Frank Matcham (22 November 1854 – 17 May 1920) was an English theatre architect and designer. Matcham was best known for his work in London, under Moss Empires, which included the designs of the Hippodrome (1900), Hackney Empire (1901), Coliseum (1903), Palladium (1910), and the Victoria Palace (1911). During his 40-year career, he was responsible for the design and construction of over 90 theatres and the redesign and refurbishment of a further 80 throughout the United Kingdom. According to the dramatist Alan Bennett, there was a Matcham theatre in every corner of the UK. Matcham's use of cantilevers for the galleries allowed him to discontinue the use of columns, which would otherwise obstruct the audience's view of the stage. The auditorium decorations were often mixed with Tudor strap-work, Louis XIV detail, Anglo-Indian motifs, naval and military insignia, rococo panels, classical statuary, and baroque columns.
Read more: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Matcham
_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:
1642:
The Société Notre-Dame de Montréal founded Fort Ville-Marie, a permanent mission that eventually grew into the Canadian city of Montreal. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal
1947:
After renegotiating a contract with the makers of her signature Chanel No. 5 perfume, Coco Chanel received a share of wartime profits from its sale, making her one of the richest women in the world. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coco_Chanel
2000:
Following the killing of two English football fans by Galatasaray supporters in the previous month, British and Turkish hooligans rioted on the day of the UEFA Cup Final in Copenhagen, Denmark. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_UEFA_Cup_Final_riots
_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:
fjord: A long, narrow, deep inlet between cliffs. https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/fjord
___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:
The idea of motherland is not a false idea, but it is a little idea, and one which must remain little. There is only one common good. There is only one moral duty, only one truth, and every man is the shining recipient and guardian of it. The present understanding of the idea of motherland divides all these great ideas, cuts them into pieces, specializes them within impenetrable circles. We meet as many national truths as we do nations, and as many national duties, and as many national interests and rights — and they are antagonistic to each other. --Henri Barbusse https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Henri_Barbusse