Stop 1: The Princess Theatre
Howdy Fringer, we’re happy you’re here.Your feet are firmly planted on Treaty 6. Home of the original caretakers of this land the Papaschase Cree. We are humble guests here and we are honoured to carry forward in the timeless tradition of gathering in community and sharing stories. Tatawaw. Welcome. There is room. What you’re about to listen to is a hysterically exaggerated, but mostly true, walking audio tour of Fringe’s past written by our own beloved Office Manager, unofficial Edmonton Fringe historian, and lauded playwright Gerald Osborn. There are five stops along this tour, each of the five stops will lead you to an iconic location important to the early beginnings of North America’s largest, longest running Fringe Theatre Festival. So lace up your walking shoes. Wonder at your own pace. And head out into the Old Strathcona neighbourhood to retrace the steps of Fringe’s history.
Your first stop is the Princess Theatre located at 10337 82 Avenue, original home of Edmonton Fringe. Are you there now? Look up at the ornate marquee. Press play now on part 1.
SOUND: BIBLICAL MUSIC – A FANFARE
VOICE: In the beginning there was Old Strathcona and it was good but it was sorely lacking in the ways of the “artsy” and the ‘fartsy”. Then Father Fringe looked out upon the neighbourhood and said:
FATHER FRINGE: (BOOMINGLY) “Let there be Fringe”
VOICE: And there was Fringe.
SOUND: MIRACLE MUSIC – A HEAVENLY CHOIR
VOICE: And the people saw and they knew it was fabulous so they clamoured for more. Ask and you shall receive.
Here we are forty years later standing at 10337 – Whyte Avenue. Which is as good a place to start as any.
Ahhh, the Princess, Edmonton’s oldest surviving theatre. From 1915 on it is a haven for Vaudeville, concerts and countless silent films—
Howdy Fringer, we’re happy you’re here.Your feet are firmly planted on Treaty 6. Home of the original caretakers of this land the Papaschase Cree. We are humble guests here and we are honoured to carry forward in the timeless tradition of gathering in community and sharing stories. Tatawaw. Welcome. There is room. What you’re about to listen to is a hysterically exaggerated, but mostly true, walking audio tour of Fringe’s past written by our own beloved Office Manager, unofficial Edmonton Fringe historian, and lauded playwright Gerald Osborn. There are five stops along this tour, each of the five stops will lead you to an iconic location important to the early beginnings of North America’s largest, longest running Fringe Theatre Festival. So lace up your walking shoes. Wonder at your own pace. And head out into the Old Strathcona neighbourhood to retrace the steps of Fringe’s history.
Your first stop is the Princess Theatre located at 10337 82 Avenue, original home of Edmonton Fringe. Are you there now? Look up at the ornate marquee. Press play now on part 1.
SOUND: BIBLICAL MUSIC – A FANFARE
VOICE: In the beginning there was Old Strathcona and it was good but it was sorely lacking in the ways of the “artsy” and the ‘fartsy”. Then Father Fringe looked out upon the neighbourhood and said:
FATHER FRINGE: (BOOMINGLY) “Let there be Fringe”
VOICE: And there was Fringe.
SOUND: MIRACLE MUSIC – A HEAVENLY CHOIR
VOICE: And the people saw and they knew it was fabulous so they clamoured for more. Ask and you shall receive.
Here we are forty years later standing at 10337 – Whyte Avenue. Which is as good a place to start as any.
Ahhh, the Princess, Edmonton’s oldest surviving theatre. From 1915 on it is a haven for Vaudeville, concerts and countless silent films—
SOUND: SPRITELY SILENT MOVIE ACCOMPANIMENT
VOICE: First “talkie in 1929—
SOUND: JOLSON: (SCRATCHY SOUNDTRACK) Wait a minute! Wait a minute! You ain’t heard nothin’ yet!
VOICE: The Princess remains the jewel in the crown of Whyte Avenue for decades to come. Then someone invents a little box that transmits flickering black and white images right into people’s homes…for free and ticket sales take a dramatic plunge.
SOUND: LUCY: Ethel! Ricky’s gonna kill me! Waaaah!
VOICE: So the doors of the Princess slam shut in 1958. For over a decade it becomes retail space finally returning to its cinematic roots in 1971 as the Klondike Cinema. The Klondike features all sorts of fun family fare which eventually gives way to a whole swack of blue movies.
SOUND: PORNO MUSIC OF THE BOW-CHICK-A-WOW-WAH-VARIETY
VOICE: After a few years the Klondike goes under so the Old Strathcona Foundation leases the space, eventually buying the building out right. It reopens in 1978 as a repertory movie house under its original name and live performances are tossed back into the mix.
