More windows!

More stained glass from my Doors Open tour of Hart House at the University of Toronto. I just couldn't resist!

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you've got something nice planned for the weekend. I'm sure mine will probably include some golf.

Stop and sit for a spell

This wonderful sitting area inside Hart House looked so welcoming. I just love the light coming through the windows. A perfect place to curl up with a book - although the chairs don't look too comfy!

Confidential to my niece: Happy birthday!!!

Saint Andrews

Our tour also took us through the main dining hall where student diners are sometimes held. There was a large array of crests on the wall. I guess I don't need to explain why I was attracted to Saint Andrews. For more signs, visit Signs, Signs.

Gallery Grill

The Gallery Grill was one of my favorite spaces inside Hart House. This resto is noted for its delicious lunch and brunch menus and is open to the public. Sadly, it is closed for the summer right now, but I'd love to get back and sample some of the items on the menu. The atmosphere in the dining area is pretty special too. If you're seated to the left, you have a wonderful view out to the courtyard. And to the right you overlook the main dining hall. I'll show you a special detail from the hall tomorrow.

Where will it lead...

There was something I found very attractive about this hallway. Perhaps it's the lighting fixtures or the way the light seems to bounce off the wood floors and glow. I would have loved to see where this hallway would lead, but alas our tour did not take us this way.

Splash of color

Looking through my photos from Hart House, I have realized I have an inordinate amount of window shots! Here is another look at some of the stained glass that was on display. Luckily it was a bright, sunny day and the colors really popped.

Studying?

Here's one last look at the Hart House library. I found it funny that this student would come to the library to watch a football (soccer) match. But I suppose times have changed since I was at school! Hope you're having a wonderful weekend so far. My bug seems to have cleared up and I'm looking forward to a round of golf later this afternoon.

More windows

These colorful stained glass windows were inside the Hart House library. The  students here probably don't take the time to appreciate their surroundings, but I certainly enjoyed taking a peek into this lovely little collection room. 

Happy Friday everyone! Hope you've got some great plans for the weekend. I'm still recovering from a little bug, but I hope to feel well enough for some golf tomorrow. Have a great one!

Looking out of Hart House

The next stop on Doors Open Toronto is Hart House on the University of Toronto campus. Hart House is sort of like a student union, but in the early days it was open to men only. Now any student can become a member to access things like the swimming pool and gym. There is also a study library, music rooms and the campus radio station broadcasts from here as well. There will be more of Hart House tomorrow!

PS: Happy Independence Day to my American readers!

Theatre crest

There were so many details at the Elgin - too many to catch them all! But I did like these two fairies holding a crest. I hope you've enjoyed this look inside the theatre, tomorrow it's on to another location that I visited during Doors Open. Until then, you can find more signs at Signs, Signs.

Vaudeville look

The flats were not the only vaudeville relics found during theatre renovations - there were also lots of lovely costumes. These two are recreations of some of the models that were found, but you can see some of the originals during the backstage tour.

July theme day: Theatrical facade

And we're back to the Elgin Wintergarden Theater! When the theatre was being renovated, they discovered lots of remnants from the vaudeville days, like this old flat. This garden backdrop would have been used for light, musical numbers. I can just imagine the ladies twirling a parasol and singing a light ditty in this scene. For more murals, take a look at Monday Murals and you'll see more interpretations of facades from around the world here.

PS: Happy Canada Day to my Canadian readers!

The Winter Garden

 

Now the really special thing about the Elgin is that it's two theaters in one! Back then (and even today), real estate was expensive on Yonge Street so the original owner built upwards - there is actually a second theatre right above the Elgin and it's called the Winter Garden. We were told during the presentation that there are only a few of these "double-decker" Edwardian type theatres left in the world and Toronto is lucky to have one of them! In the vaudeville days, the lower theatre would be an open-seating type show with tickets costing around 10 cents while the upper theatre was slightly more refined with assigned seating and tickets costing  25 cents or more.

I only wish my photos did this space justice because the atmosphere was really something. Those wonderful leaves hanging from the ceiling are real (although they have been treated with some kind of preservative) and you get a wonderful feeling as soon as you walk into the space. I hope to come back here one day to see a show.

Details of the Elgin Theatre

Here's another look at the inside of the Elgin theatre. Wouldn't you love to sit in one of those opera boxes? I think they're amazing!

 

They even look good in black and white. I'm so glad this place has been saved and preserved. It started as a vaudeville house, became a movie theater and now broadway-style shows are housed here. Check back tomorrow when I'll show you something really special about the Elgin.

Theatrical details

Here's a look at the beautifully restored ceiling of the Elgin theater. The Elgin was originally a vaudeville house which was later converted to show "talkies". Unfortunately many of the wonderful details were lost during the transition, but now that the theater has been designated as a historical landmark, it has been restored and renovated back to its former glory. I'm only sad my photos don't really do the place justice. I'll show you more of this wonderful location tomorrow!