Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1977 - 25

usable wall stacking areas which would cut down on useful cross-over and wing space.
At Wilker's insistence, a motorized winch system for
the rigging was specified. There would be approximately
35 winch line sets on six or eight inch centers. Two large
reversible motors would slide on a track up and down
stage. A right angle drive chuck on the motor could be
attached to the drive spindle on any winch.
Lastly, the Architect's plan included new supporting
areas in the basement below house and stage. There
would be dressing rooms, chorus rooms, a musician's
room and a room for temperature controlled instrument
storage. The technical staff would have modest spaces
for electrical, property and soft good storage. Both the
stage load-in lift and the pit lift would communicate
directly with these areas.
In the late spring of 1974 when planning and design
drawings had been completed, the Board of GOH, Inc.
engaged the firm of John E. Healy and Sons, Inc. as
general contractor and construction manager. On April
19, 1974 John Healy presented a preliminary estimate of
$3,133,063 for remodeling and restoration. The estimate
was based on preliminary design drawings, " ... and on
conferences with the architects, consultants, and trade
contractors."2 The Board added additional costs for
shrinkage, contingencies and operating funds through the
1977 fiscal year (even while all the plann ing and preliminary design work was in progress the theatre was housing
a modest season of twenty-odd attractions; music, dance,

films, and travel features). After final discussions with
the architects and the construction manager, it was
decided that the restoration of the cast iron facade would
be started during the summer of 1974 as funds for this
portion of the total restoration were already on hand.
In the fall and winter of 1974-75, a statewide campaign
would be mounted in order to raise the balance of the
$3,800,000 needed for the entire project. If funds were in
hand by the late spring of 1975, the theatre would be
closed in May and work would commence full scale. The
anticipanted time from the first interior demolition to
completion would be exactly one year with the reopening
scheduled for early May of 1976, coincidental with a
number of Bicentennial events already scheduled.
The work on the facade proceeded smoothly through
the summer and fall of 1974. At the same time, the 800
block of Market Street, Wilmington's main thoroughfare
and the location of the Grand, was being converted into a
pedestrian mall as part of a master plan drawn up by
GWDC and the city for the revitalization of the downtown area.
Work on the facade and the new sections of the roof
was completed by mid-November. Shortly thereafter,
the campaign to raise the needed construction funds
was opened. After a slow start, the funds began to come
in from several directions. There were major contributions and pledges from the state, county and city plus
several large grants from foundations and local corporations. Lastly, a public campaign was kicked off in the

Demolition in the Auditorium. The stage left wall is visible at left. The several floor layers can be seen at center. The
balcony fascia is made up of cast iron segments that concealed radiators to heat the house. Photo courtesy of Grand
Opera House,lnc.

USITT

THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

SPRING. 1977

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1977