NEW PICTURE THEATRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XLV, Issue XLVIII, 19 December 1914, Page 7

NEW PICTURE THEATRE

"THE EMPIRE."

I For Some week's pftsl strenuou ■"efforti UaV'e been expended ii converting I lie . building .1 Bridge-street, formerly known as ••\V'i kie'sV' into an vip-ld-dale picture theaL-n for Mr H. Saunders, proprietor of tlj< , Theatre Roval ami the Permanent Pic ' tines. The result has been a «.."!.:■. ful transformation from an o ;..".:•-•> '; building into a picture theatre n ■],-.. H J with every modern convenience ark] ck j' vice, providing not only for the pi\j<-c , tion of pictures to the best ' but alfo for the. comfort of patrons. Th onginal bniltliiiK has been leiiglli*?ivjtl ai < , tin 10,,f raised ■ iind Other improvement , made in urtW to riiako the new t:<itlri. I replete in eVin-.v detail, .The dov.ist wr_- . portion is entered from-the eastern s.dc. along a covered-in and asphalted path There is no pit. the front stalls compn's in" the sixpenny seats, and tiie baqk stalls, which arc well raked, are t,h< stalls proper, there being seating accomodation for 700. The whole of the interior walls are lined with poihte, a fireproof material; in fact, the whole build .tug has betm made as fire-proof as mid. it methods can make it. The intei'ivi-l decorations have been carried out ly 3nH. P. Evans, of Wellington, and h* is to oe deservedly complimented Oil 'he lcsult of his work, The general effects are m ■Teens and creams. The proicei.jm arch has a hand-painted Cupid p.n.cl on top in oreen and crold and is studded with electric" bulbs. 'The general effect ot the circle walls is very pleasing, ana includes two floral and a landscape panel of NewZealand scenery, all hand-painted. The upstairs ceiling" Is of embossed steel. ielieved with light tones of gold, niu. the cornices arc made to blend with the .eiling. Suspended from the ceiling are three clusters of lamps, giving out 1.5C0 ■acidic-power. The ceiling under the dress circle is all panelled. There is a»: iir of spaciousness about the frouv entrance. The ceiling is treated .n autumn leaves "in gold tones", and the walls are in with flower sprays. The approach to the dress circle is by way of a oroac flight of stairs, which separate 'nto a flight on cither side to a landing, on >vluch is the ladies' dressing-room Mid a lover. The latter has dimensions of about 48 x 39 feet, and will make a ct rvenicnt- and much appreciated ies.timr i jlace, where refreshments will be cb- ( tainablc. The ceiling is treated in •ream, with hand-painted apple blossoms and roses, the walls having a. hand-paintet: monocrome freizo wit.'i J lac panels. From the foyer, entra.tc-e is obtained to the covered-iu balcony running the whole width of the building, and. from which a splendid view of a portion of the city and suburbs can be bad. Another short" flight of steps and the dress circle is reached. It extends right round the. building, and lias seating accommodation for about 300. The lii.:ip seats are' finished in white ena.u.d. ind are upholstered in Utrecht vehv-i. Ample space has been left between' i'-e rows, two inches more being provided than in the Theatre Royal. In the roof of the building is situated the firc-pijor I .prrating box, fitted up with the latest) tvpe of"appliances. Special provision i n'as been made for Hire escapes, wine:! | .un practically all round the dress cucl .< j Ventilation is another matter which h-J claimed special attention, and Uwue , should be. no complaint on this &<-v •:«.■_ Electric lighting has been provided throughout, as well as gas; the plant :cr the generationof the former is well a-ic. separately housed on the eastern side i i the building, and consists of a 21 h.p. National gas engine, and other necessary plant. An open space on the premises uas been asphalted, and a portion of tlvs is to be covered in, and used for the motor cars, etc. A pleasing feature of the urctoT~caTsT etc. -i. leasing- feature,, of-j-ne work is that, with the- exception of t.-he electric light installation, which •qu' 1. not. be done locally, everything has been done by Nelson firms. The, contract yrs and designers were Messrs Leaper Bros., and the sub-contracts were carried out by the- following:—Painting, Mr E. T. Savage; iron work, Anchor Shippiug apd Foundry Company; upholstering and furnishing" generally, Messrs G. Page and Sons; gas fittings, Nelson Tinware Company ; asphalting, Mr Plum. Mr Wyllie installed the engines.. The Empire will be under the personal supervision of the proprietor. The assistant-manager and operator is Mr YV. Surrell, additional operators, Messrs D. Roper, and J. Horton; engine-driver.; Mr. C. Hansen.. In addition, there are also the orchestra, ticket sellers audi doorkeepers, so it will be. seen that quite a. number are employed! in •or about the Theatre, meaning the circulation of a good sum of money weekly. The building was lighted up last evening, and-the colour scheme was brought out very vividly. This afternoon a private performance was'given; and on Monday evening the Empire will be opened to the general public._ The box plan is now open at the Empire office. After the Council adjourned- last even ing, members, on the-invitation of Mr Saunders, visited the new premises. The Mayor in a few words congratulated the proprietor on his enterprise. . Mr Saunders is to be congratulated on his enterprise in providing such a. complete and comfortable theatre for his patrons. • No expense has been spared, and the proprietor, with characteristic thoroughness, has left no stone unturned to make liis venture the success it deserves.