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Monday, January 13, 2020
This incredible Canadian theatre is the last of its kind in the world
curiocity.com: Here’s a fun party fact for ya: Toronto’s Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre is the last functioning double-decker theatre in the entire world! Yes, kind of obscure. Yes, actually pretty cool. Stay tuned for more fun facts about this National Historic Site.
Holy cow, this theatre is freaking BEAUTIFUL! I had to look up what a double-decker theatre was because it was unclear to me (which goes to show how rare they are, I guess), but now that I know, I’m in awe. I wonder how common double-decker theatres used to be that this one is the last functioning one left in the world. Why were they made to begin with? Like, what was the appeal/purpose? I feel like there’s a lot to unpack here that I wish the article would’ve touched on, but showcasing/making known this historical theatre site is nice enough. I’ve always wanted to visit Canada, and I think this would be an awesome place to go see if I ever get the chance. Beautiful theatres are my favorite, which is why I’ve always loved the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Not only is it incredibly gorgeous, in my opinion, there are actually a couple weird quirks that I love. If I remember correctly, at the back of house left there is a little, obscure window. That window is actually for an apartment, and the man that lived there was apparently old and unwilling to move despite the theatre’s efforts to buy out the property. Essentially, this man could open his curtains and watch any show he wanted right from his home! Now, I’m not sure about the validity of this story I’ve been told and if it’s just some tall tale, but I’ve always appreciated that little quirk about the space and love hearing about other abnormal qualities to theatres.
I wish this article said more about what a double-decker theatre was, as well as why they were ever used and why they are no longer used today. But as far as theatres go, these two are beautiful. Especially the Winter Garden Theatre and the fairy wonderland theme it has. I have so many questions about how a double-decker theatre functions that I would like to do more research on. Do they play shows at the same time? Is there any noise bleed between the two if they are right on top of each other? I kind of understand why this isn’t super popular anymore, it probably costs a lot and might not be the most practical thing in the world, but I do really appreciate that there is this one theatre left that still functions. There are so many different kinds of theaters and styles of theaters and other things in the industry that I don’t know anything about so I am glad people are preserving things and sharing about them so the world can know.
This is incredible! I have never seen any theater like this before. With how massive and elaborate it looks just in photos makes me want to visit this place. Immediately I was drawn to the garden like ceilings that are shown in the photos. I still don't quite understand the two story aspect of the theater. In the article it seems like there are exactly two shows going on at the same time, one on floor one and the other on floor two. I am curious if this theater still puts on two performances at the same time. Also, if the shows do happen at the same time, the theater then needs to hire double the cast and create two whole productions. And would these shows be the same or do they have two different shows going on at the same time? Either way, both theaters look absolutely stunning. I wish there were more photos. Oh also, wouldn't the one show be able to hear the other show going on? I wonder how much of a problem that is.
This is such a beautiful space. I am very fond of older theatres because they are often more ornate and detailed in their architecture and décor. Sometimes I find more modern theatre spaces feel more bare and industrial, so I feel that some of the artistry is lost or just reserved for the production. When I travel, I usually make an effort to tour theatres, if I am not able to see a production. This past winter break, I was able to go on a backstage tour of the Teatro Nacional San Joao. The space was gorgeous and grand, but we were informed that the farmost seats and the boxes with obstructed views were not even sold for performances. In this article's featured theatre, I wish more photos or ground plans were include because I am still unsure about the functionality of this theatre. Seeing the backstage would also be very interesting in understanding how the spaces are utilized.
4 comments:
Holy cow, this theatre is freaking BEAUTIFUL! I had to look up what a double-decker theatre was because it was unclear to me (which goes to show how rare they are, I guess), but now that I know, I’m in awe. I wonder how common double-decker theatres used to be that this one is the last functioning one left in the world. Why were they made to begin with? Like, what was the appeal/purpose? I feel like there’s a lot to unpack here that I wish the article would’ve touched on, but showcasing/making known this historical theatre site is nice enough. I’ve always wanted to visit Canada, and I think this would be an awesome place to go see if I ever get the chance. Beautiful theatres are my favorite, which is why I’ve always loved the Fox Theatre in Atlanta. Not only is it incredibly gorgeous, in my opinion, there are actually a couple weird quirks that I love. If I remember correctly, at the back of house left there is a little, obscure window. That window is actually for an apartment, and the man that lived there was apparently old and unwilling to move despite the theatre’s efforts to buy out the property. Essentially, this man could open his curtains and watch any show he wanted right from his home! Now, I’m not sure about the validity of this story I’ve been told and if it’s just some tall tale, but I’ve always appreciated that little quirk about the space and love hearing about other abnormal qualities to theatres.
I wish this article said more about what a double-decker theatre was, as well as why they were ever used and why they are no longer used today. But as far as theatres go, these two are beautiful. Especially the Winter Garden Theatre and the fairy wonderland theme it has. I have so many questions about how a double-decker theatre functions that I would like to do more research on. Do they play shows at the same time? Is there any noise bleed between the two if they are right on top of each other? I kind of understand why this isn’t super popular anymore, it probably costs a lot and might not be the most practical thing in the world, but I do really appreciate that there is this one theatre left that still functions. There are so many different kinds of theaters and styles of theaters and other things in the industry that I don’t know anything about so I am glad people are preserving things and sharing about them so the world can know.
This is incredible! I have never seen any theater like this before. With how massive and elaborate it looks just in photos makes me want to visit this place. Immediately I was drawn to the garden like ceilings that are shown in the photos. I still don't quite understand the two story aspect of the theater. In the article it seems like there are exactly two shows going on at the same time, one on floor one and the other on floor two. I am curious if this theater still puts on two performances at the same time. Also, if the shows do happen at the same time, the theater then needs to hire double the cast and create two whole productions. And would these shows be the same or do they have two different shows going on at the same time? Either way, both theaters look absolutely stunning. I wish there were more photos. Oh also, wouldn't the one show be able to hear the other show going on? I wonder how much of a problem that is.
-Pablo Anton
This is such a beautiful space. I am very fond of older theatres because they are often more ornate and detailed in their architecture and décor. Sometimes I find more modern theatre spaces feel more bare and industrial, so I feel that some of the artistry is lost or just reserved for the production. When I travel, I usually make an effort to tour theatres, if I am not able to see a production. This past winter break, I was able to go on a backstage tour of the Teatro Nacional San Joao. The space was gorgeous and grand, but we were informed that the farmost seats and the boxes with obstructed views were not even sold for performances. In this article's featured theatre, I wish more photos or ground plans were include because I am still unsure about the functionality of this theatre. Seeing the backstage would also be very interesting in understanding how the spaces are utilized.
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