The Troc: 19th Century Victorian Theatre in Philadelphia
"Long before Death Cab for Cutie and Toots and the Maytals were playing the main stage, the Troc's biggest stars were burlesque heroines such as Blaze Starr and Gypsy Rose Lee. The rock club in Philly's Chinatown district opened in 1880 as a vaudeville-and-minstrel-show outpost known as the Arch Street Opera House; its live-music incarnation began a century later. The club has persevered through financial trouble in recent years..." - Rolling Stone
The Trocadero Theatre was first opened in 1870, offering musical comedies and traveling minstrel shows under the name Arch Street Opera House. Later, vaudeville and burlesque came to its stage with notable professional showgirls performing burlesque during the 1950’s. The Theatre was refurbished in the late 1970’s for use as an art house cinema and fine arts theatre. In the 1980’s, the Theatre was remodeled as a dance club and finally for its current use as a concert hall and live music venue.
Although the Theatre has undergone many notable changes, the utmost care has been taken to upkeep and modernize the facility while retaining its historical character.
The Trocadero is the only 19th century Victorian theater still in operation in the United States. It is listed on the U.S. Register of Historic Places.
