Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage

Last updated
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Stanley Theatre (2).JPG
The Stanley showing Cookin' at the Cookery in August 2007
Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage
Former namesStanley Theatre
Stanley Theatre du Maurier Stage
Location2750 Granville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia
V6H 3J3
Owner Arts Club Theatre Company (formerly owned by Famous Players)
Type Live theatre (former movie palace)
Capacity 650 (formerly 1,216)
Construction
OpenedDecember 15, 1930
ClosedSeptember 21, 1991
ReopenedOctober 28, 1998

The Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (formerly the Stanley Theatre) is a landmark theatre at 12th Avenue and Granville Street in Vancouver, British Columbia which serves as the main stage for the Arts Club Theatre Company. The Stanley first opened as a movie theatre in December 1930, and showed movies for over sixty years before falling revenues led to its closure in 1991. After years of threatened commercial redevelopment, the Stanley was renovated as a stage theatre in 1997–1998 and subsequently awarded status as a heritage building.

Contents

As a stage for the Arts Club, the Stanley has been used to put on classics, Broadway musicals and other large productions, including Swing! , My Fair Lady , Miss Saigon , Disney's Beauty and the Beast and Irving Berlin's White Christmas . The theatre, which went through major fundraising to finance its renovations and mortgage, at one stage lost its sponsor du Maurier due to tobacco regulations, but in 2005 received new sponsorship from Industrial Alliance Pacific Life Insurance Company and the theatre's name was changed to the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.

Movie theatre

The Stanley opened on December 15, 1930. [1] Originally envisioned as a vaudeville venue, [2] it was built by Frederick Guest, owner of a chain of theatres in Ontario, who reportedly fell in love with Vancouver and decided to build his dream theatre there. [2] [3] He hired Henry Holdsby Simmonds as the architect, [3] [4] who designed it with a neoclassical interior and an Art Deco exterior, [5] with seating for 1,216 people. [5] In order to make as high quality a theatre as possible, Simmonds used only the best materials he could find, including tindle stone from Winnipeg and tiles from Italy, along with chandeliers, carpets and furnishings from local merchants. [3] [5] Like the Stanley Cup and Stanley Park, the theatre was named after Governor General of Canada Lord Stanley. [2]

The first film shown at the Stanley was One Romantic Night , starring Lillian Gish. [1] [6] Admission was originally between 10 and 40 cents. [3] [5] The vertical Stanley sign was added in 1940 and the stylized Stanley script came in 1957. [3] [5] The cinema, which had been part of the Granville Theatre Company, [4] was bought by Famous Players in 1941 for $268,000. [3] [5]

The Stanley was originally built as a neighbourhood theatre, but gradually became more popular and attracted moviegoers from throughout the Vancouver region. [4] From the 1950s onwards, progressively improved sound and projection systems along with refurbished seating added to the theatre's appeal. [3] On July 8, 1954 the Stanley began showing films in stereophonic CinemaScope for the first time. [7] By December 1958, [8] the theatre had a DP70 70mm projector, [9] and the Stanley was advertised as "the only Todd-AO theatre in Western Canada". [8] By October 1978, the auditorium was equipped with Dolby Stereo, [10] and by December 1985 its sound system was upgraded and certified to THX quality assurance standards. [11]

The Stanley Theatre with for sale signs in September 1991, shortly before its closure as a movie house Stanleytheatre1991.jpg
The Stanley Theatre with for sale signs in September 1991, shortly before its closure as a movie house

The Stanley often showed blockbusters. [3] Some movies shown at the theatre through the years included The Exorcist , [12] [13] The Towering Inferno , [14] The Muppet Movie , [15] Apocalypse Now , [16] The Empire Strikes Back , [17] The Elephant Man , [18] Poltergeist , [19] The Right Stuff , [20] Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , [21] Top Gun , [22] Empire of the Sun , [23] Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade , [24] and Goodfellas . [25]

