Teatro Principal
Avenida Sur 2 y Plaza Bolivar,
Caracas
Avenida Sur 2 y Plaza Bolivar,
Caracas
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Additional Info
Architects: Gustavo Wallis
Functions: Live Theatre
Styles: Art Deco, Neo-Classical
Nearby Theaters
The Teatro Principal is located on a corner of the Plaza Bolivar in the Central district of Caracas.
It opened on 18th April 1931 with Jean Harlow in “Hell’s Angels”. The architect was Gustavo Wallis who designed a splendid cinema on a corner site. It was the first theatre in Venezuela to be constructed of steel frame design and have a beam balcony and acoustic treatment on the walls. The façade is in a Neo Classical style whilst the interior was in an Art Deco style with interior designs by Lahalle & Levard of Paris, France, in collaboration with Venezuelian interior designer Carmen de las Casas.
Seating was provided on two levels which were split between 550 in the stalls, 340 in the front balcony, 80 seats in the side slips and 400 in the gallery (rear balcony).
Despite the name ‘Principal’ (Main) it was actually the second main cinema in the Central district of Caracas. It boasted a large stage which was used regularly during the early years. Famed Argentinian dancer/singer/actor Carlos Gardel appeared here in April 1935 as did Berta Singermann.
It was re-modelled in 1953 which unfortunately destroyed the original Art Deco style interior decorations.
It became a Mexican movie house in the 1990’s and has recently closed, having been purchased by the Metropolitan Government who were, in April 2006, undertaking a complete restoration and renovation of the building. It had re-opened by May 2014.
Contributed by
KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
Two photographs taken in April 2006 during renovation:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/130215807/
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/130216165/
I would like to post some original photos of this theater. Now I am working in the restoration project.
Regards
Arch. Cecilia Barboza
That would be great Cecilia. I for one would love to see the original photos.
You can post them on here by scanning them into your Flickr.com account and then add a link to that page onto this page.
Looking forward>>>>>Thanks
Here is a photograph I took in March 2007 of a vintage view of the Teatro Principal which hangs from the scaffold currently covering the building:
http://flickr.com/photos/kencta/561608272/