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Phantom of the Opera History Notes

Phantom of the Opera History Notes. Paris Opera House. Beautiful Many floors, levels, beyond cellar level, fountains, a lake, a big chandelier and even a ghost (Phantom of the Opera). Origin.

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Phantom of the Opera History Notes

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  1. Phantom of the Opera History Notes

  2. Paris Opera House • Beautiful • Many floors, levels, beyond cellar level, fountains, a lake, a big chandelier and even a ghost (Phantom of the Opera)

  3. Origin • Napoleon III – he went to an opera house, Rue Le Peletier, and wanted a more desirable location for his entertainment. • Center of Paris • Design Contest! • 171 designs were considered; 700 drawings • Charles Garnier, architect won! • Marvelous design, carpet, wall paper samples, model to scale, etc. • Construction began in 1861

  4. Napoleon III Charles Garnier

  5. Problems • An underground stream was discovered (delayed construction for 8 months) • Napoleon refused to change the location! • 8 pumps worked for 8 months…still streaming! • Finally decided to builds a double layer concrete foundation over the stream • Backed up the stream and turned it into a small lake used as a reservoir • Viola! Hydraulics could be used to move the stage!

  6. Problems (continued) • 1870 Franco/Prussian (German) War begins • Incomplete construction: used as a warehouse, military prison, arsenal, communication center and observation post • This war ended the reign of Napoleon III and second French empire. Alsace/Lorraine became part of Germany until the end of WWI.

  7. Opera House Details • 17 stories tall • 118,500 square feet *football field is 120 yards (360 feet) by 53 1/3 yards (160 feet) wide* 360 x 160 = 57,600 sq. ft • Staff of 1500 • 2500 doors • 80 dressing rooms • 7 ton chandelier • Largest playhouse in the world • Seats 2156 people • 1896: chandelier falls and a worker perishes

  8. Gaston Leroux • Wrote the novel Phantom of the Opera • Born in Paris on May 6, 1868 • Very smart child; loved literature • Went to law school; didn’t like it but graduated regardless • inherited a lot of money from a family member • lost the inheritance to drinking and gambling • Became a journalist and gained exclusive interviews; later became a novelist • Published Phantom in 1910

  9. Years Later • “Phantom” becomes a silent movie in 1925 • Lon Chaney, Jr. was the first to play Phantom • Lon was known as “the man with 1000 faces” • Born to deaf and mute parents • Did all of his own makeup for his movies • Other films: “Hunchback”, “Dr. Jekel”, “Oliver Twist”

  10. Years Later (continued) • 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote the play/musical “Phantom of the Opera” • Longest running play in Broadway history • Received many awards: Olivier Award, Tony Award Best Musical, Tony Award Best Actor (Michael Crawford)

  11. The End! Applause is appreciated, but not expected!

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