Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay

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Savoy Theatre
Logo of the Savoy Theatre
The main auditorium of the Savoy Theatre
Map
Address116 Commercial Street
LocationGlace Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada
Coordinates46°11′47″N 59°57′26″W / 46.196333°N 59.957333°W / 46.196333; -59.957333
Public transitTransit Cape Breton
Routes 1, 2, 3
OwnerThe Savoy Theatre Society
TypeTheatre
Genre(s)live theatre, music, concerts, dance, film
Seating typeSoft seat, reserved seating
Capacity761
Construction
Built1927
Opened1927
Renovated1974 - 1976
Expanded1997 - 1998
General contractorMacSween Contractors
Website
www.savoytheatre.com

The Savoy Theatre is a historic Victorian-Style theatre, established in 1901, with the present theatre building dating from 1927, operating as an arts and culture centre in Glace Bay, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Nova Scotia, Canada. It's main auditorium has a capacity of 761 including the balcony. The Savoy's foyer also hosts events (dinner theatres, weddings, reunions) for up to 100 people.[1]

History[edit]

The first Savoy Theatre[edit]

The original Savoy Theatre was built on Union Street in Glace Bay in 1901 by businessman John Connors as a vaudeville house. It was at first an "upstairs' theatre, on the second floor of an office building, and remained so until 1920 when it was remodeled and brought down to ground level. It had an orchestra pit, balcony, and ornate domed ceiling.[2] The large stage could easily accommodate a 24-foot boxing ring with ringside bleachers.[3][4] Vaudeville was staged there, along with magic shows, musicals, concerts, both sacred and secular, political meetings, and rallies.[5]

1927 fire and the new Savoy Theatre[edit]

The Savoy Theater cir. 1947

On 27 March of 1927,[2] the old Savoy was destroyed by fire which levelled an entire block of buildings as firemen were unable to contain the blaze to the theatre.[5][6] [7]

John Connors quickly rebuilt its replacement. The new Savoy Theatre, constructed to the specifications of the famed Victorian show houses with seating for 1,200 patrons,[8] opened its doors on 11 November 1927, less that eight months after the fire that destroyed its predecessor.[9][10][2] Built by MacSween Contractors, the new theatre was complete with elaborate decoration including rococo chandeliers. The stage was equipped with a "hemp" fly system, (a.k.a. rope line common to the period), contained in the fly loft above the stage, as well as a fire curtain.[11]

For the next few decades the Savoy operated both as a movie theatre and as a vaudeville house, and hosted many of the world's finest entertainers, including W.C. Fields, and a young Sammy Davis Jr. (in 1937 at the age of 12).[12] The Savoy was also the preferred location for boxing matches,[13] and other large-scale spectacles.[1]

Famous Players ownership[edit]

The Savoy Theatre cir. 1950

In the mid-1950s, owners John Connors, and later his wife, contracted with Famous Players Canadian Corporation to operate the Savoy as a Famous Players Movie Theatre.[14] Sometime after that Famous Players assumed ownership and complete control of the venue and operated it exclusively as a movie theatre.

1974 purchase by the Town of Glace Bay and restoration[edit]

In 1974 the Town of Glace Bay purchased the theatre from Famous Players for $45,000[15][16] with the intention of restoring it for use by the community. Both Federal and Provincial funding was secured, allowing the Town to begin a renovation program to restore the Savoy under the guidance of Mandel Sprachman, the Toronto architect who restored the city’s legendary Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres to their original splendour.[17][18] The renovations followed along the lines of the original building and no major changes were made to the superstructure. The ornate rococo chandeliers were retained and refurbished, and new sound and projection equipment was installed. The stage equipment, including hemp line sets, Dressing-rooms and other facilities were updated.[14] The restoration cost close to $600,000 to complete.[15]

1976 Dedication Plaque

The restored Savoy, now seating 875,[8] was officially opened by Mayor Dan A Munroe and the Glace Bay Town Council on 17 May 1976,[2] with Lieutenant-Governor Clarence Gosse, Premier Gerald Regan, and leader of the Opposition John Buchanan of Nova Scotia in attendance.

