Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Old&New]

So the theater study showed the need for more mid-sized theaters in the valley; The late Promised Valley Playhouse (formerly the Orpheum) was a mid-sized theater... so why did the LDS church lack the foresight of this theater's possible future and instead tear it down? They certainly had the money to restore it if they had wanted to. Of course I'm a little annoyed, as I'm sure many of you are too, by their decision to tear down the theater, especially since I performed there several times when I was a kid. What were their reasons against its preservation? Anyone know?



http://playingintheworldgame.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/salt-lake-city-lyric-theatre/

[Lilljemalm]

[QUOTE=Old&New;5814373]So the theater study showed the need for more mid-sized theaters in the valley; The late Promised Valley Playhouse (formerly the Orpheum) was a mid-sized theater... so why did the LDS church lack the foresight of this theater's possible future and instead tear it down? Of course I'm a little annoyed, as I'm sure many of you are too, by their decision to tear down the theater, especially since I performed there several times when I was a kid. What were their reasons against its preservation? Anyone know?

I lived in SLC when it came down. The buidling was coming down by itself. It was in too poor of shape to rehabilitate.

[scottharding]

I don't know if that would be considered a mid-size theatre anymore. How many did it seat. The Rose Wagner mainstage (roughly 300 seats) is midsize for a theatrical venue.

[Future Mayor]

Promised Valley Playhouse, which I too performed at as a kid in the musical "Promised Valley" as Lilljemalm stated was coming down on it's own. No it wasn't actually falling down, but in order for occupancy major structural work needed to be done to it to shore up all the walls and the stage. The stage needed more room to be functional as well as a new back stage area. If I recall correctly it was somewhere around the size of the Utah or Capital, seating wise, the effective use after renovation wouldn't have justified the expense.

I too was sad to see it come down, but unfortunately it was beyond the point of saving/useful life.

[Old&New]

The Rose Wagner seats 501

Promised Valley Playhouse (Orpheum) sat 1,160

Capitol theater seats 1,876 (more than Rose and Promised Valley combined)

The Utah (Pantages) when renovated will likely seat around 1,014

500-1,000 seats is considered mid-sized. If it were still standing today, a renovated Orpheum would likely seat somewhere around 1,000. Im sure the theater structure would have lasted till today since there haven't been any major earthquakes. I wish they would have just let it sit vacant for a while. It appears the LDS church justified the demolition by building a new 900 seat theater as part of their Conference center, but that theater is only used for church plays... I wonder if the LDS church offered to sell the theater to the county, or some other interested party? Anybody know? Even that would have been a better idea than just tearing down an impressive, and a now would-be useful, landmark. To add insult to injury, the existing front of the theater houses LDS church "services" which tell gay people (where would theater be without gay people) that they are broken, and that heterosexuality is superior to homosexuality.

Speaking of the need for mid-sized theaters, what do you guys think would be the chances of rebuilding the auditorium portion of the Colonial/Victory Theater which still exists on 300 South, next to Jimmy Johns as a mid-sized theater?

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Here is the most recent picture that I believe is the total of what is, at least partially, under that mess.



I think a great idea would be to restore the facades, and add on taller in the rear, similar to what they are doing on two of the buildings on the State St. Project. This would bring back some another piece of historic architecture on 300 S, along with the Brooks Arcade and the Judge building, would proivde some additional retail on the street. I would like to see this is mixed income residential, bringing even more residents downtown.

The great thing about this location is there is a parking garage located on each side east and west, along with one directly across the street. It is very likely that a shared parking agreement could be arrange and no parking on site would need to be accomodated. I do however imagine that at least some spots could be accomodated in the basement of the building.

As for you mentioning the Zims (Pebble and Twigs) building. When I viewed the property about 4 years ago, I was told that the facade was somewhere around 80-90% in tact, underneath that lovely 60's vomit.

[Wasatch_One]

Originally Posted by Old&New

The Rose Wagner seats 501

Promised Valley Playhouse (Orpheum) sat 1,160

Capitol theater seats 1,876 (more than Rose and Promised Valley combined)

The Utah (Pantages) when renovated will likely seat around 1,014

500-1,000 seats is considered mid-sized. If it were still standing today, a renovated Orpheum would likely seat somewhere around 1,000. Im sure the theater structure would have lasted till today since there haven't been any major earthquakes. I wish they would have just let it sit vacant for a while. It appears the LDS church justified the demolition by building a new 900 seat theater as part of their Conference center, but that theater is only used for church plays... I wonder if the LDS church offered to sell the theater to the county, or some other interested party? Anybody know? Even that would have been a better idea than just tearing down an impressive, and a now would-be useful, landmark. To add insult to injury, the existing front of the theater houses LDS church "services" which tell gay people that they are broken, and that heterosexuality is superior to homosexuality.

Speaking of the need for mid-sized theaters, what do you guys think would be the chances of rebuilding the auditorium portion of the Colonial/Victory Theater which still exists on 300 South, next to Jimmy Johns as a mid-sized theater?

(yaaaawn) ...here we go again, one of UrbanBoy/Old&New/Jay Christianson's little anti-LDS church temper tantrums...

[scottharding]

Right, okay, Rose Wagner seats 500. I agree that's midsized. 1,000 is not. PMT seats just under a thousand, and Kingsbury seats a little over 1,000 and both are considered large theaters.

