When disaster struck the demolition of Toronto's Uptown Theatre on Dec. 8, 2003, it marked the final grim chapter in the storied cinema's history. CTV.ca has compiled a look back at the events that shaped the downtown entertainment venue.

• Opened in 1920 as a vaudeville house and movie theatre
• In 1960, a fire destroyed the main auditorium
• In 1969, it was converted into a five-screen venue; one main cinema, two downstairs and two backstage
• With its close to 1,000 seat main theatre -- fully loaded with SDDS, DTS, Dolby Digital and THX sound -- the cinema became a favourite choice of cinema-lovers seeking the full blown "experience."
• In 2001, The Ontario Human Rights Commission ordered the cinema operator, Famous Players, to make the Eglinton, the Uptown and the Backstage, connected to the Uptown, fully wheelchair accessible. The company decided to close the theatres instead.
• The OHRC issued its ruling after investigating five complaints
• The OHRC also ordered Famous Players to upgrade the Plaza theatre, but the company chose not to renew its lease.
• The Uptown closed in late September, 2003 just after the Toronto International Film Festival
• Famous Players sold the building in May for $10 million to developer Piagga Ltd. with plans to erect 50-storey condo tower
• The Backstage theatre closed in December 2001
• The Eglinton theatre showed its last film in April 2002. An entertainment group leased the venue in the hopes of getting approval to use the space for special events.
• Famous Players has announced it will build a 10-screen multiplex across the street from the Uptown, as part of a proposed 60-storey condo/retail project.