Burton Cummings Theatre facts for kids
Burton Cummings Theatre
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| Full name | Burton Cummings Theatre for the Performing Arts |
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| Former names | Walker Theatre (1907-33); (1991-2002) Odeon Theatre (1945-91) |
| Address | 364 Smith St Winnipeg, MB R3B 2H2 |
| Location | Central Park |
| Owner | True North |
| Capacity | 1,638 |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 18 February 1907 |
| Renovated |
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| Closed | 1933-45 |
| Reopened |
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| Architect | Howard C. Stone |
| Website | |
| Official name: Walker Theatre National Historic Site of Canada | |
| Designated: | 1991 |
The Burton Cummings Theatre is a famous theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It was built by a local show organizer named Corliss Powers Walker and was first called the Walker Theatre. In 2002, it was renamed after Burton Cummings, a well-known singer and songwriter who grew up in Winnipeg.
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History of the Theatre
Corliss Powers Walker owned many theatres. These theatres were located along the Northern Pacific Railway route. This railway ended in Winnipeg. Walker worked with a big Broadway company from New York. This partnership helped bring popular Broadway shows to his theatres. His group of theatres was known as the Red River Valley Theatre Circuit.
Building the Walker Theatre
The land for the theatre was bought in July 1905. The theatre was built between 1906 and 1907. It might have opened earlier, in December 1906, but there was a workers' strike. The Walker Theatre officially opened on February 18, 1907. The first show was Madame Butterfly, an opera by Puccini.
The theatre was designed by Howard C. Stone, an architect from Montreal. He was told to make the theatre fireproof. This was important because of many theatre fires at the time. The theatre was originally planned to be part of a bigger building complex. This complex would have included a hotel, offices, and shops. However, only the theatre was finished. This is why the outside walls look plain. The original plan was for other buildings to be attached to them. The first cost to build the theatre was $250,000.
Inside the Theatre
The theatre's main hall, lobby, and lounges were very fancy. They had Italian marble, detailed plasterwork, and gold trim. There were also soft velvet carpets, silk tapestries, beautiful paintings, and sparkling crystal chandeliers. The main hall could seat 1,798 people.
The inside of the theatre has high, curved ceilings. These ceilings reach up to 60 feet (18 meters) high. There are also huge arches on the side walls. The theatre has two curving balconies. The top balcony was for cheaper tickets. It was built steeply and had wooden bench seats. Ticket prices ranged from 25 cents for balcony seats to $2.00 for seats closer to the stage. The two balconies were built without any support poles. This meant everyone had a clear view of the stage. The stage area was about 82 feet (25 meters) wide. It was also 39 feet (12 meters) deep and 69 feet (21 meters) high. Behind the stage, there was a three-story area. This area had dressing rooms, prop rooms, and a place for scenery.
Fire Safety Features
The theatre was built to be very safe from fires. This was because of terrible theatre fires in North America. One famous fire was the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire. The Walker Theatre had many fire safety features. It had a strong steel frame. Many parts of the building were covered in concrete or special fire-resistant clay. The floors were concrete and covered with fire-resistant wool carpet. There were metal doors that could stop fires between different areas. The walls were made of brick and fire-resistant clay. The stairways were metal and covered with slate. Mr. Walker said it was the first fireproof theatre in Canada.
Early Performances and Events
The very first show at the theatre was on December 17, 1906. This was even before the building was fully finished. It was performed by the Pollard's Lilliputian Opera Company. The building was used for live plays and shows until 1933. It was also used for important public meetings. These included meetings for workers' rights and for women's right to vote. Famous people like Nellie McClung took part in debates there. In 1918, a big political meeting happened at the theatre. This meeting led to a city-wide workers' protest in Winnipeg.
Changes Over the Years
In 1933, the theatre closed because of the Great Depression. This was a time when many people lost their jobs and money. In 1936, the City of Winnipeg took over the theatre because taxes were not paid. In 1944, a theatre owner named Henry Morton bought it.
In 1945, a company called Odeon Cinemas changed the theatre into a movie cinema. During this change, many of the original decorations were covered up. A false ceiling was put in to hide the upper balcony. The first movie shown at the new cinema was Blood on the Sun on November 3, 1945.
In 1990, a group called the Walker Theatre Performing Arts Group bought the theatre. This group was not for profit. They worked to bring back the theatre's original look. It reopened in March 1991 for live shows again. In 2002, it was renamed the Burton Cummings Theatre. This was to honor the local musician Burton Cummings.
The theatre was recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1991. It was also named a Provincial Heritage Site that same year. In 2017, the sign on the front of the building was updated.
New Ownership: True North Sports & Entertainment
In May 2014, a local company called True North Sports & Entertainment started managing the theatre. They also began important repairs to the building. As part of this agreement, a new group was formed to run the theatre. This group included members from True North and other organizations. In spring 2016, True North bought the building from the Walker Theatre Performing Arts Group.