[Old&New]

1,000 is still considered mid-sized. Kingsbury hall seats: 1,913 (larger than capitol theater), so yes, it's large. However, PMT seats: 938, definitely mid-sized.




Ignored

[Future Mayor]

The county was offered Promised Valley, and they had no interest in it, because of it's condition. If you read my previous post, renovation was cost prohibitive.

[Old&New]

I see, and that's a shame. What do you think about a new mid-sized theater on 300 South?

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Old&New

I see. What do you think about a new mid-sized theater on 300 South?

I think the Utah would be the ideal spot for another midsize, especially at the proposed 1,014, I don't want to see a new mid-size theater built if the Utah isn't going to be used for that purpose. I'm not sure downtown needs another mid-large theater, I think another theater in the 800-1200 range would impact Capital, Kinsbury, and PMT. I could see the need for one in 15-20 years, but with UPAC opening, Capital will do well at filling the "mid-size" void, even if it is a little large. I think more black box and studio type theaters need to be built to grow the arts even more.

UPAC - 2,500
Capital - about 1,800 after renovation
Rose Wagner - 501, 200 and 75

In SLC
Kingsbury - 1,913
PMT - 938

I would consider 800-1200 midsize.

[T-Mac]

Kingsbury and Capital should really cut back their seating by a row or two in order for people over 6' to sit comfortably. At 6'5" I have to have my legs to the side and they still barely fit.

[Old&New]

I've heard the County has plans to do just that during the renovation of the Capitol theater.

Future Mayor, I'm not sure if, when renovated, the Pantages will host theatrical productions which generally need a larger stage, but instead will only host film screenings, stand up, satirical readings, and speaches? This was my understanding. Therefore, there could be a need for an addition mid-sized theater, and I'd prefer it to be in downtown if that is the case. I think the capitol will get plenty use from organizations such as ballet west, and the Utah opera company. I think another rose Wagner sized theater downtown would be great. But I think the need for more mid-sized theaters should be used as another argument to restore the Pantages theater.

Also, I'd love it if Hale Theater built another theater-in-the-round somewhere downtown.

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by T-Mac

Kingsbury and Capital should really cut back their seating by a row or two in order for people over 6' to sit comfortably. At 6'5" I have to have my legs to the side and they still barely fit.

I seriously don't think I could ever go to a show at Kingsbury Hall again, I'm 6'4" and it's torture sitting in those tiny seats for 2 hours.

[Scraperdude801]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I seriously don't think I could ever go to a show at Kingsbury Hall again, I'm 6'4" and it's torture sitting in those tiny seats for 2 hours.

I'm tall as well, and that's the very reason that I've only been to each theater once.

Tall people have it rough when it comes to: airplane seats, theater seats, roller coaster seats, buying clothes (I don't need "Big" and "Tall," just "Tall" would do!,) length of beds, compact cars, etc. I never understand why short people are jealous of us --I'm jealous of them. I bet this world is so comfortable when it's built for you.

[Sight-Seer]

I don't think it's been talked about much in the latest round of discussion, but in previous discussions it was argued that the biggest failing of local theaters is the stage sizes. I went to "Phantom Of The Opera" in both LA and Salt Lake, so I can compare the two. There is a ballroom scene where guests in masquerade descend a grand staircase. In LA the ballroom was grand, the staircase was grand, and the music was grand. The whole thing came together to form a stunning spectacle that I'll never forget. In Salt Lake the music was grand and the staircase was grand (maybe scaled down a little), but the ballroom was puny. Everything felt cramped. The whole effect was vastly inferior. Some of the older theaters may be wonderful (including some that are no longer around), but there's nothing that can be done about the width and height of the historic stages.

[SLCdude]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I seriously don't think I could ever go to a show at Kingsbury Hall again, I'm 6'4" and it's torture sitting in those tiny seats for 2 hours.

Originally Posted by Scraperdude801

I'm tall as well, and that's the very reason that I've only been to each theater once.

Tall people have it rough when it comes to: airplane seats, theater seats, roller coaster seats, buying clothes (I don't need "Big" and "Tall," just "Tall" would do!,) length of beds, compact cars, etc. I never understand why short people are jealous of us --I'm jealous of them. I bet this world is so comfortable when it's built for you.

5'7" here. At least you guys can see the performance. It seems I always happen to sit behind tall people in performance theaters.

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by Scraperdude801

I'm tall as well, and that's the very reason that I've only been to each theater once.

Tall people have it rough when it comes to: airplane seats, theater seats, roller coaster seats, buying clothes (I don't need "Big" and "Tall," just "Tall" would do!,) length of beds, compact cars, etc. I never understand why short people are jealous of us --I'm jealous of them. I bet this world is so comfortable when it's built for you.

Buckle sells tall jeans with normal waist sizes.

[Stenar]

Neumont University is going to move into the old Tribune building. Neumont students live on campus, so they will also be residing in the building.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54772630-78/neumont-students-building-university.html.csp

[delts145]

That is fantastic news Stenar. What a great addition to Main Street that will be! Some 400 computer science students living on campus in the heart of downtown 24/7. Perfect use of the Tribune and a perfect mix for Downtown...