Revenues declined during the late 20th century, [3] and Famous Players closed the Stanley, which was by then the oldest operating movie theatre in Vancouver, [3] [26] on September 25, 1991 after a final showing of the Stanley regular Fantasia ; [27] the theatre had previously shown Fantasia at least four times, in 1977, [28] 1979, [29] 1980–1981, [30] [31] and 1990. [32] Its closure was part of a long trend: The number of Famous Players theatres had dropped from 419 in 1954 to 196 in 1969, [3] and would fall to eighty, some in partnership with other companies, by the time it was taken over by Cineplex Galaxy Entertainment in 2005. [33] Other Vancouver-area Famous Players movie theatres closed, sold or torn down in this period included the Fine Arts (1989), [34] Denman Place (1989), [35] Park Royal (1993), [36] the Park (2005), [37] and the Capitol 6 (2005). [38]

Renovation

Famous Players put the Stanley up for sale in the spring of 1991, [4] with the condition that it not be used as a movie theatre. [26] [39] In the months leading up to the Stanley's closure, Famous Players had a conditional sale agreement for the theatre with Vancouver developer Sandy Cox, who was planning to keep the Stanley's facade and convert the interior into retail space. [26] The Vancouver City Council received a proposal to change the building to retail use, which it approved, but the planned development was abandoned, and the building remained vacant for several years. [4] During the early 1990s, a "Save Our Stanley" campaign was begun to preserve the building and prevent commercial redevelopment of the space. [40] [41] In 1994, the Stanley Theatre Society was formed to try to buy the Stanley for the Arts Club Theatre Company, [40] and in 1997 it purchased the theatre from Famous Players for $3,173,000. [5] Renovation costs, including sound and lighting equipment, came to $5.8 million, [5] which brought the costs of purchase and renovation to about $9 million, [5] $1.5 million more than the $7.5 million originally budgeted. [42] Money came from fundraising campaigns by the Arts Club and Vancouver TheatreSports, at least $3.9 million from the provincial and federal government, [43] a $100,000 grant from the City of Vancouver, [4] the purchase of a density transfer to the One Wall Centre [44] by Peter Wall for $1.2 million, [45] as well as corporate sponsorship by du Maurier, [1] although du Maurier would later withdraw as a sponsor because of federal restrictions on tobacco advertising. [42]

Gold-leaf covered dome from front of house, showing stage lighting position Stanley dome.JPG
Gold-leaf covered dome from front of house, showing stage lighting position

Architects including Thom Weeks and Jennifer Stanley led renovations of the Stanley into a live theatre. [1] [5] Weeks was initially disappointed with the state of the pre-renovated theatre, which looked "pretty tired" with its aged orange walls and sticky, soft drink-stained carpets. [5] However, by the time the renovations were completed, and the actors and musicians were getting ready to first perform in it, there was a general feeling of excitement about the theatre. [5] Renovations included expansion of the lobby, reconfiguration of the balcony, an expansion of the stage to twice its original size, a new twenty-five metre fly tower from which to raise and lower scenery, new dressing rooms, a trap room, an electrical room and a green room backstage, a reduction of the number of seats from 1,216 to 650, a crush bar in the old projection booth, a section cut out of the theatre's dome to use for spotlights, and a full restoration of the theatre's gold-leafed plaster decorations. [5] [46] As a result of these renovations, in 1999 the theatre was awarded a City of Vancouver Heritage Award, [27] as well as an IES International Illumination Design Award. [46]

Effects on the local area

A 2003 study claimed the Stanley's renovation brought positive economic effects to the theatre's local area, bounded by 8th Street and 17th between Fir and Hemlock. [40] According to the study, this area became more of a leisure/recreation destination, with many new culturally related businesses, retail stores and service-related businesses opening. An increase in overall sales was noted and 76% of surveyed residents responded that the theatre's reopening had a positive effect on the community. Business respondents also reportedly had a positive view of the theatre's effects. [40]

Live stage

The 2004-2005 production of Funny Girl Stanley Theatre at night.jpg
The 2004–2005 production of Funny Girl

After renovation, owing to du Maurier's sponsorship, the facility was named the Stanley Theatre du Maurier Stage, taken over by the Arts Club Theatre Company and later became their main stage. [47] This venue has allowed the Arts Club to put on new kinds of shows, such as large musicals, classics and productions from around the world. [47] The first production was Swing! , which opened on October 28, 1998 and had a successful run, [47] [48] followed by Hamlet . [48] In addition to showing Arts Club productions, the theatre is rented out for other purposes, including business and educational presentations, [40] and has been used for comedy acts and concerts, such as Lorne Elliott, [49] Francis Cabrel, [50] and RyanDan. [51]

