THE DREAM
In the early 1900's, Agostino Arrigo Sr., a 15-year-old immigrant from Sicily, Italy arrived in Toronto, Canada. Over time, he saved as much money as he could working for his uncle in order to pursue his dream of developing the land in the Eglinton corridor. At the time, the Eglinton corridor was vacant, but the area presented an opportunity to grow a diverse business community.

THE IDEA
In the late 1920's and early 1930's, the depression hit but Arrigo was busy planning his biggest development project ever - a first-of-its-kind stand-alone movie theatre. A movie theatre that would set the standard for all movie theatres in the future.

THE PLAN
In 1932 Famous Players agreed to help build the theatre and Kaplan & Sprachman, a well-established architectural firm would be the company to design it. In 1934, plans for the new movie theatre were unveiled and construction was underway.

THE GRAND OPENING
On April 15, 1936, the Eglinton Theatre opened its doors to the public for the first time. The theatre would offer an unbelievable experience. People from all over Toronto showed up for the gala grand opening. The movie screened that evening was King Of Burlesque (starring Jack Oakie). People lined up for hours just to get a glimpse of Toronto's newest and most vibrant movie theatre.

THE ACCLAIM
The Eglinton Theatre was hailed as a success. Newspapers rushed to extol its virtues, describing it as the "Show Place Of Toronto". The theatre's design and architecture was so well acclaimed that in 1937, it won the Royal Architecture Institute of Canada Bronze Medal for its advanced and beautiful art deco furnishings. In fact, the theatre was at one point considered the flagship of the Famous Players national cinema chain.

THE GREATNESS & THE GRANDEUR
All of Hollywood's biggest stars could be seen on the Eglinton Theatre's screen. The theatre gave movie-lovers an experience unlike any other. The theatres' stunning art-deco interior was adorned with bold lighting, massive chandeliers, hand-carved statues, and vibrant colours, hand-made murals etched in glass, plush seating and richly woven fabrics. Even the washrooms were grand in design, right down to the faucets.

THE CHANGING TIMES
Through the decades, The Eglinton Theatre screened some of Hollywood's biggest blockbuster movies including Sound Of Music, The Jolson Story, Mission, Star Wars and Titanic. As years passed, the theatre business evolved. Multiplex and megaplex theatres replaced stand-alone movie houses - giving patrons multiple movie viewing options under one single roof. Even with the changing times, The Eglinton Theatre remained competitive and vibrant.

THE END OF AN ERA
By the late 1990's, The Eglinton Theatre began to lose the battle against its larger and more illuminated megaplex competitors. In December 2001, Famous Players announced that this longstanding community treasure would be closing its doors for good on April 1, 2002.

THE SHOW MUST GO ON
The theatre, which has been designated a historical landmark in the city of Toronto, will not stay closed. In 2003, Dynamic Hospitality & Entertainment Group, one of Toronto's foremost hospitality and entertainment company's, announced that it had acquired the lease for the Eglinton Theatre and that plans were underway to transform it back to its original 1930's art-deco grandeur and convert it into a special events venue.

THE EGLINTON GRAND IS BORN
Renamed The Eglinton Grand, Dynamic Hospitality & Entertainment Group promises that the Eglinton Grand will be a throwback to the grand style of the original 1930's Eglinton Theatre. The company retained national-award winning architects munge//leung design associates to create the 1930's art-deco style, elements, design, colours and fabrics throughout the entire venue.

A leader in the hospitality and entertainment industry, Dynamic Hospitality & Entertainment Group owns and operates several high-profile venues in Toronto including Atlantis Pavilions at Ontario Place, Pavilion Royale Reception & Convention Facilities, Seven Lounge, Sam and Pete's, The Velvet Room and Yuk Yuk's Downtown & Mississauga locations.

According to Sam D'Uva, Managing Director, Dynamic Hospitality & Entertainment Group, "Once again, life will be injected back into this magnificent and historical Toronto landmark - for everyone to marvel and enjoy."