{"id":6004,"date":"2019-11-12T17:57:54","date_gmt":"2019-11-12T17:57:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/?page_id=6004"},"modified":"2024-03-05T17:38:56","modified_gmt":"2024-03-05T22:38:56","slug":"eaton-auditorium","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/explore-learn\/music-city\/eaton-auditorium\/","title":{"rendered":"The Heart of Music City:&nbsp; Eaton Auditorium"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide page-hero has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignwide is-style-cut-out-title hero-feature-image has-aspect-ratio\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;aspect-ratio:3\/2;min-height:unset;\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-contrast-background-color has-background-dim\"><\/span><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"517\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/5419pre_alt_1547_4f5c25f43231212.jpg\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-post-image\" alt=\"Black and white image of Eaton building. One section is four storeys high, and the other is seven storeys high. On the corner is a sign for T. Eaton Co, which says Eaton&#039;s is the new home for furniture and home furnishing departments.\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"52% 59%\" style=\"object-position: 52% 59%\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/5419pre_alt_1547_4f5c25f43231212.jpg 517w, https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/5419pre_alt_1547_4f5c25f43231212-300x279.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/5419pre_alt_1547_4f5c25f43231212-150x139.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 517px) 100vw, 517px\" \/><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\"><h1 style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);\" class=\"has-link-color has-text-color has-base-color has-page-colour wp-block-post-title has-x-large-font-size wp-elements-49a1b461f0be8edc41be0e65c8396e1c\">The Heart of Music City:&nbsp; Eaton Auditorium<\/h1><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-2 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\"><div style=\"text-transform:capitalize;\" class=\"has-text-color has-contrast-color wp-block-wpseopress-breadcrumbs has-normal-font-size has-avenir-next-font-family wp-elements-97eea5c58fa95888cb2cec0397285b50\"><nav  aria-label=\"breadcrumb\"><ol class=\"breadcrumb\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/BreadcrumbList\"><li class=\"breadcrumb-item active\" aria-current=\"page\" itemprop=\"itemListElement\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/ListItem\"><span itemprop=\"name\">Home<\/span><meta itemprop=\"position\" content=\"1\"><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group share-link is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<p><strong>Share<\/strong> [addtoany]<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide map-story-content is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-2 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" id=\"Content\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide heritage-map has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-4 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"><div id=\"mapsvg-5952\" class=\"mapsvg\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"return-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/explore-learn\/music-city\/#story-map-mapsvg\">\n\t\t\t  <div class=\"return-button-icon\">\n\t\t\t    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-content\/themes\/si-heritage\/assets\/HT-paging-left-white.png\" alt=\"Return\" width=\"65\" height=\"65\" hspace=\"0\" vspace=\"0\" border=\"0\">\n\t\t\t  <\/div>\n\t\t      <div class=\"return-button-text\">Return to Map<\/div>\n              <\/a>\n\t\t    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Eaton Auditorium<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column map-story-images-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide map-story-image map-story-image-0 is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large active\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heritagetoronto.resourcespace.com\/filestore\/toronto\/5\/4\/1\/9_e2e35e66b03f5a9\/5419pre_alt_1547_4f5c25f43231212.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white image of Eaton building. One section is four storeys high, and the other is seven storeys high. On the corner is a sign for T. Eaton Co, which says Eaton's is the new home for furniture and home furnishing departments.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Eaton Building, College and Yonge, John H Boyd, 1930. Courtesy of the City of Toronto Archives.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide map-story-image map-story-image-1 is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heritagetoronto.resourcespace.com\/filestore\/toronto\/7\/8\/1\/6_2d8b9cdb8683541\/7816pre_alt_3238_76af97c622ea799.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white image includes a close-up that fades into the distance of a long foyer in the Art Deco style. The room consists of curved walls and moulding on the ceiling. Furniture, including armchairs, couches and tables, are placed throughout the space. To the left, a sign stating &quot;Box Office&quot; is just visible.