In 1980 Artistic Director Brian Paisley, not yet Father Fringe, relocates from Fort St. John B.C. to Edmonton bringing with him the Chinook Touring Theatre.
FATHER FRINGE: Bro, this Edmonton place looks like an awesome theatre town!
VOICE: It’s 1982. Summerfest, a funding organization finds itself with $50,000 earmarked for some form of summer arts activity. And the soon-to be Father Fringe has a vision.
SOUND: INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC
FATHER FRINGE: Bro, I see a Festival, all colours and chaos in the heart of Old Strathcona inspired by the Edinburgh Fringe in Scotland but it’s a whole different animal— artist-driven, unjuried, uncensored with all the money going directly to the artists themselves. And some of it will be brilliant and some of it will be terrible but that’s all part of the fun. Well? Whadya say? Bear in mind, I’m a Won’t-Take-No-for-an-Answer kinda guy!
VOICE: Summerfest can’t possibly turn down such enthusiasm and the first Edmonton Fringe is a go.
SOUND: FOOTSTEPS, CREAKING FLOORBOARDS
Look down, look way down, first headquarters for the Fringe is the basement of the Princess.
FATHER FRINGE: Bro, I don’t think anybody’s been down here in years. The walls are damp, the floor is so dusty and the air (COUGHING). But this dank subterranean “cavern” represents artistic freedom…and free rent too. We’ll take it!….One problem though: whenever we’re having a meeting and a classic film is screening upstairs we can hear every word of dialogue.
GARLAND (AS DOROTHY): Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.
BOGART: “Of All The Gin Joints In All The Towns In All The World, She Walks Into Mine. Play it, Sam.”
BETTE DAVIS: Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy night!”
VOICE: Sleeves are rolled up and planning gets underway for the first-ever A Fringe Theatre Event.
FATHER FRINGE: Bro, I know it sounds crazy but I’m thinking five indoor stages all within walking distance with something like 200 performances and an outdoor area with bands, singers, clowns, pretty much whoever shows up. Well? Whadya think? Bear in mind, I’m a Won’t-Take-No-for-an Answer kinda guy!
SOUND: A HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE AND CHEERING
FATHER FRINGE: Thank you! Thank you! You’re too kind!
VOICE: From their nerve centre in the Princess basement Father Fringe and his staff set about selecting venues. At the time Whyte Avenue is going through an economic slump. There are numerous vacant buildings, many of them well-worn and a tad shabby. There are also a few spots that might be considered cool (at least by 1982 standards).
The Princess, Orange Hall, The Art Store and the Tower Mortgage Building make the final cut. Plus Walterdale Theatre, the only legitimate performance space that first year.
Nuts and bolts are tightened, performers sign up, venues are prepared and on August 14,1982 it’s Ready-Set-Fringe!
SOUND: A WILD CARNIVAL ATMOSPHERE
Father Fringe’s dream is realized and history is made. But no sooner is one dream realized than another manifests itself. Father Fringe has his eye on his next challenge: a brand new home for the Fringe and the Chinook Touring Company. In 1983 Father Fringe and company bid the Princess basement a fond farewell and move one street over to 83rd Avenue’s former Fire Hall No. 6 which becomes the makeshift headquarters for Return of the Fringe. But more on that later.
Over the past few decades, the Princess changes ownership several times. In 1994 Brian Paisley, Father Fringe himself, becomes manager of the space and offers to buy the historical movie house but after long and heated negotiations fall through the Won’t-Take-No-For-an-Answer Kinda Guy has to take no for an answer.
FATHER FRINGE: Bummer!
VOICE: In 1997 the Princess rethinks its repertory format. Gone are the classics, the independent productions and the cult films. It is now a first-run theatre.
In 1999 the Princess II opens downstairs in the Fringe’s old office space.
SOUND: SOLITARY WIND BLOWING ACROSS A EMPTY PRAIRIE – TUMBLEWEEDS ROLLING ACROSS THE SCENE
It’s October 2020. As Covid-19 takes its toll on the film industry (as well as everything else!) the Princess closes its doors yet again and is put up for lease. 106 years of glorious history has been shuttered away. But you can’t keep a good theatre down. In July 2021 the Princess reopens its doors just when we need it the most. Ah Princess, here’s to the next 106 years whatever they may look like.
Here’s to the Princess Theatre. Time to mosey on Fringer. Your next stop is the Varscona Theatre, located at 10329 83 Avenue. Please take care crossing the street. And might we recommend ducking in the back alley behind the Varscona for a sweet treat from our friends at Sugared & Spiced. We’re big believers in the magic of theatre…and cookies. Once you get to the Varscona (also known as Firehall No. 6) press play on Part 2.