Pantages Theatre
150 East Hastings Street,
Vancouver,
BC
V6A 1N4
150 East Hastings Street,
Vancouver,
BC
V6A 1N4
4 people
favorited this theater
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Status for the Pantages should read Demolished, as it shows in the current Google street view that there is currently new construction up at the old Pantages site. The theatre was demolished in 2011, according to CinemaTour – [link]
This website was originally created to save the Pantages and contains some additional historical information; it is uncertain how long it remain accessible since the effort unfortunately failed.
Dec 17, 2009: The Pantages Theatre Arts Society has abandoned its struggle to preserve and restore Vancouver’s Historic Pantages Theatre â€" Heritage Vancouver urges the City of Vancouver to find a way to preserve The Pantages.
View link
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What a sad commentation if heritage value and history does not mean a thing. We’ve already lost the old Imperial Theatre. This Pantages Theatre is one of the earliest built and is also the oldest remaining structure to still stand. I still recall a time when the Carnegie Library was going to be razed as well before being saved.
From View link
Regrettably there is no good news to report on the Pantages Theatre. Last July (2008) the previous City Council turned down the current owner’s final proposal to restore the Pantages Theatre. In September 2008, instead of purchasing the Theatre, Vancouver City Council agreed to conduct a feasibility study, which to date has not been started. The current Council has had no discussion with the owner and has shown no interest in reversing the previous council’s decision.
The sale of the Pantages is progressing and it is our understanding that the interested purchaser does not intend to retain the building. In the meantime the Theatre’s condition has deteriorated so rapidly it is now off limits to visitors. It appears that Vancouver will lose a 101-year old theatre, unique in all of western Canada.
I have started a Facebook group focusing on efforts to save the Pantages…
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=45653505791
And I have created a petition to the City of Vancouver Mayor & Council…
http://www.petitiononline.com/pantages/
Sadly, this project may now be dead…
View link
Just for clarification, there were two Pantages Theater in Vancouver at one time. The first was built in 1907 and opened to the public on January 6, 1908. This is not the structured designed by Architect B. Marcus Priteca. The original, at 152 East Hastings operated as the Pantages from 1907 to about 1930. It later became the State (which also had live burlesque performances),Avon, City Lights and Sun Sing Theater showing Chinese movies.
That Vancouver building at 152 East Hastings is the oldest theatre in Greater Vancouver, the oldest remaining Pantages theatre in North America, and one of the oldest purpose-built vaudeville theatre interiors in Canada. Yes slayerfan, it must be saved and it is going to be saved by people who believe there is no such word as “impossible”.
I cannot tell you everything because I only took the tour today but I would suggest that you get in touch with someone from the City Opera company and find out how and when to take a tour of this old falling apart building and get the news about what is planned for this fantastic old dame of a building.
I have no idea who or what building Barnaby is writing about unless it is the building along Hastings across from the Army and Navy that was torn down decades ago. The one at 152 East Hastings is a 650 seater not 1200.
I remember this theatre as the City Lights that showed Rocky Horror and all sorts anti drug movies, and Cheech and Chong movies that played in the mid 1970’s.
There is a lot of work being planned for this old building and buildings next to it as well. When all these things are finished Vancouver will have a wonderful intimate, state of the art theatre for local and beamed out via the Net and television broadcasts. You are going to be very pleased. Things are going to change in that area of town. People in the Carnegie centre are aware of these changes coming about gradually and can inform you about the theatre plans that will change the area or at least go along with the changes that are going to happen. RIght now though that part of town is a horrible depressing place as you described.
Try to take the tour it is really informative.
as of mar 2005 there is still no known plans to save this absolute gem of a theatre
it is in EXTREME danger being located on the most run down crime ridden street in the city!
this theatre must be saved!!!!http://www.vcn.bc.ca/hrtgvanc/pantages.htm here are some pictures of this GEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ALL READY FOR OPENING OF CITY’S NEW THEATRE
New Pantages Said to be Finest Vaudeville House West Of Chicago
THE THEATRE INTERIOR DESCRIBED
Special Scenery and Decorations of the New Home of Vaudeville
The most beautiful and finest vaudeville theatre west of Chicago â€" is the claim made by the management of the new Pantages theatre which will be open next Monday night. That the claim is justified is the opinion of many, who have been privileged to view the interior of the new playhouse.
The theatre, which is now ready for occupancy represents an outlay of nearly $100,000 and is said to be as beautifully fitted and well arranged as any similar house on the Pacific Coast. In the auditorium there is room to seat 1246 people and every seat is so placed that a perfect view of the entire stage may be had. The stage measures 30 feet wide and is 38 feet in depth. This should give all the room necessary for the introduction of all acts in vaudeville now upon the stage.
Not the least important feature of the new theatre is the manner in which the exits and ventilating apparatus are arranged. There are twelve different places from which an audience can find access to the streets, and it is said that 1200 people can be let out of the house within two minutes. At both ends of the auditorium there have been placed large ventilating areas and along the sides of the theatre are air vents that will furnish an abundance of fresh ozone at all times. The place is to be heated by steam radiators, which have been freely distributed about the house.
The entire theatre is decorated in wine color with buff and gold trimmings and presents a most inviting appearance. The beautifully decorated boxes, four in number, are so located that the occupants may have a splendid view and yet not interfere with the view of the balance of the house. The scenery has been especially painted for the Pantages, and besides the great asbestos curtain there are some twenty odd “dropsâ€.
The new playhouse will be under the management of Mr. G. A. Calvert, Prof. John Thrill will be the leader of the Pantages orchestra and the stage will be under the most capable management. Mr. Pantages and Mr. Timmons, his executive head, will give the theatre their personal attention and will endeavor to do all in their power to make the house success.
For the opening program the management has selected one of the strongest bills that has ever been presented in the West. Frank Hill, the English Lion Tamer will head the lion in his most daring feat of entering the massive cage of Wallace, the most ferocious lion in captivity, and subjecting the beast to docility. Bunth and Bud, eccentric comedians, dancers and burlesquers are next upon the program. They are said to be splendid. Mr. and Mrs. Chick, two of the best comedy playlet artists upon the vaudeville stage, will give their version of matrimonial mishaps. They have repeated this performance in Seattle and Portland a number of times and at each engagement have attracted large houses. The Rusticana Trio, real Italian street singers are very clever. As saxophone soloists Davey and Everson are known to be the best upon the American stage. They will render their best selection during the coming week. B. B. Vincent will be the vocalist in the illustrated songs. He is said to have a splendid voice. Besides these special acts, there will be Pantages bioscope with new moving pictures and other minor features.
The new house will open for the first time Monday evening at 7:15.
From the April 12, 2004 edition of the Vancouver Courier , “Pantages Preservation Society says plans to re-open the historic theatre on East Hastings are dead after the city withdrew support for the project.”
The full article can be read at this link:
http://vancourier.com/042104/news/042104nn2.html
Patrick Gunn
Vancouver, BC
This is another Pantages project with B. Marcus Priteca as architect.