A large contingent of patrons travelled from Sydney via the Devco steam railway with No. 42 arriving at the Glace Bay Station shortly after 7 p.m. This group was escorted from the station to Union Street by the MacDougall Girl's Pipe Band. Ann Terry provided live radio coverage of the event while the Donkin Band provided music in front of the theatre prior to show time. One special guest was CBC Newscaster Lloyd Robertson.[19] The Glace Bay and Sydney Rotary clubs combined to mount a ten-day performance the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The King and I, directed by Don Gillies,[20] which at the time broke all box office records in the province.[1]

1991 fire and 1993 reopening[edit]

1993 Dedication Plaque

The Savoy Theatre sustained damage as a result of a fire on Sunday, 2 June, 1991.[21] The fire appeared to have originated in the wiring in or around a Floor Pocket (a receptacle set into the stage floor). The fire ran under the stage floor to the rear wall of the stage house where it shot up the 60 feet toward the roof. The fire was reported by a passing taxi driver around 5:00 am that morning[7] and firemen were able to extinguish the fire before the building was lost. Most of the fire damage was contained to the dressing rooms located below the stage, the back wall, and a portable trailer located at the rear of the stage house. The damage was extensive and costly. There was smoke and water damage to other areas of the theatre but the structure remained sound.[11]

Mandel Sprachman, the architect who oversaw the 1974 renovations, was flown in from the United States for an initial assessment of the damage.[17]

In addition to the repairs required from the fire, the Savoy Theatre had additional upgrades completed at this time, including the addition of a Backstage Shop, Production Offices, and Green Room at the rear of the Stage House, upgrades to the dressing rooms, a restored and reopened Orchestra Pit, and replacement of both the sound and lighting systems. The balcony floor was further raised in tiers to improve sight lines. Pembroke Construction was hired to carry out the restoration work[22] which cost $1.3 million dollars.[2]

On completion of the work a Grand Re-Opening was held as a 3-day celebration, and ran from 7 to 9 May 1993.

1997–1998 expansion[edit]

Foyer (Lobby) Annex

A further 2.3 million capital expansion project in 1997 saw the addition of a 50' x 60' two story glassed annex with a portable stage for small events, seating up to 150. The new addition moved the theater entrance to the corner of Union and Commercial Streets and included a new box office, a commercial kitchen, a gift shop, bar facilities, expanded washrooms including an accessible washroom, an elevator, along with a gallery space on the second floor, and expanded administration office space.[23] A sprinkler system was installed and the main auditorium's ceiling was reconstructed and repainted with smaller details including the fleur-de-lys and daisies from the original 1927 ceiling highlighted in silver.[24] The Savoy stayed open through the 18 months of renovations and on completion a ribbon cutting and concert were held on 13 June 1998 to celebrate the new space.[25]

2018-2019 upgrades[edit]

The Auditorium

The most recent upgrades occurred between 2018 and 2019. With the help of $2.93 million in funding from the federal and provincial governments the Savoy modernized many key aspects of the theatre.[26] These renovations included much improved insulation and modernized heating and air conditioning throughout the building, renovations to the lobby area, repairs to the foundation, new performer/production washrooms equipped with showers, remodeling of the dressing rooms and the Green Room, renovated public washrooms on both the main level and balcony level, upgrades to outdoor lighting and canopy, a new metal roof, and upgrades to all sound and lighting systems.[27]

The Savoy remained open and shows continued while the upgrades were completed.[26]

The Savoy Theatre today[edit]

Since then, the Savoy has provided a wide variety of culture entertainment. Over 40,000 people attend performances at the Savoy Theatre each year.[28]

“The Savoy has been providing entertainment for Cape Breton for 90 years which is a big milestone,” says Pam Leader, executive director of Glace Bay’s Savoy Theatre. “There aren’t many other theatres this old - the Imperial in St. John may be 100 - the Savoy is definitely one of the oldest live theatre venues in Canada and we’re still going strong.”[28]

The Savoy stage has been graced by a virtual Who's Who of Cape Breton and Canadian talent, including Rita MacNeil, The Rankin Family, The Barra MacNeils, Ashley MacIssac, The White Stripes,[29] The Barenaked Ladies, k.d. lang, Mr. Dressup, Sarah McLaughlin, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Blue Rodeo, Liona Boyd, Harry Chapin, Melissa Etheridge, Leonard Cohen,[30] and hundreds of others.[1]

Recent productions have included performances by Johnny Reid, Brett Kissel, Jeremy Dutcher, Raine Maida and Chantal Kreviazuk, as well as Johnny Reid's new musical Maggie.[31]

