This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2007)

The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please improve this article and discuss the issue on the talk page. (December 2010)

A covered porch.

A porch (from Old French porche, from Latin porticus ‘colonnade,’ from porta ‘passage’) is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.

There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location. All porches will allow for sufficient space for a person to comfortably pause before entering or after exiting the building. However, they may be larger. Verandahs, for example, are usually quite large and may encompass the entire facade as well as the sides of a structure. At the other extreme, the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan has the longest porch in the world at 660 feet (200 m) in length.^[1]

North America[link]

In eastern North America and New England, a porch is a small area, usually unenclosed, that is at the main floor height usually used as a sitting area or for removal of working clothes so as not to get the interior of the house dirty, as the front door is accessed via the porch. In the Western United States, ranch style homes often use a covered porch to provide shade for the entrance and southern wall of the residence. In the Southern United States and Southern Ontario, Canada, a porch is often as broad as it is deep, and may provide sufficient space for residents to entertain guests or gather on special occasions. Older American homes, particularly those built during the era of Victorian Architecture, or the Queen Anne style, often included a porch in both the front and the back of the home. This is used as a sitting space as well. However, many American homes built since the 1940s with a porch only have a token one, (rear one) usually too small for comfortable social use and adding only to the visual impression of the building. The New Urbanism movement in architecture urges a reversal in this trend, recommending a large porch facing the street, to help build community ties.^[2]

When covered, a porch not only provides protection from sun or rain but may also form, in effect, an extra exterior room that may accommodate chairs, tables and other furniture, to be used as living space. Screens are often used in some areas to exclude flying insects.

Porches typically are architecturally unified with the rest of the house, using similar design elements as the rest of the structure, and may be integrated into the roof line or upper stories.

Britain[link]

Highly decorated two-storey south porch of 1480 at Northleach Parish Church, England.

In Britain the projecting porch had come into common use in churches by early medieval times. They were usually built of stone, but also occasionally of timber. They were normally placed on the south side of the church, but also on the west and north sides, sometimes in multiple. The porches acted to give cover to worshippers, but they also had a liturgical use. At a baptism, the priest would receive the sponsors with the infant in the porch and the service began there.

In later medieval times, the porch sometimes had two storeys, with a room above the entrance which was used as a local school, meeting room, storeroom and even armoury. If the village or town possessed a library of books, it would be housed there.

Sometimes the church custodian lived in the upper storey and a window into the church would allow supervision of the main church interior. Some British churches have highly ornamented porches, both externally and internally. The south porch at Northleach, Gloucestershire, in the Cotswolds, built in 1480, is a well-known example, and there are several others in East Anglia and elsewhere in the UK.^[3]

India[link]

Ancient temple porch to a mandapa, India

The porch to the entrance to Cave Two, Ajanta Caves

In India porches and verandahs are popular elements of secular as well as religious architecture. In the Hindu temple the mandapa is a porch-like structure through the gopuram (ornate gateway) and leading to the temple. It is used for religious dancing and music and is part of the basic temple compound.^[4] Examples of Indian buildings with porches include:

• Kailash Temple^{[disambiguation needed ]}
• Cooch Behar Palace
• Ajanta Caves
• Chennakesava Temple at Somanathapura
• Hoysaleswara Temple
• Dholpur House

See also[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Porches

• Balcony
• Deck
• Loggia
• Patio
• Porch sitting
• Porte-cochère
• Portico
• Rain porch
• Sleeping porch
• Sunroom
• Verandah

References[link]

Notes

Bibliography

Robert Earl Keen, Junior (born January 11, 1956^[1]) is an American Texas country music and folk guitarist and singer-songwriter from the southern state of Texas. He is popular with fans of various musical genres including traditional country, alternative country, folk, Americana, and college radio. Keen currently resides in Kerrville, Texas, and maintains a ranch in Medina, Texas.

Early life[link]

Growing up in Houston, Texas, Keen was interested in music, sports, movies and writing. Keen graduated from Sharpstown High School in 1974.^[2]

College[link]

Keen attended Texas A&M University, where he majored in English. Disappointed in the College Station music scene, he began playing guitar and learned to read and write music, basing his style on folk, country, blues and rock roots. In 1974 he rented a house from landlord Jack Boyett, where his neighbor was a then-unknown Lyle Lovett. The two became fast friends and performed together on the front porch many evenings. This eventually grew into inspiration for a song entitled "The Front Porch Song", which both would add to their repertoire.

Career[link]

In 1980, Keen graduated from Texas A&M and moved to Austin, Texas. Soon he was performing in Austin's nightclubs and live music venues, building a solid following. In 1984 he financed the recording of his own EP and distributed it regionally. In 1986, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Discouraged by the polish of the new country sound and unable to land a recording contract, Keen moved back to Austin. In 1988, he was living in Bandera, Texas, with his wife, Kathleen. In 1989, he released his national debut album, West Textures. His 1993 release, A Bigger Piece Of Sky, gained wider acclaim, both amongst fans and critics. Over the next ten years, Keen would continue to write, record, perform and tour. In 1994 he performed in the musical Chippy. Keen's 1997 album Picnic features a picture of Keen's own car in flames at Willie Nelson's 1974 Fourth of July picnic/concert. He tells the story on the No. 2 Live Dinner album in the introduction to the song "The Road Goes on Forever." Keen tours frequently across the United States. He plays to large and small concert halls, often tours with popular Texas country bands such as Reckless Kelly and Randy Rogers Band, and has opened up for Dave Matthews Band.

