Back Lane Studios

For the first time in 4 years Joan Beckow's music will be performed in Toronto with an all star cast this SUNDAY, MAY 17 (12:30pm) at the @revuecinema on Ronces!! 😃 (flex price tix in bio link!) Along with the all-star cast of @ronceyguy , @twhitrb , @jessicastuartmusic and pianist Wendy Bross Stuart (in from Vancouver!), award-winning documentary UNSUNG: The Joan Beckow Story (30 mins) will get its Toronto MOVIE THEATRE PREMIERE and be followed by director Q & A ( @whyweshake & Jessica Stuart), reception and more. A huge thank you to Ellen Moorehouse and @backlanestudios for featuring the film as part of the 'Extraordinary Women' film series and to @kateymorley for MC-ing the event ♥️ Thanks to the @canada.council for the arts and @ontarioartscouncil for their support of the @joanbeckowlegacyproject making the film and album recording possible. #femalemusicians #torontoevent #liveperformances #canadianmusic #joanbeckow

Don Summerhayes was a York University English professor, author, poet, critic and photographer. Back Lane Studios has received boxes of his photos, many from the 1970s. Can you help us identify the who, when and where for these photos? Do you have stories to share about them? We would love to know. DM us or post a comment! #history #Toronto #torontohistory #photography #archive #archival #1970s #historic #backlanestudiosn #harekrishna

Our beloved and award-winning Joan Beckow documentary, UNSUNG get its Toronto Movie Theatre screening premiere on SUNDAY, MAY 17 (12:30pm)! (Flexible price Ticket link in bio) For those who don't already know: "Early Canadian Carol Burnett Collaborator Finally Gets The Spotlight" Not all remarkable creators get the attention they deserve during their lifetime, and brilliant composer and pianist, Joan Beckow (z''l), who passed away in Vancouver at age 88 in 2021, is certainly one of them. When Beckow & Burnett met in the theatre program at UCLA in the early 1950's, they became best of friends, musical partners and even moved to NYC together post-graduation to "make it" in the biz. We all know Carol succeeded, but perhaps the world wasn't yet ready to celebrate an exceptional female composer and instrumentalist, and Joan remained under the radar. In 2022, the @joanbeckowlegacyproject was formed to produce the debut, posthumous recording of Beckow's music, as well as award-winning documentary, UNSUNG: The Joan Beckow Story, which will have it's Toronto movie theatre premiere screening at the @revuecinema  on Roncesvalles on Sunday, May 17 (12:30pm), along with live performances of Beckow pieces (ft. Juno-nominated vocalist Alex Samaras, Whitney Ross-Barris, Wendy Bross Stuart & Jessica Stuart), and Q & A with film directors (incl. Carlos Coronado), as part of Ellen Moorhouse's 'Extraordinary Women' documentary series.  Join us for this very special afternoon event followed by walking distance reception at Back Lane Studios! ❤️🙌

Walk through former Toronto Star artist Raffi Anderian's exhibit at Back Lane Studios! Come see some of Raffi's recent paintings, as well as a collection of award-winning illustrations that he did during his 27 years at the Toronto Star. Drop by this weekend May 9-10, from 12-4pm! We are at 9 Neepawa Ave. in the heart of Toronto's Roncesvalles Village. @raffianderian @dundasroncesvallespeacegarden @roncesvillage #art #backlanestudios #exhibit #painting #illustration

Don Summerhayes was a York University English professor, author, poet, critic and photographer. Back Lane Studios has received boxes of his photos, many from the 1970s. Can you help us identify the who, when and where for these photos? Do you have stories to share about them? We would love to know. DM us or post a comment! #history #Toronto #torontohistory #photography #archive #archival #1970s #historic #backlanestudios

Raffi Anderian created some striking illustrations for the Toronto Star. Now, retired, he continues to explore subjects and techniques in his art. Come to our studio tomorrow, Thursday, April 30, from 7-9 pm for the opening of his show at Back Lane Studios, 9 Neepawa Ave. in the heart of Roncesvalles. Meet Raffi , see some of his newspaper work as well as recent paintings. @backlanestudios.ca @raffianderian @roncesvillage #toronotoartists

We’re getting ready for Raffi ANDERIAN’s show, opening Thursday, April 30, 7-9pm at the studio! Drop by and meet Raffi, who was the award-winning illustrator at the Toronto Star for almost 3 decades! We are at 9 Neepawa Ave. in the heart of Toronto’s Roncesvalles Village. @raffianderian @torontostar_life #torontoartists #torontoscenes @roncesvillage @saf.syria

Screenwriter Frances Marion, left, was a workhorse. In 1915, she was turning out a couple of silent film scenarios and ghostwriting five 500- to 700-word syndicated "Daily Talks" columns every week for Mary Pickford. The two became best friends and their collaboration produced Pickford's most successful films. Learn more about Marion and other women in early filmmaking at our Extraordinary Women event at the Revue Cinema this Sunday, April 26, 12.30pm. The film: Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood. Guest speaker for the Q&A: Early cinema expert Charlie Keil. Tickets available through the Revue website. @revuecinema @keilchar @torontosilentfilmfestival @roncesvillage #francesmarion #marypickford #silentcinema #screenwriting

After Hollywood screenwriter Frances Marion (1888-1973) accepted one of her two Oscars, she made this comment about the golden statuette: "I saw it as a perfect symbol of the picture business: a powerful athletic body clutching a gleaming sword, but with half of his head, the part which held his brains, completely sliced off." Marion, who had many talents, including her wit, is the subject of our next Extraordinary Women event this Sunday, April 26, 12.30 pm, at the Revue Cinema. Early Cinema expert Charlie Keil joins us for a discussion following the documentary "Without Lying Down: Frances Marion and the Power of Women in Hollywood." Tickets by suggested donation ($16) at BLS-francesmarion.eventbrite.com or at the Revue door. @revuecinema.ca @roncesvillage @roncesvillage @torontosilentfilmfestival #earlycinema #silentera #francesmarion #earlyhollywood @early_hollywood

Opening April 30th, 7-9, at Back Lane Studios: An exhibit by artist Raffi Anderian. He will be showing new paintings, as well as award-winning illustrations from his 27 years at the Toronto Star. Save the date!! 9 Neepawa Ave. in Roncesvalles Village. @raffianderian @thetorontostar #torontoartist @roncesvillage @thesassafraz

Did you ever wonder who created some of the beautiful stained glass features in old Toronto homes? Stained glass artist and restorer Henry Knight did. And he made it his mission to find out. Join us Back Lane Studios, 9 Neepawa Ave., on Wednesday evening, April 15, 7:00 pm, for his talk about stained glass in Toronto and the artists who created it. The presentation is sponsored by the Sunnyside Historical Society. Free, but space is limited. Make a reservation here: BLS-stained-glass.eventbrite.com. Only a few seats remain. You can also hear Henry's talk on Zoom. Email us at [email protected] for a link. @oldtoronto @toronto_archives @historicbuildingstoronto #stainedglass #stainedglassartist @medmonds2026 @cabbagetown_preservation_assoc

Next in our Extraordinary Women Series: Frances Marion, one of the most talented, influential and powerful women in early Hollywood. The highest paid scriptwriter man or woman, she made $3,000 a week in the mid 1920s. She turned out 325 scripts and won 2 Oscars. Documentary & discussion with early cinema expert Charlie Keil. Tickets ($16 suggested donation) at BLS-Francesmarion.eventbrite.com or at the Revue. @revuecinema @keilchar #francesmarion #earlycinema #Hollywood #scriptwriting #womenincinema