Trocadero Theatre
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- For the origins of the word Trocadero, and other places where it has been used, see Trocadero (disambiguation).
| Arch Street Opera House | |
|---|---|
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Location: | 1003 Arch St. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Area: | < 1 acre |
| Built/Founded: | 1870 |
| Architect: | Edwin Forrest Durang, George W. Plowman |
| Architectural style(s): | Late Victorian |
| Added to NRHP: | June 13, 1978 |
| NRHP Reference#: | 78002442[1] |
| Governing body: | Private Owner |
The Trocadero Theatre, opened as the Arch Street Opera House in 1870, is a historic theater in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the years, it has offered musical comedies, vaudeville and burlesque. Later still it was refurbished for use as an art house cinema and fine arts theatre. The building was known at various time as the Arch Street Opera House (1870-1879); Park Theatre (1879); New Arch Street Opera House (1884); Continental Theatre (1889); Gaiety Theatre (1890); Casino/Palace Theatre (1892); Troc Theatre (1940); Slocum's and Sweatman's Theatre; Sweatman's Arch Street Opera House; Simmon's & Slocum's Theatre; and Simmon's Theatre.[2]
Burlesque performer Mara Gaye performed at the Troc in the 1950s. In 1986, the Trocadero was again remodeled for its current use as a concert hall and dance club. The Trocadero retains a promoting team and books bands directly. The theater usually books lesser-known heavy metal, punk rock, ska, and industrial/gothic bands. Hip hop groups have also made appearances there, as have rock and roll bands.
Many famed bands have played the Trocadero, including Lamb of God, Foo Fighters, Rancid, Stratovarius, Anti-Flag, KMFDM, The Early November, Linkin Park, Taking Back Sunday, Type O Negative, The Germs, Ween, and I Know The Struggle and Information Society, and Break The Chair. It was also featured on the MTV program "2 Dollar Bill" when My Chemical Romance was on it. The Dead Milkmen recorded their live album Chaos Rules at the Troc.
A variety of local bands have also played the venue, including Kill Your Romeo, Black Dragon, Ghost Town Locals, MeWithOutYou, Mourning Electra, 9:18, Fantasmo, Blank Generation and dozens of others. The Trocadero was also the location for Lamb of God's live DVD, Killadelphia and Job for a Cowboy's "Altered From Catechization" music video.
The theater, designed by architect Edwin Forrest Durang, then modified several times, was added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places in 1973, and to the National Register of Historic Places five years later.
[edit] References
- ^ National Register Information System. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service (2007-01-23).
- ^ Listing at Philadelphia Buildings and Architects
[edit] External links
- Official site
- Information at CinemaTreasures.com
- Historic photographs at Philadelphia Architects and Buildings
- Listing and photographs at the Historic American Buildings Survey
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