Day 405-The Benedum Sparkles at The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Chandelier Event

 

 

The Benedum Center for Preforming Arts  greets patrons with an ornate concave ceiling adorned with paintings, gold trim and four crystal chandeliers in the lobby. There are  ninety more throughout the venue. The granddaddy, a 20 feet tall by 12 feet wide, chandelier hangs high above the audience.

 Once a year everything sparkles at this home to some of the biggest shows and brightest stars (pun intended) when  the lights are lowered for cleaning. Friends of the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust are invited to an eye level view of the brilliance, stand on the stage and a history tour during the “ The Chandelier Event.”

Reflection

The Chandler Event brings this gem (this pun also intended) of a venue into the spotlight.  The Benedum was originally called the Stanley when it opened in 1928 as a “Pittsburgh Place of Amusement.”  The Stanley was a movie theater for many years.  In the 1970’s, the walls were covered with dry wall and painted black and gold when it was converted into a concert venue for DiCesare Engler Productions.  

Bob Marley's last concert was here.  A picture of that night is on display in the 2^nd floor lobby.

Likely for the public, in 1984 the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust removed the dry wall to reveal the original beauty. The Trust   restored the theater back to it's 1928 glory days and extended the stage.  The theatre is one of the 10 busiest theaters in the country. There is always something happening at the Benedum because no show is too big for the stage.

During the event, the lobby feels like you’re entering a crystal palace. The row of lights gives a warm glow as you get close to  the lowered chandeliers  examining the  size, pendulum yellow tear drops, and round  crystal works of art.  

The main star is the huge 90-year-old chandelier that hangs at the very top of the auditorium. The 500,000 Czechoslovakian crystals are almost blinding. I had a flashback to the falling chandelier in The Phantom of the Opera when viewing this  one almost touching the floor of the balcony.  

It takes 300 hours to clean to the  90 chandlers and to replace the 1,500 lights in the ceiling.

 Next time you’re at the Benedum, look up and all around at the lights that shine as bright as the stars on stage. Thank you, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, for keeping the sparkle alive in this Pittsburgh gem.

(The Chandelier Event happens once a year in the fall when the theater is dark. The Friends of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust are invited to the free event. Contact the Trust for more information or to become a Trust Friend.

Spiritual Source

There is a glory and beauty of the sun, another glory of the moon and yet another glory of the stars: and one star differs from another in the glory and brilliance. (1 Corinthians 15:41)

Other Source

https://trustarts.org/pct_home/visit/facilities/benedum