The Fifth Avenue’s house and stage are not symmetrical, due to the fact that it’s shoe-horned into an office building. The walls of the auditorium angle at slightly different angles, and the back wall of the stage is not parallel to the proscenium.
This is a beautiful theatre. I worked there many times after it became a musical theatre house. The basement was given over to the Eddie Bauer store on the lower level, making it a little difficult to load heavy musical instruments into what is a truncated orchestra pit without a pit elevator.
Does anyone in Canton know or remember W. Alan Kirk, who was probably the Technical Director for the 1980 renovation? He was a theatre professor at Ohio State, and I recall he left the university and moved to Canton to do this work. I was a student of his and he gave me and a friend a tour of the Palace at the time. It was very beautiful, and made quite an impact on me.
Sounds like the person asking about the movie theatre service cocktails and food is thinking of the old Music Hall, which at one point was the home to a dinner theatre, presented by Greg Thompson’s Follies. It reopened in the 80’s as the Emerald Palace, with a similar format. The Music Hall, which began as the Fox, was torn down in the early 90’s —– very sad.
John P., I am curious who were the house stagehands during your time there, as I may have known them. Orville? Floyd? Bennie?
The Fifth Avenue’s house and stage are not symmetrical, due to the fact that it’s shoe-horned into an office building. The walls of the auditorium angle at slightly different angles, and the back wall of the stage is not parallel to the proscenium.
This is a beautiful theatre. I worked there many times after it became a musical theatre house. The basement was given over to the Eddie Bauer store on the lower level, making it a little difficult to load heavy musical instruments into what is a truncated orchestra pit without a pit elevator.
Thanks, CantonPalaceTech for your answer about Mr. Kirk. Is he involved in the theatre currently?
Does anyone in Canton know or remember W. Alan Kirk, who was probably the Technical Director for the 1980 renovation? He was a theatre professor at Ohio State, and I recall he left the university and moved to Canton to do this work. I was a student of his and he gave me and a friend a tour of the Palace at the time. It was very beautiful, and made quite an impact on me.
If I recall correctly, the nearby UA Cinema has old blueprints of the Orpheum displayed on the wall in the lobby. Hi Rick!
Sounds like the person asking about the movie theatre service cocktails and food is thinking of the old Music Hall, which at one point was the home to a dinner theatre, presented by Greg Thompson’s Follies. It reopened in the 80’s as the Emerald Palace, with a similar format. The Music Hall, which began as the Fox, was torn down in the early 90’s —– very sad.