29 February 2024
Mention “The Roxx” or “The Roxy” to anyone in the southern Ontario city of Barrie, who has lived there for more than a decade, they will likely know of the art deco influenced building in downtown Barrie that has been a centre for entertainment for almost a century.
Starting out as a 700-seat movie theatre in 1931, almost 50-years later, it was transformed into a nightclub and concert hall, and became a very popular spot for nightclub and music patrons north of Toronto. Changing its name to The Roxx in 1988, it also became known for its special all-ages nights and events, as well as regular bar nights.
After owner Rob Hamilton, a local businessman and former mayor of Barrie, sold the club in 2012, it was re-named Sound Empire. New management in 2016 gave its current name, Mavrick’s Music Hall.
The interior has been updated on occasion, but is still very recognizable as a theatre, complete with balconies, the original domed ceiling and the ticket booth near the front door.
Some of the notable features of the building include hand-sculpted trim that surround sections of the building, held together by horse-hair plaster, common for the time period.
Over the years, the historic venue has also been host to many fundraisers, political rallies. For many years, Barrie rock radio station Rock 95, would hold their annual Birthday Bash at The Roxx, an event that was both a concert and high-energy party, with thousands of dollars of prizes given out to those lucky enough to win tickets to the annual event.
One of the highlights from the Roxy Theatre’s glory days is when a concert by Canadian rock band Max Webster was filmed (two shows on 19 April 1980) for a 10 May simulcast on both Toronto TV station CITY-TV’s The New Music and on Toronto radio station CHUM-FM.
Other big names that have played the stage include former Max Webster guitarist Kim Mitchell, The Headstones, Trooper, Our Lady Peace, Big Wreck, Tom Cochrane, The Tea Party, Goddo, Big Sugar, The Trews, Country Music artist Aaron Pritchett and rappers Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube and Method Man. For several years, DJ Jazzy Jeff hosted a Halloween show called A Nightmare on Dunlop Street.
Maverick’s has been closed since 2020, with no indication that it will ever re-open. Former Barrie City Councillor Barry Ward has been actively promoting the venue as a location for Barrie’s proposed new performing arts centre. Barrie has been looking for a location for a new venue since W. A. Fisher Auditorium, further to the west on Dunlop Street, was demolished in 2021.
Although Mavrick’s is currently much smaller than the recommended 66,500-square-foot facility for a performing arts centre, Ward argues that there is room to either expand the building, or designate it for smaller events.
It’s still to be seen what will happen with this much-loved performance venue.
Some of the bands that have graced the stage at The Roxx/Sound Empire/Mavrick’s Music Hall:
Sources: COLUMN: City could have solid sightline on new theatre – Barrie News (barrietoday.com), Almost 90 years, one address, thousands of memories at downtown music hall – Barrie News (barrietoday.com), Roxx has one last party (simcoe.com), https://www.barrietoday.com/local-news/barrie-community-mourns-passing-of-a-legend-5044825.
