Pantages (Canon) Theatre (Toronto, Ontario Canada - 1989)

The Pantages Theatre, a 1920 Thomas Lamb vaudeville palace, had fallen into a state of considerable disrepair, and was split into six cinemas in 1972. In 1988, the owners commenced a painstaking historical restoration of the structure and its conversion to a modern, legitimate theatre. Lobby areas were reconfigured to incorporate bars, boutiques, new washrooms, advance ticket sales and administration space. The stage tower was raised ten feet, and an area created beneath the auditorium floor to house dressing rooms, support facilities, mechanical areas and trap room. Sight lines were dramatically improved by altering the slopes of both the main floor and balcony, and more generous seating was provided.

Through extensive analysis and research, all of the original finishes, colours, materials and details of the 1920 theatre were faithfully duplicated in the restoration. The result is one of the most elaborate and comprehensive projects of its type in Canada. The theatre received awards for historic preservation from both the Architectural Conservancy of Toronto and the Toronto Historical Board.

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