Let's All Go to the Lobby! - Historic Theatres
Published: March 2015
How enjoyable is it to go to the movies on a cold or rainy
weekend? Synonymous with awkward first dates and overpriced
popcorn, going to your local theater to catch the latest Hollywood
film has been a popular past time in Canada for decades. While
large movie theatre complexes have dominated the market in recent
years, the old run down theater remains a popular destination for
local cinephiles. There's something oddly charming about being in
an institution that has entertained generations for years. Perhaps
it's the old squeaky, yet oddly comfortable seats that adorn the
room. Or the feeling you get as you wonder which famous Hollywood
stars graced your silver screen in days of old. Regardless,
historic theaters have played an important role in preserving a
culture unique to municipalities.
What's better than one movie theatre? Two movie
theatres in the same location! The Elgin and
Winter Gardens Theatre in Toronto remains the last untouched
example of "Movie Palaces" in Canada. Created by Thomas Lamb from
1913-1914, this Toronto institution features a double-decker, with
the Winter Gardens Theatre on the top and the Elgin Theater on the
bottom. The Winter Gardens Theatre was so grandiose that it could
hold up to 33,000 patrons a night! The top theatre's atmospheric
features included trailing vines, beech leaf components, garden
furnishings and garden murals. This decor provided a true vessel of
escape for the daily grind that many patrons faced. The Winter
Gardens Theatre certainly was the most exuberant of the sister
theatres. However, the grandeur of the upper floor eventually came
to an end, as the theatre closed its doors in 1928 and remained
untouched for a quarter of a century.
The Elgin theatre on the bottom floor remained
functional and evolved over the decades to meet the changing nature
of the film industry. It featured Renaissance Revival Decor with
classic motifs, gilding and scagolia. Opening in 1913, the Elgin
has had many renovations in its long history, most notably in 1960
when it converted to a wide screen cinema. Furthermore, the Elgin
theatre was much more affordable for the average patron, with
tickets costing 10 cents, versus the 25-50 cents cost for the
Winter Gardens. Despite their differences, both theatres re-opened
their doors in the 1980s as part of an 8.5 million dollar
restoration project through the Government of Ontario.
The Vogue Theatre has been an entertainment
landmark in downtown Vancouver since the 1940s. As part of "Theatre
Row" on Granville Street, the Vogue is a fine example of Modern
Canadian architecture. Prominent features of this architectural
style included textured concrete walls, Vitrilux and terrazzo
panels, textured terra cotta piers, wrought-iron screens, and
stainless steel mullions. Whereas the Elgin and Winter Gardens
Theatre in Toronto featured architecture that was aesthetically
pleasing, the Vogue retains features that enhance the experience of
moviegoers. Curved walls improved acoustics within the building,
while modulated lighting gave the theatre a unique atmosphere. The
Vogue was not merely a movie theatre, but also served for live
theatre performances. As a result, there is open space in the
theatre to accommodate an orchestra. With 1347 seats, the
Vogue was a relatively small theatre, but the seats were much
larger than average, giving the patron a sense of intimacy, whilst
retaining enough space to enjoy the movie.
The Palace Theatre in Calgary is a
beautiful four- story building in Edwardian Classical style. Built
in 1921, it is famous for being one of the few palace-style
theatres that showed silent films. Prominent features of the Allen
Brother's building are the red brick facade, arched windows,
sidewalls that angle towards the stage, a marbled staircase and
molded-plaster reliefs that adorn the balconies. Throughout the
years, the Palace has been renowned for displaying a diverse range
of films and entertainment for the public. Saturday matinees were
geared towards the entertainment of students, and weekday matinees
were dedicated to women. Perhaps the Palace's most famous member
was William "Bible Bill" Aberhart, who transmitted his biblical
broadcasts from the theatre in front of a live audience. Aberhart
would go on to become Premier of Alberta from 1935-1940. From the
1940s to the 1950s, the theatre saw a rise in visits from
celebrities such as Lena Horne and Jan Pearce. As a result, the
Palace became one of Canada's most successful vessels of public
entertainment.
Bringing Hollywood glam to our local silver screen has been the
role of old theatres for decades. These institutions not only serve
as a means of entertainment, they also provide cities an important
link to their past. Moreover, the intricate architecture of
historic theatres enhances the viewer's experience, creating a
unique atmosphere that is rarely replicated through modern
chain-style movie theatres.