By 2005 du Maurier had withdrawn as a sponsor and, along with its over-budget renovation costs, the Stanley was left with a $2 million mortgage. [42] That year Industrial Alliance Pacific Life Insurance Company made a $1.5 million donation, and on April 5 the theatre was renamed the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage for the next twenty years. [27] [41]

Productions

2019–2020 Season
ShowRun Dates
A Thousand Splendid Suns September 12, 2019 – October 13, 2019
The Sound of Music November 7, 2019 – January 5, 2020
Noises Off January 23, 2020 – February 23, 2020
carried away on the crest of a waveCancelled due to COVID-19
Kinky Boots Cancelled due to COVID-19
2018–2019 Season [52]
ShowRun Dates
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time September 6, 2018 – October 7, 2018 [53]
Sweat October 18, 2018 – November 18, 2018
Disney's Beauty and the Beast December 1, 2018 – January 6, 2019
The Matchmaker January 24, 2019 – February 24, 2019
The Orchard (After Chekov) March 21, 2019 – April 21, 2019
Matilda the Musical May 16, 2019 – July 14, 2019

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gilligan
  2. 1 2 3 Mathison 2006
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Celebrating Our History: The Stanley Theatre—South Granville's Beating Heart , p. 3
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Policy Report Development and Building: Proposed Rezoning of 2750 Granville Street (Stanley Theatre)
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Inwood 1998 , pp. B1–B2
  6. ↑ Grand Opening Tonight at 5 p.m. of the Stanley Theatre (advertisement) , p. 12
  7. ↑ Stanley Theatre Previews CinemaScope Tonite! (advertisement) , p. 40
  8. 1 2 South Pacific (advertisement) , p. 48
  9. ↑ Hauerslev, Thomas (2008-01-24). "DP70s in Canada" . Retrieved 2008-05-06.
  10. ↑ Days of Heaven (advertisement) , p. A17
  11. ↑ Young Sherlock Holmes (advertisement) , p. C49
  12. ↑ Hartl 2004
  13. ↑ The Exorcist (advertisement) , p. 62
  14. ↑ Cinema (January 17, 1975) , p. 39A
  15. ↑ The Muppet Movie (advertisement) , p. B6
  16. ↑ Apocalypse Now (advertisement) , p. C11
  17. ↑ The Empire Strikes Back (advertisement) , p. C8
  18. ↑ The Elephant Man (advertisement) , p. E5
  19. ↑ Poltergeist (advertisement) , p. C2
  20. ↑ What's On (March 23, 1984) , p. C3
  21. ↑ What's On (July 6, 1984) , p. B3
  22. ↑ Top Gun (advertisement) , p. 10
  23. ↑ Empire of the Sun (advertisement) , p. 18
  24. ↑ Movies (June 16, 1989) , p. D2
  25. ↑ Eisner 1990
  26. 1 2 3 Aird 1991
  27. 1 2 3 Davis
  28. ↑ Fantasia (advertisement—October 7, 1977) , p. C10
  29. ↑ Fantasia (advertisement—February 2, 1979) , p. 37
  30. ↑ Fantasia (advertisement—December 22, 1980) , p. C3
  31. ↑ Fantasia (advertisement—January 22, 1981) , p. A21
  32. ↑ Fantasia (advertisement—October 9, 1990) , p. 42C
  33. ↑ Corporate Information: 100 Years of Movie History
  34. ↑ Fine Arts Theatre
  35. ↑ Denman Place Cinema
  36. ↑ Park Royal Cinema Closed , p. A2
  37. ↑ Stewart 2005
  38. ↑ Capitol 6 Theatre
  39. ↑ Kalmon
  40. 1 2 3 4 5 Jones 2005
  41. 1 2 Stanley Theatre moves to the next stage with $1.5 million donation
  42. 1 2 3 Thomas 2005
  43. ↑ Administrative Report
  44. ↑ One Wall Centre
  45. ↑ City of Vancouver: Regular Council Meeting
  46. 1 2 The Stanley Theatre, Vancouver, BC (Total Lighting Solutions)
  47. 1 2 3 Company History (Arts Club Theatre Company)
  48. 1 2 Page
  49. ↑ MacPherson 2006
  50. ↑ Francis Cabrel à Vancouver le 11 Juillet 2007
  51. ↑ RyanDan
  52. ↑ Shows (2018/2019 Season)
  53. ↑ The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time: Play Guide
  54. ↑ Shows (2017/2018 Season)
  55. ↑ Shows (2016/2017 Season)
  56. ↑ Shows (2015/2016 Season)
  57. ↑ 2014/2015 Season
  58. ↑ 2013/2014 Season
  59. ↑ 2012/2013 Season
  60. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Show Archives
  61. ↑ Member Services (April 2002)
  62. ↑ Member Services (June 2002)
  63. ↑ Curtain Call (Summer 2000) , p. 6
  64. 1 2 3 Reviews 2000
  65. 1 2 3 4 Curtain Call (January 2001)
  66. ↑ Farolan (October 1999)
  67. ↑ Farolan (December 1999)
  68. 1 2 Farolan (September 1999)
  69. ↑ Reviews 1998
  70. 1 2 3 Reviews 1999
  71. ↑ Farolan (May 1999)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vancouver</span> City in British Columbia, Canada

