In 1941, the Theatre Holding Corporation purchased the Majestic Theatre from Sarnia Theatres Ltd. The new movie house would be known as the Avon Theatre. Shortly after the purchase, they added a new marquee which can still be seen in the photo advertising In Search of the Castaways starring Hayley Mills in 1962.
The Stratford Festival Foundation of Canada rented the Avon for some ancillary attractions for a number of years, beginning in 1956, but only during the summer. It was still a movie house during the rest of the year. However, with that rental by The Stratford Festival, 30 years after Albert Brandenberger had died, his building once more became the venue for legitimate theatre, opening in the summer of that year with Le Theatre du Nouveau Monde presenting Three Farces by Moliere, directed by Jean Gascon.
From 1961 to 1964 at the Avon, the Festival Theatre put on very successful Gilbert and Sullivan operettas: 1961 HMS Pinafore, 1962 Pirates of Penzance, 1963 The Gondoliers and 1964 The Mikado.
It was during this time that the Avon was purchased by the Festival. The Stratford Beacon Herald in February 1963, reported: "The Theatre Holding Corporation and the Stratford Festival Foundation came to an agreement that the Festival would take over the building and refurbish it.”
Renovations began in 1964 by Stratford’s own Pounder Brothers Company that had been selected as the general contractor. An official announcement was made by Victor Polley, Administrative Director of the Festival, that the building would undergo extensive renovations. Robert Fairfield who designed the Festival Theatre was retained to redesign the Avon Theatre. (Fairfield Drive is named for him). That summer, the Festival presented The Mikado and The National Dance Theatre Company of Jamaica at the Avon.
The first renovation stage concentrated on the extension of the stage facilities and the redesign of the auditorium, with decor by Tanya Moiseiwitsch.The carving of the cartouche above the stage was completed by designer, Bob Ihrig. The theatre was officially opened in the same year by Mayor Meier (C.H. Meier Blvd. is named for him). Two operas were presented, "The Yeomen of the Guard " and " The Marriage of Figaro."
This artist's sketch in 1964 gave a preview of what the theatre would look like when it opened its doors for the 1967 season on July 3.
The Stratford Beacon Herald stated that “The theatre's new decor will make use of gold, green, brown, greys and russet tones. The ceiling will be light blue, the dome dark blue and a new central chandelier and matching wall bracket lighting fixtures will be installed. In addition to enlarging the stage, the orchestra pit will be widened and deepened to accommodate 30 players. The inner foyer will be recarpeted and the balcony reconstructed and redecked. Pounder Brothers have been contracted to do the work."
The grand opening of the newly renovated Avon paid tribute to the colorful early days of Theatre Albert that was the largest in Western Ontario. The Avon was now an integral part of the internationally-renowned Stratford Festival.
Here is a description of the opening as written by the Stratford Beacon Herald: “At 3 pm, July 7, 1967, the official party drove up in a one horse Hackney carriage reminiscent of the earlier era. The official party members were greeted by Mr. David Rae, Chairman of the building committee of the board of governors of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival. Mrs. Gertrude Allen, who had managed the theatre in its early years both as a legitimate and then a movie theatre, turned the door key symbolizing the new importance of the theatre in the presentation of Stratford Festival productions.
The ribbon across the doors into the comfortable lounge in the foyer was cut with the sword used by Douglas Rain in the 1966 production of Henry V by a representative of one of Canada‘s best known theatre families, Ernest Marks Q.C., Mayor of Oshawa, a descendent of the Marks Brothers Company which toured much of Canada several decades ago.The power for the new theatre was turned on by one of the original members of the world famous Dumbells, Jack McLaren, who used an original switch from the old 1911 theatre, which activated the new electric control lighting board.”
Coming next is Part 4: 1984 to the present.
Text and photos provided by the Stratford-Perth Archives. For more on our buildings click www.streetsofstratford.ca