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Trocadero Theatre
Trocadero Theatre
Exterior photo by Chelsea Leese.
Background information
Founded 1870 (Closed 2019)
Capacity 1200
Location Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Website Official Page

The Trocadero Theatre (opened as the Arch Street Opera House and often nicknamed The Troc) was a historic theater located in Chinatown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the years since it's opening in 1870, 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 until it's closing in 2019, after nearly 150 years since it's opening. It had been in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places since 13 June 1978.

History[]

Trocadero 1973

The Trocadero 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. It was already referred to as the Trocadero Theater in 1908.[1]

The Trocadero was a burlesque theater from the early 1900s until the 1970s. Burlesque performer Mara Gaye performed there in the 1950s. Eventually rebranding as The Pennsylvania Opera Theater, in 1982, was presenting three productions a year at the Trocadero.

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 would host 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.[2] The venue also hosted notable festivals such as Power Strip Festival, Projektfest and The Relapse Contamination Festival.


In the Spring of 2019 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, as owner Joanna Pang would confirm to Variety.[3] The final show would be hosted on 19 May 2019 featuring Stinking Lizaveta, Pissed Jeans, The Workhorse III, The Three 4 Tens, Dandelion, Alright Junior, Pagan Babies and Stepping Razor.[4]

Recordings and Live 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.

The 2003 edition of the Relapse Contamination Festival was hosted at the Trocadero, featuring ten bands over two days. Five of the performances would be released as standalone live albums, namely the performances by High on Fire, Bongzilla, Burnt By The Sun, Dysrhythmia and Daylight Dies. A two-DVD set featuring all ten bands and numerous extras would be released by the label.[5]

On 2 June 2012, professional wrestling promotion Chikara held the Chikarasaurus Rex: How to Hatch a Dinosaur internet pay-per-view at the Trocadero.[6] Chikara held their next two pay-per-views, Under the Hood on 2 December 2012,[7] and Aniversario: Never Compromise on 2 June 2013, at the venue.[8]

Selected Performers at the Venue[]

External Links[]

References[]

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