My customary report on the most recent James North Art Crawl will be pending in the next day or two, but while I’m sorting through my myriad photos and notes (it was a busy one), I’d like to give a bit of extra attention to one of the unexpected highlights of the night.
Near the end of the night, I was wandering further south past Cannon for a last look at Alistair McLennan’s performance when a distant glow of light caught my attention far back into the vacant but recently landscaped lot that has been the proverbial graveyard of the Tivoli Theatre since its lobby collapsed and was subsequently demolished in 2004.
Since my return to Hamilton in 2007, I’ve had neither opportunity nor, I confess, motivation to investigate the present condition of the former vaudeville theatre and movie house so I was fortunate to reap the full amazement of the experience when my stumble down a pitch-dark gravel path and up some concrete steps lit only by Christmas lights revealed the fullness of the Tivoli’s auditorium in all its timeless and timeworn glamour.
After the initial awestruck moment of appreciation, it was easy to perceive how unkind the years have been to this historic site. The smell of damp fills the air and portions of the decorative wall arches are visibly crumbling away even as other classical touches continue to shine. This single space, more than any other, loudly proclaims both the vast cultural potential of our downtown and the heavy consequence of our neglect.
In 2006, the Canadian Ballet Youth Ensemble’s CEO, Belma Diamante, acquired the Tivoli Theatre for the dizzying sum of $2. That modest investment is now the basis of the CBYE’s Toonies for Tivoli campaign to raise $5 million for the restoration of the Tivoli. Such a transformation would not only create a valuable performance venue for James Street North’s diverse audience but also provide a home for an organization that nurtures young talent in our community.
Donations to to campaign can be made online via PayPal, or else you are invited to get in touch by calling 905.512.1453 or emailing capitalcampaign@cbye.ca.
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COMMENTS / 2 COMMENTS
Fleur-Ange Lamothe added these pithy words on May 16 10 at 10:56 pmI met Belma for the first time during the art crawl. I was impressed with her vision.
I am glad you stumbled upon the lit Tivoli. These two photos are awesome.
Steph added these pithy words on May 16 10 at 11:37 pmFriday was my first gleaning of Belma’s good work as well, I count myself lucky to have seen the Tivoli that night and hope she does even better things with the space.
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