National Historic Site of Canada
Which site was the heritage designation of Burton Cummings Theatre from Feb 1991 to Oct 1991?
Burton Cummings Theatre The Burton Cummings Theatre is a theatre located in Winnipeg , Manitoba , Canada . Built by local impresario Corliss Powers Walker , it was originally known as the Walker Theatre . The building was renamed after singer-songwriter and Winnipeg native Burton Cummings in 2002 . History . Walker owned a number of South Dakota theatres along the Northern Pacific Railway route , which terminated at Winnipeg . Walker allied himself with a New York theatrical syndicate run by a Broadway firm called Klaw and Erlanger . The positioning of Walkers chain of theatres along the railway route helped bring big Broadway shows , and the chain was known as the Red River Valley Theatre Circuit . Lots for the theatre were purchased in July 1905 . The theatre was constructed in 1906-07 , and might have opened in December 1906 if there had not been a labour strike . The Walker Theatre had a grand opening on 18 February 1907 featuring Puccinis Madame Butterfly . The theatre was designed by Montreal architect Howard C . Stone who was instructed to design a fireproof theatre following the principles of Chicagos Auditorium theatre . The theatre was originally planned as part of a hotel/office/retail complex , but of the plans , only the Walker Theatre was completed . This is why the external walls are plain - the original plans called for other attached buildings to abut all but the front of the theatre . The initial construction of the theatre cost $250,000 . The buildings auditorium , lobby and lounges were decorated with Italian marble , plasterwork , gilt trim , velvet carpets , silk tapestries , murals and crystal chandeliers . The auditorium seated 1,798 people . The interior features vaulted ceilings , reaching a maximum of in height , huge sidewall arches , 2 curving balconies , a fly tower and broad wings . The top balcony was built for inexpensive ticket holders : it was steeply raked and furnished with wooden pew-like benches . The seat prices in the theatre ranged from 25 cents for seats in the balcony , up to $2.00 for seats in the orchestra . The two balconies were built without support posts or pillars , which allowed upper-level seats a clear view of the stage . The stage area was nearly wide , deep , and high . Behind the stage was a 3-storey block with hand elevator dedicated to dressing rooms , property rooms and scenery dock . The theatre was built to be fireproof on account of the disastrous theatre fires in North America during that period , Walker having been impressed by the 1903 Iroquois Theatre fire . Fireproofing features included a steel cage system , many structural members being encased in concrete or terracotta , concrete floors ( covered with fire-resistant wool carpet ) , fire-retarding metal doors between spaces , brick and terracotta firewalls , and slate-covered metal stairways . Walker claimed it to be the first fireproof theatre in Canada . The first performance in the theatre was performed before the grand opening , by Pollards Lilliputian Opera Company on 17 December 1906 , before the building had even reached completion . The building was used for live theatrical performances until 1933 . It was also used during this period for political rallies , including the labour and womens suffrage movements such as debates and a mock parliament that Nellie McClung took part in . The theatre was host to a 1918 political meeting of the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council and the Socialist Party of Canada that led to the Winnipeg General Strike . In 1933 , the theatre closed on account of the Great Depression , and in 1936 it was seized by the City of Winnipeg due to unpaid taxes . In 1944 , the theatre was purchased by theatre owner Henry Morton . Odeon Cinemas Canadian subsidiary converted the theatre to a cinema in 1945 . During the conversion to a cinema , many of the original surfaces were masked , and a false ceiling was put in to close off the upper balcony . The first film to play at the converted theatre was Blood on the Sun on 3 November 1945 . In 1990 , the theatre was purchased by the not-for-profit Walker Theatre Performing Arts Group . The buildings original architectural features were restored , and it reopened as a venue for live performances in March 1991 . In 2002 , it was renamed after local musician Burton Cummings . The theatre was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1991 . It was also designated a Provincial Heritage Site that same year . Signage on the front of the building was updated in 2017 by SRS Signs & Service , following a concept by Josh Dudych , the director of creative and marketing services at True North Sports and Entertainment . Acquisition by True North Sports & Entertainment . In May 2014 , the theatre was leased to locally based True North Sports & Entertainment , who assumed management of the theatre and undertook critical repairs to the building . As part of the deal , a new board was formed to run the theatre , including members from True North , CentreVenture , Forks North Portage Partnership , and the former theatre board . In Spring 2016 , True North exercised its option to purchase the building from the Walker Theatre Performing Arts Group .