Curtain Call: The Role of Historic Theatres in the Revitalization of Erie Canalway Communities

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorDiBella, Gina M.
dc.contributor.programMA in Historic Preservationen_US
dc.date.accessioned2016-03-31T16:20:14Z
dc.date.available2016-03-31T16:20:14Z
dc.date.issued2013
dc.description.abstractHistoric theatres capture the fascination of all who enter their treasured performance halls. Rehabilitated theatres have the added advantage of making a positive impact on their communities. This thesis proposes that the reuse of a historic theatre can play a role in the revitalization of a community and provides evidence from a number of examples in a study area, the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor in New York State. The Erie Canal, once a catalyst for community growth, economic development and social change, has evolved into a recreational and tourist attraction and is now part of a congressionally-designated National Heritage Corridor. Historically, theatres contributed to the growth and prosperity of a community. Today, their operation and reuse as part of the Canalway Corridor can have a similar effect. The wealth of successful historic theatre rehabilitation projects within the Erie Canalway Corridor – from nineteenth century opera houses and music halls, to early- twentieth century vaudeville stages and motion picture palaces – proves that reuse of a historic theatre can have a positive impact on its community. This study uses five areas of opportunity – architectural and historic integrity, business structure, sustainability, programming, and community impact – to examine existing programs. Central to the information gathered for this study were several interviews with theatre staff using a questionnaire specifically-designed for the project, and site visits to more than a dozen historic theatres in the region. This method of research allowed for an informed analysis of the five areas of opportunity, enabling the thesis to highlight best practices used by theatres in the study. Because of the number of extant historic theatres in the Erie Canalway Corridor, New York State, and throughout the United States, this thesis confirms the importance of historic theatres as catalysts for community revitalization.en_US
dc.format.extent244 p.en_US
dc.genrethesesen_US
dc.identifierdoi:10.13016/M2BJ1N
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11603/2624
dc.language.isoen_USen_US
dc.relation.isAvailableAtGoucher College, Baltimore, MD
dc.rightsTo view a complete copy of this thesis please contact Goucher College Special Collections & Archives at archives@goucher.edu or (410) 337-6075.
dc.subjecthistoric theatresen_US
dc.subjecthistoric theatre rehabilitationen_US
dc.subjecthistoric preservationen_US
dc.subjectErie Canalen_US
dc.subjectErie Canalway National Heritage Corridoren_US
dc.subjectopera housesen_US
dc.subjectmotion picture palacesen_US
dc.subjecteconomic developmenten_US
dc.subjectcommunity revitalizationen_US
dc.subjectarts and community developmenten_US
dc.subject.lcshHistoric preservation -- Theses
dc.subject.lcshHistoric buildings -- Conservation and restoration -- New York (State) -- Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
dc.subject.lcshTheaters -- Conservation and restoration -- New York (State) -- Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor
dc.titleCurtain Call: The Role of Historic Theatres in the Revitalization of Erie Canalway Communitiesen_US
dc.typeTexten_US

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
MAHPthesis_DiBella_2013.pdf
Size:
10.18 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.6 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description:
Download

Collections

Goucher College MA in Historic Preservation