Vancouver's eminent and eclectic Theatre Row just wouldn't be complete without the Vogue Theatre. Designed by architects Kaplan & Sprachman and finished in 1941, the Art Deco movie house was designated a national historic site in 1993 in recognition of its cultural and architectural contributions to Granville Street and Vancouver.
Accommodating both cinema and live performance through its illustrious career, the front facade of the theatre was crafted with a streamlined exterior emphasizing symmetry and clean lines. Textured concrete, terrazzo panels, wrought-iron screens, and stainless steel mullions — materials consistent with the Moderne style — were employed on the exterior. A tall tower above the marquee stylizes the name of the theatre in big and bold letters outlined in neon and crowned by a figure of the goddess Diana.
In an 1958 archival photo above, Granville Street is lined with cars as spotlights advertise the popular venue. The Belmont Hotel, built in the early 20th century, prominently projects its signage in the background along the brightly lit corridor.
The Vogue Theatre was operated by Odeon until its closure in 1987, later shifting its use towards live events. The Belmont Hotel has been taken over by the Comfort Inn and has shed its unique surmounting clock signage in favour of a more conservative parapet lighting scheme. Despite the encroachment of competing venues and condominiums, the Vogue has retained the Art Deco styling and signage that made it an assertive presence on Theatre Row.
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