Granville Street looking south from Robson Street, 1970.
Photo: public domain
Empire Granville 7 Cinemas
851-5 Granville Street
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Opened in 1929 and
named the Globe Theatre from 1929 to 1935
named the Paradise from 1938 to 1964
named Coronet from 1964 to 1986
named Granville Cineplex 1986 to 2005
named Empire Granville & Cinemas 2005 to present
The Coronet could seat just under 790
The theater was twinned in 1976, and continued to operate for another decade,
before the Coronet was shuttered in 1986. Opened as the Granville cineplex and
sold to Empire Theatres in 2005
855 Granville Street,
Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K7
2404 seats, with the breakdown – from auditorium #1 through #7 – as follows: 294/338/329/324/225/230/664
Cineplex built Granville over three properties: the Palms Hotel as the south
end, the Coronet Theatre as the north end, and miscellaneous store x that was
in between.
The Palms Hotel is interesting in its own right as it was originally built in
the early 20th century, then called ‘Almond Block’. The facade is
currently protected as heritage. The relief on the north facade (dubbed “The
Dancer”, from the days of the Paradise Theatre) is considered heritage,
but has no protection and can be demolished.
If you look very closely in #6 you can still see some of the old Coronet details, even though they have been painted over
Empire Theaters took over for Cineplex Odeon in 2005
If you look on the web site cinematour.com there are 63 photos of the Granville Cinemas, and it looks like Cinemas 6 and 7 are the original Coronet theatre.
When Odeon Theater Group decided to build a multiplex, they purchased a neighboring building next to the Coronet and retained the facade although the rest of the building was gutted. The Coronet, originally opened in 1929 as the Globe until 1935, renamed The Paradise in 1938 and then the Coronet in 1964. The Coronet was later twinned. The Coronet still exist where it was merged with the new construction on the left. The Coronet face remains but the interior auditoriums was heavily renovated.
NOTICE OF MEETING
VANCOUVER HERITAGE COMMISSION
A G E N D A
DATE: Monday, July 11, 2011
(d) 855 Granville Street
Palms Hotel – VHR B (M)
The Coronet Theatre – VHR C
Empire Theatres Building – Not listed on VHR
Pre-application
The ornate Palms Hotel (originally the MacKay Almond Block) was constructed
in 1893 and designed by William Blackmore, an important Vancouver architect
who designed a number of prominent and ornate buildings in the City (see the
discussion for 239 East Hastings Street under this agenda, which is also a Blackmore
building). In 1976 the
façade of the hotel was designated “above the ground floor ceiling
level”.
The site at 845-851 Granville Street has seen a number of theatre operations
over the years. The Globe Theatre, constructed in 1912-1913, was re-worked in
1938 at which time the art deco façade was built and the theatre was
re-named the Paradise Theatre. The Coronet Theatre opened in 1965 and featured
a remodel by the well known architect Ross A. Lort. In 1986, sites were consolidated
into one project which saw the conversion of the buildings into a theatre complex.
The site in between the two featured a small retail building with an ornate,
and somewhat unusual, gothic-
deco façade visible in photos from the period (it was a reworking of
the 1920 façade in 1935 by Thomas Kerr, the same architect who designed
the deco façade for the Paradise Theatre). This building was demolished
at the time the current complex was built.
The development application proposes to convert the entire theatre complex into commercial and retail uses, as the theatre use is no longer viable. The application complies with the height and density provisions of the Downtown Official Development Plan. The 1986 façade is to be demolished and replaced by a contemporary façade. The Palms façade is being retained as is, with the original clerestory windows being revealed at the storefronts. The main issues which staff are seeking the advice of the July 11, 2011 Commission on are the interventions into the Coronet Theatre façade.
The design proposes to allow for strategic openings which are to be sympathetic yet allow light to access the proposed commercial spaces behind the façade. The deco frieze is to be retained and neon lighting re-instituted based on period photographs. A vertical glazing element is proposed to replace the portion of the façade where the original “Coronet” sign was located (removed in the 1986 renovation). A new sign is proposed which re-institutes the vertical completion of the building on the north edge in a contemporary way without directly copying the previous theatre signage. Two small strip windows are proposed, which frame the 1938 figure motif on the façade, in order to allow additional light into the interior. The marquee canopy is original to the deco façade and will be retained. The existing theatre storefronts will be re-worked to be more sympathetic to the deco expression of the building.
The blank wall of the Coronet Theatre with its asymmetrical motif is somewhat
unusual (many theatres of the period had false fronts or more symmetrically
articulated facades), but photos reveal the original modern composition intent
with the horizontal marquee canopy and the tall vertical signage in place. A
Statement of Significance has not formally been prepared yet, but a research
document is provided for reference and discussion.
Issues:
(i) the blank, or monolithic, façade of the Coronet theatre as a character
defining element;
(ii) overall concept for the theatre façade and the interventions in
the
façade for additional daylight;
(iii) overall signage proposed for the project, including the contemporary
sign on the north side of the site; and
(iv) the compatibility of the new façade with the heritage facades.
Applicant: Jim Wong, Studio One Architecture Inc.
Don Luxton, Donald Luxton & Associates Inc.
Attachments: Conceptual drawings and research information booklet
Staff: James Boldt, Heritage Planner
Help support this website by making a donation
Donations of $20 or more receive a free poster
All photos copyright © Christian Dahlberg except where stated otherwise.
All rights reserved.
Vancouver panorama photo © Vancouver Lookout. www.vancouverlookout.com