Many rulers in the 18th Century acted as a patron of the arts, and opera in particular. This is conspicuous consumption raised to a high art, even before the music starts! The staged can be equally elaborate, featuring enormous casts and intricate settings. A grand opera house is a magnificent structure, the equal to any palace in terms of luxurious appointments and detailing to overawe the visitors. Little expense is spared on a grand opera house, particularly in the 'front of house' area where the audience is to be found. The ghost of Ambrose Small is said to haunt the Grand Theatre to this day.This impressive setting for musical performances allow the audience to delight in novel entertainments and admire the good taste of the house's patron. During a Noel Coward play a huge arc light inexplicably fell from high above the stage, narrowly missing the cast. Over the years many strange occurrences such as falling props and collapsing sets have been reported. Several theories for his disappearance were advanced, for example that he had been murdered and his body burnt in the theatre’s furnace.

Many searches were conducted in Toronto’s Rosedale Ravine and London’s Grand Theatre. That same day, he left his Toronto office and was never seen again. In December 1919, sensing the future impact of motion pictures, Small sold his chain of theatres for $2,000,000. The theatre had superb acoustics, three balconies, and seated 1,800. The Grand incorporated advanced design ideas and had one of the largest stages in North America, capable of mounting a full-scale production of Ben Hur, complete with horses. During the theatre’s construction workers found bones, including a skull that the newspapers appropriately named 'Yorick'.Īmbrose Small began his career as a bartender and usher, and through hard work and business acumen acquired more than 90 theatres in Canada and the U.S. Lawrence Church, the first Roman Catholic church in London, dating from 1833. It was built on part of the cemetery of St. This theatre hosted great actors such as Sarah Bernhardt, Hume Cronyn, Sir John Gielgud and Jessica Tandy. Destroyed by fire on February 23, 1900, a new opera house was built at 471 Richmond Street and opened on Septemunder the partnership of Ambrose J. The first Grand Opera House was built in 1880 at King and Richmond streets.

The grand opera house