2008 Woodie Awards
Grungy Trocadero still a fan favorite
Meg Hennelly '09
Issue date: 10/31/07 Section: Entertainment
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The Trocadero Theater does not exactly exude metal, punk rock, and mayhem from its well-worn façade, yet when one steps into the Cookie Monster-blue foyer decked out with bright orange chandeliers and sticky carpeted floors, you know that you are in for quite a night.
From the tiny graffiti-festooned bathrooms and late 19th century architecture to the smoky balcony bar and overpriced drinks, The Trocadero's little features give it the character that many Saint Joseph's students and Philadelphians love.
Located on Arch Street in the heart of Chinatown, The Troc, as it is affectionately known, has been an entertainment mainstay since the late 1800s, when it was named The Arch Street Opera House.
In 1978, it was added to The National Register of Historic Places.
Though it has changed over the past century from an opera house to a vaudeville venue, a burlesque theater, a cinema, and finally a concert venue, the dramatic architecture has stayed the same.
It is this same architecture that worries and delights some of the patrons like Bryan Reid, '09.
"At any moment, a giant piece of ceiling could come crashing down" he said.
"Will the safety net save me? Will I die?"
Another characteristic of The Troc is the rundown feel of the theater.
This dirty feel "gives a homeliness to the place," said Lynn Haley, '09.
Antonia Arias, '10, absolutely loves The Troc.
"It's fun and stuff, kind of decrepit. You can kind of get away with anything there."
Salvatore Profaci, '10, also agreed.
"It's very fun because of the small size of the venue and also the dirtiness because it gives you a feeling of 'anything goes,' which balances out the old world architecture, i.e. the balcony."
With its small size, good acoustics, homely feel, and great balcony, The Troc is a cult favorite to some, yet there are some students that find the grungy to be a tad, well, unattractive.
"It's a cool venue because there's no seating, lots of character, and tickets aren't that expensive, yet it's a shade grungy - fun, but to a certain point," Mike Daly, '08, said.
From the tiny graffiti-festooned bathrooms and late 19th century architecture to the smoky balcony bar and overpriced drinks, The Trocadero's little features give it the character that many Saint Joseph's students and Philadelphians love.
Located on Arch Street in the heart of Chinatown, The Troc, as it is affectionately known, has been an entertainment mainstay since the late 1800s, when it was named The Arch Street Opera House.
In 1978, it was added to The National Register of Historic Places.
Though it has changed over the past century from an opera house to a vaudeville venue, a burlesque theater, a cinema, and finally a concert venue, the dramatic architecture has stayed the same.
It is this same architecture that worries and delights some of the patrons like Bryan Reid, '09.
"At any moment, a giant piece of ceiling could come crashing down" he said.
"Will the safety net save me? Will I die?"
Another characteristic of The Troc is the rundown feel of the theater.
This dirty feel "gives a homeliness to the place," said Lynn Haley, '09.
Antonia Arias, '10, absolutely loves The Troc.
"It's fun and stuff, kind of decrepit. You can kind of get away with anything there."
Salvatore Profaci, '10, also agreed.
"It's very fun because of the small size of the venue and also the dirtiness because it gives you a feeling of 'anything goes,' which balances out the old world architecture, i.e. the balcony."
With its small size, good acoustics, homely feel, and great balcony, The Troc is a cult favorite to some, yet there are some students that find the grungy to be a tad, well, unattractive.
"It's a cool venue because there's no seating, lots of character, and tickets aren't that expensive, yet it's a shade grungy - fun, but to a certain point," Mike Daly, '08, said.
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