Vancouver is a major city in western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the city, up from 631,486 in 2016. The Greater Vancouver area had a population of 2.6 million in 2021, making it the third-largest metropolitan area in Canada. Greater Vancouver, along with the Fraser Valley, comprises the Lower Mainland with a regional population of over 3 million. Vancouver has the highest population density in Canada, with over 5,700 people per square kilometre, and fourth highest in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granville Island</span> Island in Vancouver, British Columbia

Granville Island is a peninsula and shopping district in the Fairview neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, across False Creek from Downtown Vancouver, under the south end of the Granville Street Bridge. Formerly an industrial manufacturing area, it was named after Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AMC Theatres</span> American movie theater chain

AMC Entertainment Holdings, Inc. is an American movie theater chain founded in Kansas City, Missouri, and now headquartered in Leawood, Kansas. It is the largest movie theater chain in the world. Founded in 1920, AMC has the largest share of the U.S. theater market ahead of Regal and Cinemark Theatres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Granville, Vancouver</span> Neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Established in 1997, South Granville is an upscale Business Improvement Area (BIA) and neighbourhood south of Vancouver's downtown core, centred along Granville Street and bordered by the neighbourhoods of Kitsilano, Fairview and Shaughnessy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Movie palace</span> Type of movie theater

A movie palace is any of the large, elaborately decorated movie theaters built between the 1910s and the 1940s. The late 1920s saw the peak of the movie palace, with hundreds opening every year between 1925 and 1930. With the advent of television, movie attendance dropped, while the rising popularity of large multiplex chains in the 1980s and 1990s signaled the obsolescence of single-screen theaters. Many movie palaces were razed or converted into multiple-screen venues or performing arts centers, though some have undergone restoration and reopened to the public as historic buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Mirvish Theatre</span> Toronto, Ontario Theatre

The Ed Mirvish Theatre is an historic performing arts theatre in Toronto, Ontario, located near Yonge–Dundas Square. Owned and operated by Mirvish Productions, the theatre has approximately 2,300 seats across two levels. There are two entrances to the theatre, located at 263 Yonge Street and 244 Victoria Street.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orpheum (Vancouver)</span> Theatre and music venue in Vancouver, Canada

The Orpheum is a theatre and music venue in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Along with the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the Vancouver Playhouse, and the Annex, it is part of the Vancouver Civic Theatres group of live performance venues. It is the permanent home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The Orpheum is located on Granville Street near Smithe Street in Vancouver's downtown core. The interior of the theatre was featured prominently in the award-winning 2004 reboot of Battlestar Galactica, where it is dressed to portray a heavenly opera house.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benedum Center</span> Theater and concert hall in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The Benedum Center for the Performing Arts is a theater and concert hall located at 237 7th Street in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Designed by the Philadelphia architectural firm Hoffman-Henon, it was built in 1928 as the Stanley Theatre. The former movie palace was renovated and reopened as the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granville Street</span> Street in Vancouver, British Columbia

Granville Street is a major street in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and part of Highway 99. Granville Street is most often associated with the Granville Entertainment District and the Granville Mall. This street also cuts through residential neighbourhoods like Shaughnessy and Marpole via the Granville Street Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arts Club Theatre Company</span> Theatrical company, Vancouver

The Arts Club Theatre Company is a Canadian professional theatre company in Vancouver, British Columbia, founded in 1958. It is the largest urban not-for-profit theatre company in the country and the largest in Western Canada, with productions taking place at the 650-seat Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage, the 440-seat Granville Island Stage, the 250-seat Newmont Stage at the BMO Theatre Centre, and on tour around the province. The company celebrated its 50th season in 2014 and produced its 600th production in 2017.

