The Last Unicorn and the Runnymede Theatre
May. 6th, 2014 12:14 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormdogI reshared an update on Facebook about the Last Unicorn movie tour that's been making its way around North America for some time. I commented that I was sad that I didn't know when or if the tour was going to be in the Midwest, and that I was contemplating, almost seriously, driving to Toronto or Ottawa to see the movie.
A while later, I got a private message from Peter Beagle (the author for those who don't know the book) telling me that the tour will, in fact, be in the Midwest sooner or later, and that they will be looking for volunteers.
Yes, I squeed. Both because I'll be able to see The Last Unicorn in a theatre without driving to Canada, and because I got a message from Peter Beagle. *laughs*
I wrote a brief note back, trying not to be annoying, but saying that I was really glad to hear he'd be back. Then I mentioned this amazing bookstore in Toronto that lives in a converted movie theatre, the Runnymede. I said that the way that the building had been built to tell stories in one milieu, and then found a new life telling them in another, was really moving to me as a booklover, and that maybe he'd like to visit or try to do a signing there.
Then I looked the place up online. After doing so, I wrote the following in Facebook. I wish I could say more about it. I wish I'd gotten to know it a little better than I could have in my single wondering visit as I wandered through the shelves of the house, stage, and balcony, contemplating the architecture with stars in my eyes.
---
I just learned that the Runnymede theatre, one of my favorite architectural palimpsests, has changed hands.
When I visited, it had been converted into a Chapters bookstore. The beauty of the conversion is that the original decor of the auditorium, with its atmospheric ceiling, its classical revival columns, its balcony, and even the stage and flyhouse, were all intact, visible, and accessible. Looking at the building and thinking about the way it was built to tell a story in one milieu, then late in its life transitioned to another form of storytelling, was kind of magical.
The new owners are something called Shoppers Drug Mart. I assume this is a Canadian drug store chain. I'm nervous about what will happen to the interior, but nothing lasts forever I suppose. I'm very glad I had the chance to see it when I did. I've come to an understanding, with all the urban ruins photography I've done, that buildings are impermanent things. But I have an irrational weakness for classic movie theatres, whose entire purpose in life was to put you in another world for an hour or two.
Here's a poorly-color-balanced photograph of the interior that I shot while in Toronto with Danae in December of 2011.
---
I've been having an awfully hard time staying focused tonight. I had too much free-floating energy for some reason. But I at least managed to get most of the citations done on my history paper. I just need to check a few things at the archives tomorrow. For now, I think it's about time to get to bed.
A while later, I got a private message from Peter Beagle (the author for those who don't know the book) telling me that the tour will, in fact, be in the Midwest sooner or later, and that they will be looking for volunteers.
Yes, I squeed. Both because I'll be able to see The Last Unicorn in a theatre without driving to Canada, and because I got a message from Peter Beagle. *laughs*
I wrote a brief note back, trying not to be annoying, but saying that I was really glad to hear he'd be back. Then I mentioned this amazing bookstore in Toronto that lives in a converted movie theatre, the Runnymede. I said that the way that the building had been built to tell stories in one milieu, and then found a new life telling them in another, was really moving to me as a booklover, and that maybe he'd like to visit or try to do a signing there.
Then I looked the place up online. After doing so, I wrote the following in Facebook. I wish I could say more about it. I wish I'd gotten to know it a little better than I could have in my single wondering visit as I wandered through the shelves of the house, stage, and balcony, contemplating the architecture with stars in my eyes.
---
I just learned that the Runnymede theatre, one of my favorite architectural palimpsests, has changed hands.
When I visited, it had been converted into a Chapters bookstore. The beauty of the conversion is that the original decor of the auditorium, with its atmospheric ceiling, its classical revival columns, its balcony, and even the stage and flyhouse, were all intact, visible, and accessible. Looking at the building and thinking about the way it was built to tell a story in one milieu, then late in its life transitioned to another form of storytelling, was kind of magical.
The new owners are something called Shoppers Drug Mart. I assume this is a Canadian drug store chain. I'm nervous about what will happen to the interior, but nothing lasts forever I suppose. I'm very glad I had the chance to see it when I did. I've come to an understanding, with all the urban ruins photography I've done, that buildings are impermanent things. But I have an irrational weakness for classic movie theatres, whose entire purpose in life was to put you in another world for an hour or two.
Here's a poorly-color-balanced photograph of the interior that I shot while in Toronto with Danae in December of 2011.
---
I've been having an awfully hard time staying focused tonight. I had too much free-floating energy for some reason. But I at least managed to get most of the citations done on my history paper. I just need to check a few things at the archives tomorrow. For now, I think it's about time to get to bed.