About a decade ago Savoy Theatre management took an in-depth look at the theatre’s operation and realized the business model wasn't working so the theatre changed direction and now 80 per cent of its shows are self-produced.[26] Recent inhouse productions have included the musicals 'Dear Rita',[32] Grease,[33] Matilda the Musical,[33] The Rocky Horror Show,[33] Beauty and the Beast,[33] Into the Woods,[33] Chicago,[33] The Little Mermaid Jr.[33] Les Misérables,[33] Finding Nemo: The Big Blue... and Beyond!, 'Elf',[34] and 'Jersey Boys'.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d MacLean, Bertha Ann. "The Savoy Theatre!". The Cape Bretoner. 10/4 (Fall 2002): 28–31.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Savoy Rises Again". Halifax Chronicle Herald. The Chronicle Herald. 7 May 1993.
  3. ^ "Savoy Open To Public On Sunday". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network. 7 May 1976. p. 15. First glimpse of renovated theatre
  4. ^ Pemberton, J. Earle (October 1960). "Big Neil J.MacDonald and His Seven Fighting Sons" (PDF). Punching with Pemberton. p. 4. Retrieved 2 May 2024. The bout took place in the Savoy Theatre, June 29, 1926. Here is the press report: "Stevie puts Chisholm away in eighth. Roy Chisholm never had a chance of beating Stevie MacDonald in their bout last night, staged by the Police Club at the Savoy Theatre."
  5. ^ a b "The Savoy is province's new theatre with long history". Halifax Chronical Herald. The Chronicle Herald. 14 May 1976. p. 21.
  6. ^ Marsh, Dolores (16 January 1988). "Ambitious plans under way for Savoy". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network.
  7. ^ a b Hines, Greg (1 April 1992). "Faulty wiring caused the Savoy fire". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network.
  8. ^ a b Werenka, Candi (26 November 1991). "Savoy Theatre expected to be back in business by summer". Halifax Chronicle Herald. The Chronicle Herald.
  9. ^ "Injury Suite". Variety. 78 (3). New York: Variety inc.: 6 4 March 1925. Retrieved 23 April 2024. The Savoy theatre. Glace Bay, and John Connors, manager...
  10. ^ "Savoy Tonight". Glace Bay Gazette. The Gazette Publishing Company Ltd. 17 November 1927. p. 4.
  11. ^ a b Hines, Greg (27 April 1992). "Town of Glace Bay calls for tenders to carry out major renovations to Savoy". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network.
  12. ^ Carson, Lila (7 August 2017). "Lila Carson: Glace Bay showplace is 90 years old, still going strong". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  13. ^ Pemberton, J. Earle (December 1960). "BOXING Savoy Theatre, Glace Bay" (PDF). Punching with Pemberton. p. 4. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  14. ^ a b Phalen, Paul. "Savoy Theatre". Cinema Treasures. Cinema Treasures, LLC. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  15. ^ a b Gerus, Claire (8 February 1982). "Dusting off the grand old movie palaces". MacLeans Magazine: 46–47. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  16. ^ Deed (20627 ed.). Sydney Registry of Deeds: Famous Players Ltd. 28 October 1974. p. 824.
  17. ^ a b Hickey, Ed (2 July 1991). "Savoy Theatre to emerge Phoenix-like". Halifax Chronicle Herald. The Chronical Herald.
  18. ^ Gladstone, Bill. "Obit: Mandel Sprachman (1925-2002)". Bill Gladstone Genealogy. Bill Gladstone Genealogy. Retrieved 27 April 2024. Originally published in Globe and Mail
  19. ^ "Rotary Guests Arrive". Cape Breton Post. 17 May 1976. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Glittering Opening For Savoy Theatre". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network. 18 May 1976. Pre-Show Festivities Attract Crowd
  21. ^ Casagrande, Alvise (3 June 1991). "Savoy damaged by fire". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network.
  22. ^ "Savoy expected to reopen in early April". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network. 23 November 1992.
  23. ^ McNamara, Erin (28 October 1997). "Savoy renovations near completion". Cape Breton Post. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  24. ^ Collier, Tanya (21 February 1997). "Savoy's ceiling restored". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network.
  25. ^ Hayes, Chris (10 June 1998). "Saturday showcase for Savoy expansion". Cape Breton Post. Retrieved 5 May 2024.
  26. ^ a b c King, Nancy (23 February 2018). "Setting the stage at the Glace Bay theatre". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  27. ^ "Savoy Theatre Virtual Tour". YouTube - Savoy Theatre. Savoy Theatre Society. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  28. ^ a b Patterson, Elizabeth (31 December 2016). "Glace Bay's Savoy Theatre turns 90 this year". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  29. ^ "White Stripes? Glace Bay sees green". CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. 11 July 2007. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  30. ^ "More Leonard Cohen shows set for N.S." CBC News. CBC/Radio-Canada. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  31. ^ Sullivan, Nicole (26 September 2023). "Showtime! Johnny Reid's musical tribute to 'strong,' 'firey' grandmother hits Savoy stage". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  32. ^ "Dear Rita returns to the Savoy Theatre after winning Robert Merritt Award". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network. 17 May 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g h "Savoy Photo Gallery". Savoy Theatre. Savoy Theatre. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
  34. ^ "'Elf (musical)' bringing Christmas spirit to Cape Breton's Savoy Theatre". Cape Breton Post. SaltWire Network. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
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External links[edit]

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