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Eaton&#8217;s Auditorium Grand Foyer, 7th floor Eaton&#8217;s College St store, 1930. Courtesy of the Archives of Ontario, T. Eaton Company Fonds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide map-story-image map-story-image-2 is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heritagetoronto.resourcespace.com\/filestore\/toronto\/7\/3\/8\/2_5fbb7e15b5a7663\/7382pre_alt_2943_673c8e4e98fb51f.jpg\" alt=\"A list of concert performances in black font on white background.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Radio advertisement for performances at the Eaton Auditorium, The Globe and Mail, 23 February 1975. Courtesy of the Toronto Public Library.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide map-story-image map-story-image-3 is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/heritagetoronto.resourcespace.com\/filestore\/toronto\/7\/4\/9\/8_9521817cbd1a828\/7498pre_alt_3421_05b8dd8203064d3.jpg\" alt=\"A photo taken from above looking down on a stage with a man and girl standing at the podium and large white letters spelling out Toronto to his left.  Above and behind is a screen projection with the words 45th Annual Heritage Toronto Awards. On the floor of the auditorium are groups of people sitting at round tables.\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-small-font-size\">Summer and Sean Thompson, Heritage Toronto Awards Ceremony, The Carlu, October 28, 2019. Image by Herman Custodio.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide heritage-story-content has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-13 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide heritage-content-item is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3>Jacques Carlu\u2019s Art Deco dream<\/h3>\n<p>The lavish Eaton Auditorium was the crown jewel of the Eaton\u2019s department store empire in Toronto. French architect Jacques Carlu designed the 1275-seat auditorium in the popular Art Moderne style, defined by vivid colours and sleek geometric designs. The auditorium formed only one part of the lavish seventh floor of Eaton\u2019s College Street location, alongside the Round Room restaurant as well as private lounges and dining rooms.<\/p>\n<p>Built in 1930 and formally opened in March 1931, the Auditorium\u2019s debut concert included a performance by the renowned opera singer Florence Austral, accompanied by John Amadio on the flute. Ernest MacMillan, head of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, also performed on the Auditorium\u2019s organ, the largest in Canada at the time, with over 5,800 pipes.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/4De3ITRs6YgDZyhPT4Rux1?si=NEecqYezTwepyc0Bg9Ld2w\" width=\"300\" height=\"380\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide heritage-content-item is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3>Where Toronto learned to rock<\/h3>\n<p>Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Eaton Auditorium became a cultural hub for music and performances in Toronto. The auditorium was the former home of the Eaton Operatic Society. Made up of Eaton employees, the Society staged regular performances at the Auditorium, often by Gilbert and Sullivan.<\/p>\n<p>By the late 1940s, the Auditorium began to feature modern music performances. In October 1946, American folk and blues musician Josh White opened the Musical Arts series at the Auditorium. White is believed to have been the first Black male artist to sell a million albums with his 1945 hit \u201cOne Meatball.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In 1949, Wynonie Harris performed what is considered to be Toronto\u2019s first-ever rock and roll concert at the Auditorium. Although the concert was formally described as jazz, the newspapers described Harris as \u201cThe Good Rockin\u2019 Man\u201d, a reference to his 1948 hit \u201cGood Rockin\u2019 Tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/43yb6bTY06Z08KrUtzYX8s?si=yBW6H1ppQ8C86b5JP5OkbA\" width=\"300\" height=\"380\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide heritage-content-item is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3>Glenn Gould\u2019s favourite recording spot<\/h3>\n<p>The legacy of Eaton Auditorium is deeply tied to Glenn Gould, one of the most celebrated classical pianists of the twentieth century. At the age of 14, Gould made his professional debut at the Auditorium, performing in the Casavant Society organ series on December 12, 1945.<\/p>\n<p>By the 1970s, Gould was a recognized Canadian icon in music. In love with the Eaton Auditorium\u2019s sound, it became his favourite recording spot for the next decade.<\/p>\n<p>Gould\u2019s last recording at the Auditorium was for a new version of Bach\u2019s Italian Concerto in F Major in late August 1981, one year before his death in October 1982.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI found no where else on the local scene that suited my needs, though if my arm was twisted \u2013 which is not the way one should have it when one is playing the piano \u2013 I suppose I would go somewhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014Glenn Gould<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/track\/7CSSOgAeuoiyFNnYTYKsXy\" width=\"300\" height=\"380\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide heritage-content-item last-item is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3>The Carlu<\/h3>\n<p>The Eaton Auditorium closed to the public in early 1977. Although the closure was intended to be temporary, the Auditorium never re-opened and became entangled in a decades-long battle to save it from demolition. An $8.5-million restoration of the Auditorium began in 2001.