Band[link]

• Rich Brotherton - guitar
• Bill Whitbeck - bass
• Tom Van Schaik - drums
• Marty Muse - steel guitar

Discography[link]

Studio albums[link]

Live albums[link]

Compilation albums[link]

Singles[link]

Music videos[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• http://www.robertearlkeen.com - Official Site
• Robert Earl Keen at Allmusic

A leading figure in the hospitality and food & beverage industries, Robert Earl is the founder and CEO of Planet Hollywood International, Inc and the chairman of the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Early career[link]

A lifetime entrepreneur, Earl founded President Entertainment in 1977, a company specializing in theme restaurants that grew from a modest start-up to a company valued at more than $100 million when he agreed to sell the company to Pleasurama in 1998. Earl was invited by Pleasurama to join its executive team and orchestrated the acquisition of Hard Rock Café. During his five-year tenure as the CEO of Hard Rock Café, Earl oversaw the expansion of the brand from its initial seven units to 22 units, and dramatically increased the Company’s profitability. This growth was a direct result of aggressive marketing and non-stop positive press capitalizing on Earl’s vision to use the allure of Celebrity and creative events to earn Hard Rock Café a mystique that separated it from its competition.

During this same time period Earl was also a Director of Pelican Group PLC, and oversaw tremendous growth of brands such as Café Rouge, Dôme, and Mamma Amalfi all while increasing the profitability of each of the concepts, until its ultimate profitable sale to Whitbread PLC.

Planet Hollywood[link]

In 1991, Earl founded the Planet Hollywood brand and brought theme dining to a new level. As CEO of Planet Hollywood International, Inc., Earl negotiated celebrity partnerships with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Sylvester Stallone and orchestrated Hollywood-style premiere grand openings. With his expertise in creating a fully integrated and unique dining experience Earl created a brand that achieved global acclaim in just a few short years.

Brand Expansion[link]

Earl became joint venture partners in 2003 with London Clubs with his purchase of London’s famed 50 St. James, one of London’s most prestigious gaming addresses. Operating under the name Fifty, the casino with its fine dining restaurants and hot night club scene, set a new standard for gaming establishments in the UK. Additionally in 2003, Earl announced a partnership with Lord Sandwich, the 11th Earl of Sandwich, to launch Earl of Sandwich shops in the United States. The first gourmet sandwich shop opened in March, 2004, at Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort in the Downtown Disney Marketplace with newest outlets now open in London, Disneyland Paris and most recently in New York City in September, 2011. In October 2011 Earl expanded on the Earl of Sandwich brand opening a high energy food court, Earl’s Court, in New York City’s Financial District partnering with other iconic New York brands including The Original Soupman and Billy’s Bakery.

In late 2008, to further solidify his place as a leader and pioneer of themed restaurants, Earl acquired casual dining company, Buca Inc. and its chain of eighty-eight Buca di Beppo restaurants throughout the United States. Since the acquisition, Earl has injected his formidable energy into the franchise, revamping the menu to include fresh, daily made sauces as well as new menu items to broaden the restaurants’ appeal which embodies the Italian traditions of food, friendship and fun. The Buca di Beppo chain, known for its quirky décor and upbeat atmosphere, has locations from Albany to Honolulu, with recent expansion into Boston and international development with four new locations in the United Kingdom and three locations opening soon in Mexico.

In September 2010 Earl announced his latest brand extension with the news that Planet Hollywood International signed a license agreement with Wyndham Hotel Group granting them exclusive rights to franchise Planet Hollywood branded hotels and provide management services globally. In the coming months locations for the development of the first Planet Hollywood hotels will be announced.

Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino[link]

In June, 2003, Earl, along with joint venture partners, Bay Harbour Management LC and Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, purchased the Aladdin Resort and Casino located in the heart of the famed Las Vegas Strip. After a complete head-to-toe renovation, the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino was launched in 2007. The 2,600 room property features highly coveted restaurants, nightclubs, lounges, full service spa and gym and a high-tech gaming floor. The entire resort is encircled by the Miracle Mile Shops with more than 170 retail outlets. In early 2010 Earl and his partners sold the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino to Caesars Entertainment, formerly known as Harrah’s Entertainment. Caesars Entertainment now owns and operates the property while Earl retained the license for the brand and remains chairman of the resort.

Everton Football Club[link]

In October 2006, Earl became a partner of a British Premier League soccer club. As a shareholder in the Everton Football Club, Earl is turning his love of sport into a business venture.

BCR Sports[link]

BCR Sports is an investment vehicle for Robert Earl. The company is registered in the British Virgin Islands. It owns 23% of Everton Football Club.^[1]

Hard Rock Cafe[link]

The former CEO was responsible for global expansion of the brand which lead to the sale to Rank Leisure Organization.

References[link]

External links[link]

Robert Earl at the Internet Movie Database

• Buca di Beppo Restaurants USA
• Buca di Beppo Restaurants Mexico
• Buca di Beppo Restaurants UK
• Planet Hollywood International
• Earl of Sandwich Restaurants USA
• Earl of Sandwich Restaurants UK
• Earl of Sandwich Restaurants France
• Everton Football Club
• Rank Leisure Organization