Imperial Theatre, Saint John

The Imperial Theatre, in Saint John, New Brunswick, was designed by Philadelphia architect Albert Westover and built in 1912 by the Imperial Theatre by the Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation vaudeville chain of New York City and their Canadian subsidiary, the Saint John Amusements Company Ltd. It opened to the public on September 19, 1913.

One of Canada's first comedy troupes, The Dumbbells staged several of their first shows there. Many early stars of silent film had their films played in the Imperial, such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Fatty Arbuckle, Greta Garbo, and Harold Lloyd.

The theatre was designed as a modern adaptation of the Italian Renaissance, and opened on September 19, 1913, and was used both for live vaudeville acts as well as "talkies". In 1929, it was renamed the Capitol Theatre, and like most vaudeville houses across the continent, became a cinema.

From 1957-1982 the Imperial Theatre was used as a meeting space by the Full Gospel Assembly. In 1982 the Imperial was abandoned by the religious group.

Decaying and open to the elements, the Imperial Theatre, in the mid-80s, was becoming an eyesore in uptown Saint John.

Renaissance of the Imperial Theatre

In the mid-1980s, a grass-roots campaign began to save the theatre began with a $1 down-payment (on a $1 million option to purchase the building, with the balance due within one year) by a local taxi driver. By the deadline, over $1.1 million had been raised, most of which was contributed by the citizens of Saint John. This is the reason for the high interest in the Imperial - every individual in the city owns a part of it. Seats in the theatre have the names of contributors.

The theatre has been restored to its 1913 glory, with the original mouldings and intricate plasterwork having been repaired or replicated. The interior of the Imperial has been faithfully re-created. The Imperial has been designated a National Historic Site.

Technical Details

Imperial Theatre is a fully-restored Victorian proscenium arch-type facility. The arch is a spectacular architectural feat, and frames the stage beautifully from all viewing positions.

STAGE DIMENSIONS

Proscenium archwidth: 42’ - 6’height: 26’ - 2’ (at centre line)

Curtain line toupstage wall: 42’ - 0’downstage apron: 3’ - 0’edge of pit elevator: 11’ - 0’

Centre-line tostage left clear: 48’ - 6’"stage right clear: 38’ - 3"

Wing free heightup stage left: 21’ - 6"down stage left: 27’ - 5"stage right: 22’

External links

* [http://www.imperialtheatre.nb.ca/site/index.php Imperial Theatre site]
* [http://www.tourismsaintjohn.com/files/fuse.cfm?section=13&screen=183 City of Saint John Historic Sites]