The Life of…The Fox

Have you ever gone to see a movie and have that movie stay with you long after you have left the theatre? I had such an experience yesterday after seeing the breathtaking, thought-provoking Life of Pi. The movie’s themes are very human, ranging from belief and faith all the way through to the survival of the fittest. The one that stuck with me is the power of resilience. But this is not a post about a movie. It is about my movie-going experience.

I live in a quaint, charming, friendly east end Toronto neighbhourhood called The Beaches. We are fortunate to have a local rep theatre and it’s called The Fox. An article in this week’s Toronto Star rated The Fox as one of the best theatres in Toronto. The article by Jason Gorber tells a story of a theatre that opened it’s doors in 1914 and is the longest continuous operating movie theatre in the country. Jason tested out many seats in many theatres across this city and to my amusement cited the middle of the third row as the best seat in the house. So I had to test his theory out!! Indeed, my vantage point from the third row, with my funky 3D glasses, afforded me a stunning movie going experience in a truly historic theatre.

When The Fox first opened it was known as The Pastime Theatre, and then later renamed The Prince Edward. In 1937, The Fox finally received it’s current name and has been a well-loved neighbhourhood haunt since then. I’m not sure what vintage elements I love the best but they include the “centuries of popcorn” aroma, the ticket booth, the lighted sign and the hommage to old film projectors throughout. As a tall gal, I am certainly appreciative of the lot’s of legroom seats. And the friendly locals who sell you your tickets and tend the concession stand.  I know it was the perfect spot to see a perfect movie on a day where I needed to get lost in someone else’s story for just a while.

If you would like to learn more about The Fox, check out it’s story here, along with a short doc from Ryan Couldrey that let’s the owners tell their story in perhaps the most fitting way. And, go see Life of Pi if you haven’t already!