaic Press. ISBN 0889622361.
