Vogue Theatre


Vogue Theatre is an Art Deco/Art Moderne styled building originally built as a movie house and is presently used as an event venue for the performing arts. Situated on Vancouver’s “Theatre Row", the building was designated as a National Historic Site of Canada in 1990.

History

The Vogue Theatre was designed by architects Kaplan & Sprachman. Construction began in 1940 and was completed in 1941. The Vogue has hosted such events such as Vancouver’s ComedyFest, Vancouver International Film Festival and Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
It was operated by Canadian Odeon Theatres until 1984, then by Cineplex Odeon, until its closure in 1987.
In 2010, the property`s owner, Gibbons Hospitality Group, announced intentions of restoring many of the original features of the Vogue and using it as an event space.

Architecture

The Vogue Theatre is an example of Art Deco or Moderne architecture. The Vogue has been a National Historic Site of Canada since it was officially recognized by the federal government on November 20, 1993, under Historic Sites and Monuments Act. The interiors of the building are not officially protected. The Vogue is also a City of Vancouver heritage "A" building.

Exterior Design

The Vogue Theatre is crafted in the Art Deco style, emphasizing sleek lines and fluid contours. It has symmetrical façades, constructed in a mixture of textured concrete and terrazzo panels with wrought-iron screens. One of the defining features of Vogue is its large neon sign which is topped by silhouette of the Roman Goddess Diana.

Interior Design

The Vogue Theatre has 1,161 seats, with 614 on the orchestra level, 211 in the Dress Circle, and 336 on the Upper Circle. It has curved balconies and curved ceilings in the Art Deco style.
The Vogue has an elaborate modulated lighting system. The stage, made of black-painted maple, is equipped with a flying system 30 feet above the floor. The air-conditioning systems and ducts are concealed in the ceiling coves, which improves the acoustics of the theatre.