Massey Hall

Massey Music Hall

Sir Ernest MacMillan (1893-1973)

There are three plaques at this location.
All can be seen on this page.

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted July, 2007

Did you know that Winston Churchill, George Gershwin, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Rush, Alice Cooper, Brian Wilson, Jerry Seinfeld and many more have performed here over the years? You didn't? Now you know. This Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque (to the right of the three red doors) gives us this information:

Plaque coordinates: 43.654180 -79.379155

Since its opening in 1894, Massey Hall has served as one of Canada's most important cultural institutions. A gift to Toronto from wealthy industrialist Hart Massey, it provided the city with professional concert facilities. Its presence gave a new impetus to the city's budding music community which led to the founding of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Although criticized for its plain exterior, the concert hall has earned widespread renown for its outstanding acoustics. Over the years it has attracted orchestras, soloists and speakers from around the world.

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted July, 2007

Photo Source - Wikimedia Commons

Near the right hand set of red doors you may be able to spot an oval plaque. It's a 1994 Toronto Historical Board plaque. Here's what it says:

The success of Toronto's first music festival in 1886 inspired philanthropist Hart Almerrin Massey to build a "Commodious" auditorium. He hoped it would "cultivate and promote an interest in music education, temperance, industry, good citizenship, patriotism, philanthropy and religion..." Designed by Canadian architect Sidney Rose Badgley, it opened with a three day musical festival beginning on 14 June, 1894. The hall soon gained international renown for its superb acoustics. Many of the world's great musical artists, orators, dancers, lecturers, athletes and explorers have appeared on its stage. Massey Hall has also been used for political assemblies, protest rallies, religious conventions, boxing and wrestling matches and union meetings. Throughout its first century, Massey Hall has fostered the entertainment, education and cultural advancement of the people of Toronto.

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

This Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada plaque (to the left of the three red doors) gives us this information:

Knighted in 1935 for services to music in Canada, Ernest MacMillan was a familiar figure to adults and school children alike. A composer and organist, he was for many years conductor of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and of the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, principal of the Toronto Conservatory of Music and dean of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. MacMillan worked tirelessly to promote music and musicians at all levels. He supported new national music organizations, published widely, conducted local orchestras and choirs and adjudicated at music festivals in cities and towns across the country.

Related Toronto plaque
Vincent Massey 1887-1967

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Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted October 21, 2010
I think that for its acoustics, it's still considered one of the best halls in the world. I had season tickets for the Toronto Symphony one year when it was still playing here.

Posted February 23, 2010
I remember dad taking me and my brother to his City Hall office Christmas party when I was a kid. I remember seeing David Crombie who was mayor of Toronto at the time. I never chatted with him, just saw him. The Christmas parties they had were always fun and full of families. It's a shame I haven't been there to a concert since,but hey, it's never to late, right?
Ray Jansons, Toronto

Posted September 13, 2009
I went to Massey Hall when I was in high school as we were given free tickets. This was about 1954 I was not much into the long hair music but I do remember that we bought a pack of Matinee filter cigarettes on the way home to the east end,Broadview and Gerrard area, and we smoked a few?? I guess we threw the rest away.

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