Over time, one golden trait is the ability to soar 30,000 feet above any situation. It is a wonderful feeling to be weightless when the heaviness of a situation is occasionally too pressing to even lift one's feet. But, this is a gift of having lived awhile and understanding arrives with the passage of time.
One perk of my day job is the ability to visit many old theatres around the country. I always make a point to explore as many as possible because the history of these grand old spaces is like a fingerprint -- unique, yet familiar.
Since I am in the Louisville Palace Theatre this week, I am far away from the post-election-Pyramid Scheme-Osama chatter that I am sure is filling the many watering holes I frequent with my friends. Here in Louisville, there is a lot of hoopla building concerning the Kentucky Derby, but as I wander about this old theatre, I find myself thinking about home.
It is not that much of a leap since the stately interior, with its glowing cobalt blue ceiling accented by argon gas-filled tubes and balconies adorned with stately turrets, oddly enough makes me feel at home because it reminds me of the State Theatre in Kalamazoo.
After returning to my room and a few quick laptop keystrokes later, I am excited to discover on Wikipedia that my suspicion was correct. These two venues, set about 6 hours apart from each other, share the same architect, John Eberson.
Eberson's life is a unique one and a part of the American immigrant success story handed down over history from one generation to another.
Born in Romania (today Ukraine), Eberson arrived in the United States in the early part of the 20th Century and quickly moved up from a career in construction to that of a renowned architect.
Eberson designed around 500 buildings including nearly 100 theatres. His theatrical designs relied heavily on the Italian Renaissance, Moorish Revival and even Art Deco themes.
Maya Lin's piece Ecliptic, created for Grand Rapids, evokes similar nostalgic themes found in Eberson's designs. Seated in one of his theatres before the start of a show, the audience can reflect upon the various design aspects including tiny pinpoints of starlight that often adorn his ceilings.
Although many of his theatres and buildings have been destroyed to make room for newer buildings or, in some cases, parking lots, many have been saved through aggressive, often visionary campaigns that understood their worth to a community.
In our city of Grand Rapids, we have preserved some of the old theatres. Like other communities around the country, these buildings have been either repurposed or removed from the cultural inventory of the city.
Currently, the
Community Media Center's Wealthy Theatre's new capital campaign takes advantage of the occasion of their centennial anniversary this year.
Wealthy Theatre's restoration during the 1990s proved to be one of those shining examples of our community coming together to do something truly miraculous. But old theatres can be a draw on the organization's resources, as old technology needs to be updated.
Their modest campaign goals, when complete, will have them joining the ranks of other theatre organizations that have moved to reduce their carbon footprint. For example: This week, I learned that the Louisville Palace Theatre replaced their incandescent bulbs with dimmable fluorescents, thereby reducing their electrical draw on older wiring and immediately impacting their energy bill.
Anniversaries, like Wealthy Theatre's 100th, give us the chance to celebrate. But through community investment, we get a chance to sign our name on the future with a check.
This Friday (May 5) is the return of "Trip The Light," an Art Peers collaboration project between many music, dance and fine artists. It is one of my favorite events because of the energy released from the stage over the audience, but also for what it brings to the city.
I will explain more in the event listing, but, in short, with a title, "Trip The Light: Ephemeral," it is no surprise that this performance will happen and then live on, not on video tape or camera phones, but in the oral history of those who will seek it out this weekend. I'll just have to catch up with a few friends who are performing in it to hear their version of the night.
It is a bold move to pack this much talent working together on the stage for one show only, but so is building a theatre that ultimately is about creating a community.
Happy Birthday, Wealthy Theatre. You look awesome for a centenarian (and provide lots of No Strings Attached fun for all).
The Future Needs All of Us (To Sign Our Name.)
Tommy Allen
Lifestyle Editor
[email protected]Click here to continue to this week's G-Sync events.Editors Note: Tommy filed his editorial while on assignment for
Levitation Staging - an event staging firm that produces exciting events around the country. His current project is a gala event at the historic downtown Louisville Palace Theatre on the occasion of the Kentucky Derby. He will be back next week after the dust of this horse event has settled.