Trocadero Theatre

The Trocadero Theatre (opened as the Arch Street Opera House) was a historic theater located in Chinatown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the years, it has offered musical comedies, vaudeville, opera, and burlesque. The Trocadero Theatre was refurbished for use as an art house cinema and fine arts theatre in 1970s, and by the 1990s had become an iconic venue for rock and punk concerts.

Trocadero Theatre
Exterior of venue (c.2015)
Address1003 Arch St.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
United States
Capacity1,200
Current uselive music venue
Opened1870
Website
www.thetroc.com
Arch Street Opera House
Coordinates39°57′12.99″N 75°9′24.74″W
Area< 1-acre (4,000 m2)
ArchitectEdwin Forrest Durang, George W. Plowman
Architectural styleLate Victorian
NRHP reference No.78002442[1]
Added to NRHPJune 13, 1978

History
The theater in 1973

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.

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] It was already referred to as the Trocadero Theater in 1908.[3]

The Trocadero was a burlesque theater from the early 1900s until the 1970s. Burlesque performer Mara Gaye performed here in the 1950s.

The Pennsylvania Opera Theater, in 1982, was presenting three productions a year at the Trocadero.[4]

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. It has a capacity of 1,200 patrons (standing room) or 600 patrons (fully seated). The theater hosts a wide range of events including movie screenings, comedy shows, burlesque and concerts from alternative, indie rock, heavy metal, punk rock, jam, and industrial/gothic bands as well as hip hop and electronica artists.[5]

Bob Dylan performed at the Troc on December 11, 1997.

Closing

After several days of rumors and a last-minute attempt by local promoters to save it, Philadelphia's Trocadero Theatre — part of the city's entertainment skyline since 1870 — closed at the end of May 2019, owner Joanna Pang confirms to Variety.[6]

Recordings and broadcasts

A concert at the Trocadero was released by Combat Records as Ultimate Revenge 2 in 1989, featuring performances by bands Raven, Death, Forbidden, Dark Angel and Faith or Fear.

A number of DVD and television specials have been filmed at the Trocadero, including the MTV program 2 Dollar Bill for My Chemical Romance in September 2006, comedian and actor Christian Finnegan's DVD/Comedy Central special "Au Contraire" in October 2008, comedian and actor Michael Ian Black's DVD/Comedy Central special "Very Famous" in March 2011, and comedian Dan Soder's Comedy Central special in December 2015.

The Dead Milkmen recorded their live album Chaos Rules at the Troc. In 1991, Tesla had a hit single with the live cover version of the Five Man Electrical Band song "Signs", which was recorded at the Troc.

The Trocadero was the location for Lamb of God's live DVD Killadelphia and for Job for a Cowboy's "Altered From Catechization" music video.

On June 2, 2012, professional wrestling promotion Chikara held the Chikarasaurus Rex: How to Hatch a Dinosaur internet pay-per-view at the Trocadero.[7] Chikara held their next two pay-per-views, Under the Hood on December 2, 2012,[8] and Aniversario: Never Compromise on June 2, 2013, at the venue.[9]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. Listing at Philadelphia Buildings and Architects
  3. "Philadelphia: Trocadero Theater". The Billboard. Google Books. November 21, 1908. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  4. Rockwell, John (March 18, 1982). "Opera: Pennsylvanians give Haydn's 'Orlando Paladino'". New York Times. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  5. "Billboard - Mar. 15, 1986". March 15, 1986. Retrieved 19 November 2017.
  6. https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/philadelphia-trocadero-theatre-to-close-confirms-exclusive-1203165486/
  7. "Chikarasaurus Rex: How to Hatch a Dinosaur". Chikara. Archived from the original on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 2012-06-02.
  8. "Under the Hood". Chikara. Retrieved 2013-04-12.
  9. "Aniversario: Never Compromise". Chikara. Archived from the original on 2013-05-08. Retrieved 2013-04-12.
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