Vancouver, British Columbia, is one of Canada's largest cities and foremost cultural centres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">5th Avenue Theatre</span> Landmark theatre in Seattle, Washington

The 5th Avenue Theatre is a landmark theatre located in the Skinner Building, in the downtown core of Seattle, Washington, United States. It has hosted a variety of theatre productions and motion pictures since it opened in 1926. The building and land are owned by the University of Washington and were once part of the original campus. The theatre operates as a venue for nationally touring Broadway and original shows by the non-profit 5th Avenue Theatre Association.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senator Theatre</span> United States historic place

The Senator Theatre is a historic Art Deco movie theater on York Road in the Govans section of Baltimore, Maryland. It is the oldest operating movie theater in central Maryland and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Baltimore City Landmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden Bough Playhouse</span>

The Golden Bough Playhouse is a historic two-story theatre in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California on Monte Verde St., between 8th and 9th Avenues. The playhouse occupies the site of the former Carmel Arts and Crafts Club, Carmel's first cultural center and theatre, built in 1906–1907 on Casanova Street, and the Arts and Crafts Hall, built in 1923–1924 on an adjacent lot on Monte Verde Street. Since 1994, the facility has been owned and operated by Pacific Repertory Theatre, Monterey County's only year-round professional theatre company. A two-phase renovation of the aging facility began with an interior building project in 2011. A second phase project, including both interior and exterior renovations, is scheduled for 2021. The theatre was recorded with the National Register of Historic Places on July 3, 2002. It is significant as a California historic building because it is located on the original site of the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club and theatre, the oldest performing arts venues in Carmel.

Julie Anne Stewart is a Canadian stage, film, television and voice actress, and director. She is most commonly known for her role as Sgt. Ali McCormick from the CTV television series Cold Squad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Granville Entertainment District</span> Neighbourhood in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The Granville Entertainment District is a neighbourhood in Downtown Vancouver known for its vast assortment of bars, danceclubs, restaurants, nightlife, and urban adult oriented shops and entertainment. The entertainment district centred on a seven-block stretch of the Granville Mall and surrounding streets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carousel Theatre</span> Professional theatre company for young audiences in Canada

Carousel Theatre is a professional theatre company for young audiences located in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The company stages plays for young people, families and educators at the Waterfront Theatre and Performance Works on Granville Island and tours to elementary schools across British Columbia and Canada. It was also the first Canadian theatre company to offer signing during its performances for the hearing impaired. Carousel Theatre is a member of PACT, the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boston Opera House</span> Opera house in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

The Boston Opera House, also known as the Citizens Bank Opera House, is a performing arts and esports venue located at 539 Washington St. in Boston, Massachusetts. It was originally built as the B.F. Keith Memorial Theatre, a movie palace in the Keith-Albee chain. The chain became part of RKO when it was established just before the theater opened on October 29, 1928, and it was also known as the RKO Keith's Theater. After operating for more than 50 years as a movie theater, it was rededicated in 1980 as a home for the Opera Company of Boston, which performed there until the opera company closed down in 1990 due to financial problems. The theater was reopened in 2004 after a major restoration, and it currently serves as the home of the Boston Ballet and also hosts touring Broadway shows.

The Virtual Stage is a professional multimedia theatre company based out of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Founded in 2000 by Artistic Director Andy Thompson, The Virtual Stage focuses on the investigation of emerging technologies in theatre and often utilizes cinematic techniques and elements of film in its live productions.

<i>The Piano Teacher: A Healing Key</i> Play by Dorothy Dittrich

The Piano Teacher: A Healing Key is a play written by Canadian playwright Dorothy Dittrich. It is the winner of the 2022 Governor General's Literary Award for English-language drama. The play is available in paperback and was published by Talonbooks on September 6, 2022.

References

49°15′40.24″N123°8′18.83″W / 49.2611778°N 123.1385639°W / 49.2611778; -123.1385639

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.