THE "GODS."

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 194, 18 August 1933, Page 9

THE "GODS."

BACKS BUILT 'TO SEATS. For 32 long years devotees of the gallery, or family circle—popularly known as "the gods"—have sat on broad wooden stairs, until they, have developed practically into a clan of their own, with tradition as jealously guarded as that of the stage or dressing-rooms themselves.

In the last two days the clanging of hammers has been heard in "the gods ' instead of the .clapping of hands, and some of last evening's audience for the charity play, "The New Lady Bantock," were treated to the initial use of back-rests. About twothirds of the 521 seats in the gallery were backed by a single curved rail, with stout two-legged steel trestles dividing the seats into pairs. This regrouping will probably make booking for seats possible, thus eliminating the historic six o'clock queues of the early days.

In accordance with the Fire Board s intimation, the aisles have been widened from 2ft 6in to the standard theatre width of 4ft. This action was necessary in view of the fact that it will now be impossible ashithe.to to scramble up and down over the seats. At present about half the seating accommodation is carpeted, but every seat is to receive its covering. The whole of the improvements, which should not injure the old air of possession peculiar to the gallery and the gallery-ite, will be complete for to-morrow's new show from Melbourne, "Venus, Ltd." :