Downtown Yonge East in Toronto, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Site of Toronto’s First Moving Picture Show
Photographed by Tim Boyd, June 1, 2026
1. Site of Toronto’s First Moving Picture Show Marker
Inscription.
Site of Toronto’s First Moving Picture Show. . On August 31, 1896, a series of films running less than a minute each was projected from a "Vitascope” invented by Thomas Edison at Robinson's Musee Theatre on this site. On the next day, the Toronto World reported that the “...machine projects apparently living figures and scenes on a canvas screen...it baffles analysis and delights immense audiences.” Known as a "dime museum” (admission was ten cents), Robinson's Musee had opened in December 1890 and featured jugglers, magicians, and aerialists; a curio shop and waxworks on the second floor and an animal menagerie on the roof. The building changed hands several times, eventually becoming, in 1899, the first location of Shea's Theatre (later situated on Bay Street) it was destroyed by fire in 1905.
On August 31, 1896, a series of films running less than a minute each was projected from a "Vitascope” invented by Thomas Edison at Robinson's Musee Theatre on this site. On the next day, the Toronto World reported that the “...machine projects apparently living figures and scenes on a canvas screen...it baffles analysis and delights immense audiences.” Known as a "dime museum” (admission was ten cents), Robinson's Musee had opened in December 1890 and featured jugglers, magicians, and aerialists; a curio shop and waxworks on the second floor and an animal menagerie on the roof. The building changed hands several times, eventually becoming, in 1899, the first location of Shea's Theatre (later situated on Bay Street) it was destroyed by fire in 1905.
Erected 1996 by Toronto Historical Board.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Toronto Heritage series list. A significant historical date for this entry is August 31, 1896.
Location. 43° 39.017′ N, 79° 22.69′ W. Marker is in Toronto, Ontario. It is in Downtown Yonge East. It is at the intersection of Yonge Street and Adelaide Street East, on the right when traveling north on Yonge Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 Yonge Street, Toronto ON M5C 2Y6, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Toronto and on the Golden Horseshoe. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
2. Site of Toronto’s First Moving Picture Show Marker
Centre of photo
3. Robinson’s Musee Theatre c1891
toronto Star (public domain)
4. Advertisement for moving pictures at Robinson’s Musee ca 1897
Toronto Star archives (public domain)
Credits. This page was last revised on June 9, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 9, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 9, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
