Susanna McLeod
Special to Canadian Design and Construction Report
A broad-based profession, architecture has niches for specialization, from industrial to residential, healthcare, urban design, green design, and more. Drawing blueprints for a range of buildings, John McNee Jeffrey’s speciality was the fascinating area of theatre. Opened in 1919, the Regent Theatre in Oshawa, Ontario brought Jeffrey’s exquisite work to life. Take a bow, Mr. Jeffrey, as we discover your work.
Glasgow, Scotland was Jeffrey’s birthplace on April 1, 1883. Receiving a good education, he could afford to attend the Glasgow School of Art; although not a university, the institution offered university-level degrees. Jeffrey graduated with a bachelor’s degree in art, and found employment “in the offices of Emmanuel Vincent Harris in London, from where he passed the qualifying exam in June of 1908 to become a registered architect of the Royal Institute of British Architects,” according to Architects of Oshawa.
In 1912, Jeffrey and his wife sailed for Canada, accepting an architecture job with real estate firm Canadian Investments Ltd. in Toronto. Three years later, the professional opened his own office. Designing homes, school, and a church, in spring of 1919 Jeffrey completed “major alterations and additions to the Strand Theatre” in Kingston, Ontario, stated Robert Hill in Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada. The downtown movie theatre was part of the Famous Players Canadian Corporation, located several doors west of the city’s celebrated Grand Theatre.
Catching the theatre design bug, the architect accepted a number of commissions from Famous Players and Paramount Theatres Limited. Designing movie theatres in Sault Ste. Marie, Toronto, Peterborough, Kitchener, and Victoria, British Columbia, Jeffrey developed a reputation as an authority in cinema design.
Considered one of the superlative movie theatres of its era, the Regent Theatre in Oshawa was completed in October 1919 under Jeffrey’s direction. Ringing up at construction costs of $100,000 Regent’s symmetrical Georgian lines were constructed by Norman MacLeod Ltd.
“The building featured three main components on its front façade,” said Regent Theatre History.
“The theatre entrance [was] in the middle with a traditional commercial storefront on either side.” The large name sign was set vertically, suspended from the roof by large brackets. Underneath, “a square canopy suspended from the front wall by chains (the wall hooks still remain).” In the 1950s, the sign was modernized to a marquee advertising movie titles and times.
The Regent was framed in steel, including the ceiling. The red brick exterior was enhanced with many engaging decorative elements. “There is a classically inspired frieze complete with egg and dart moulding, pilasters with wreath decorations,” described Regent’s history, plus “a three part round arcade with Corinthian columns and decorative keystones.” The architect incorporated brickwork that had “decorative banding and stone quoins in the corner,” and added brickwork designs around the windows.
Movies were the essence of the Regent Theatre, but the building also accommodated live performances. The design included an “extra heavy foundation to support a fly tower that still exists to accommodate props.” An orchestra pit was built in front of a stage measuring 11 metres wide by 6.7 metres deep. Musicians and actors did not have to perform pressed up against the movie screen. The large panel was movable to allow the vivid action of live performances.
Innovative comforts were installed for audiences, such as “an original air conditioning system which consisted to fans blowing air over blocks of ice placed in racks,” noted the Designation Proposal for Oshawa Regent Theatre. The architect created “perfect vision to its 1,100 patrons.” The room’s acoustics were “considered outstanding,” and the lighting system of equal benefit.
Gazing up at the ceiling, the viewers saw medallions featuring mythical creatures in an atmosphere of a cloudy night sky, finely crafted in plaster.
Regent movie theatre lifted the curtain on October 16, 1919 to entertain the audience with “’The Prince Chap’ starring Thomas Meighan and a Mack Sennett comedy, ‘You Wouldn’t Believe It!’ featuring a special orchestra that was personally directed by Jack Arthur,” said Dave Flaherty in “Feature: Oshawa’s Regent Theatre, Part 1,” The Oshawa Express. (Jack Arthur (1889-1971) was Famous Players’ music director, a talented Canadian violinist, conductor, and arranger.)
Moving to California in 1923, Jeffrey supervised construction of Biltmore Hotel, and in about 1926, worked on hotel projects in New York. The architect returned to Toronto, but struggled to establish his firm. Back to Valley Cottage, NY, Jeffrey was employed as building inspector, and opened an office to design fire halls and other structures. The skilled theatre architect died there on March 10, 1956, age 73.
In its early years, Oshawa’s Regent Theatre design was commended as the finest cinema between Toronto and Montreal, thanks to McNee Jeffrey’s innovative designs. Now owned by Ontario Tech University, the exquisite theatre has been renovated and restored to much of its original glory. Enjoy your well-earned applause, Mr. Jeffrey.
© 2025 Susanna McLeod. She is a writer specializing in Canadian history.
