Architecture
Suburban Theatres commissioned William George Blakey as The Garneau Theatre's architect in the late 1930s. His other extant buildings include Edmonton's Christ Church, Masonic Temple, and Roxy Theatre. It is the last modernist theatre still used for its original purpose in Alberta.
Blakey's design economized by featuring a raised terrace rather than a balcony. The lobby was modern, featuring curved walls, understated gumwood doors, and simple semi-circular light fixtures. The theatre itself had a bold colour scheme, with recessed neon lighting, ultramarine walls, blue chairs, red love seats, and gold highlights around the proscenium.
Over the years, light fixtures from several other theatres were acquired and integrated into the Garneau. Currently, the theatre contains lighting salvaged from Edmonton's Varscona, Innisfail's Royal Theatre, Melfort Saskatchewan's Grand Theatre, and Coeur d'Alene Idaho's Wilma Theatre.
Read more about this topic: Garneau Theatre
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