Series S43 - Civic Theatres Board subject files

The Vancouver Civic Theatres Board was known by a series of names: Civic Auditorium Board of Management, 1956-1960; Vancouver Civic Auditorium Commission, 1960-1961; Vancouver Civic Auditorium Board, 1961-1976; and Vancouver Civic Theatres Board, 1976-present.

The body was established in 1956 under by-law 3596 to administer, manage, and operate the new civic auditorium (the Queen Elizabeth Theatre). The Board was also expected to hire and oversee a theatre manager. The Board consisted of five members, including one alderman, then increased to six members under by-law 3601. Board members selected the Chair. In 1961, serious problems with the management of the theatre (the theatre manager hired by the Board was dismissed for financial irregularities and eventually convicted of fraud) resulted in the passage of by-law 3941. This by-law repealed by-law no. 3596 and took away the Board's financial powers (e.g., the power to make parking arrangements, collect monies, authorize expenditures, keep books and appoint a manager), thus creating a purely advisory board. In 1961 the operation of the civic theatres gained the position of a civic department (for more information about the activities of the Civic Theatres Department, see Civic Theatres Department authority record).

Since the passage of by-law 3941, the jurisdiction and function of the Civic Theatres Board has been to advise Council generally on the operation of the civic theatres (the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the Queen Elizabeth Playhouse, the Orpheum) and all matters related to their use and improvement, in particular: the forms of entertainment and types of organizations which should be specially encouraged to use the theatres; the advantages to be derived from adopting policies or methods of operating theatres which are in practice elsewhere; the integration of other facilities and concessions in the operation of the theatres; the annual budget of the Vancouver Civic Theatres as prepared by the manager (now Civic Theatres Director) and submitted to Council in the same manner as departmental budgets; the schedule of rates and rentals which are to be charged for the theatres' facilities as prepared by the manager (now Civic Theatres Director) and submitted to Council in accordance with normal civic procedure; such other matters as may from time to time be referred to the Board by Council for advice and recommendation; to bring to the attention of Council any matters relating to the theatres which, in the opinion of the Board, merit action on the part of Council.

By-law 5035 changes the name to the Vancouver Civic Theatres Board, and constituted the Board to have seven members, including one liaison Councillor appointed annually by Council.