<\/p>\n<p>Opened in 2003, the Auditorium\u2019s name was changed to the Carlu to reflect its original architect, Jacques Carlu. Today, the Carlu operates largely as a private events space and, in recent years, has been home to the Polaris Music Prize and the Heritage Toronto Awards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons back-to-map-button is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-1 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\">Back to map<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Share [addtoany] Return to Map Eaton Auditorium Eaton Building, College and Yonge, John H Boyd, 1930. Courtesy of the City of Toronto Archives. Eaton&#8217;s Auditorium Grand Foyer, 7th floor Eaton&#8217;s College St store, 1930. Courtesy of the Archives of Ontario, T. Eaton Company Fonds. Radio advertisement for performances at the Eaton Auditorium, The Globe and Mail, 23 February 1975. Courtesy of the Toronto Public Library. Summer and Sean Thompson, Heritage Toronto Awards Ceremony, The Carlu, October 28, 2019. Image by Herman Custodio. Jacques Carlu\u2019s Art Deco dream The lavish Eaton Auditorium was the crown jewel of the Eaton\u2019s department store empire in Toronto. French architect Jacques Carlu designed the 1275-seat auditorium in the popular Art Moderne style, defined by vivid colours and sleek geometric designs. The auditorium formed only one part of the lavish seventh floor of Eaton\u2019s College Street location, alongside the Round Room restaurant as well as private lounges and dining rooms. Built in 1930 and formally opened in March 1931, the Auditorium\u2019s debut concert included a performance by the renowned opera singer Florence Austral, accompanied by John Amadio on the flute. Ernest MacMillan, head of the Toronto Conservatory of Music, also performed on the Auditorium\u2019s organ, the largest in Canada at the time, with over 5,800 pipes. Where Toronto learned to rock Throughout the 1930s and 1940s, Eaton Auditorium became a cultural hub for music and performances in Toronto. The auditorium was the former home of the Eaton Operatic Society. Made up of Eaton employees, the Society staged regular performances at the Auditorium, often by Gilbert and Sullivan. By the late 1940s, the Auditorium began to feature modern music performances. In October 1946, American folk and blues musician Josh White opened the Musical Arts series at the Auditorium. White is believed to have been the first Black male artist to sell a million albums with his 1945 hit \u201cOne Meatball.\u201d In 1949, Wynonie Harris performed what is considered to be Toronto\u2019s first-ever rock and roll concert at the Auditorium. Although the concert was formally described as jazz, the newspapers described Harris as \u201cThe Good Rockin\u2019 Man\u201d, a reference to his 1948 hit \u201cGood Rockin\u2019 Tonight.\u201d Glenn Gould\u2019s favourite recording spot The legacy of Eaton Auditorium is deeply tied to Glenn Gould, one of the most celebrated classical pianists of the twentieth century. At the age of 14, Gould made his professional debut at the Auditorium, performing in the Casavant Society organ series on December 12, 1945. By the 1970s, Gould was a recognized Canadian icon in music. In love with the Eaton Auditorium\u2019s sound, it became his favourite recording spot for the next decade. Gould\u2019s last recording at the Auditorium was for a new version of Bach\u2019s Italian Concerto in F Major in late August 1981, one year before his death in October 1982. \u201cI found no where else on the local scene that suited my needs, though if my arm was twisted \u2013 which is not the way one should have it when one is playing the piano \u2013 I suppose I would go somewhere else.\u201d \u2014Glenn Gould The Carlu The Eaton Auditorium closed to the public in early 1977. Although the closure was intended to be temporary, the Auditorium never re-opened and became entangled in a decades-long battle to save it from demolition. An $8.5-million restoration of the Auditorium began in 2001. Opened in 2003, the Auditorium\u2019s name was changed to the Carlu to reflect its original architect, Jacques Carlu. Today, the Carlu operates largely as a private events space and, in recent years, has been home to the Polaris Music Prize and the Heritage Toronto Awards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":36301,"parent":5966,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"Learn about the history of Eaton Auditorium and important moments in the Toronto music scene.","_seopress_robots_index":"","_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"content-type":[230],"conversion-type":[244],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6004"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6004"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6004\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37499,"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6004\/revisions\/37499"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5966"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36301"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6004"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6004"},{"taxonomy":"content-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-type?post=6004"},{"taxonomy":"conversion-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heritagetoronto.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/conversion-type?post=6004"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}