"The Million Dollar Theatre."

Free Lance, Volume XIX, Issue 1029, 17 March 1920, Page 25

"The Million Dollar Theatre."

(Written for the New Zealand Fbee Lange by a Wellington Girl in Los ' Angeles.) Los Angeles can certainly be proud of its wonderful picture theatre, built by ' Messrs Grauman Brothers, which cost them just one million dollars. Thus the name, " The Million Dollar Theatre." . '*■ * * * An evening spent at Grauman's is an evening well spent, for this 5* theatre is.-& most beautiful thing. Its outside appearance would not attract more than the ordinary attention, for, like most picture theatres, it is the usual blaze or lights, but an exclamation of delight escapes you the moI ment you peep - inside. * The ticket you purchase at fhe paybox is taken from you by a girl dress■ed in the daintiest fashion—she is arrayed in what is called ' the YamaYama costume. It is a jacket-and- , pants style, and the colour-scheme is black and white. A Tam-o-Shante'r hat of Jbhe same material and colour scheme ■ is worn, and the whole effect is charming. White boots are also worn to complete the picture. A number of girls dressed in the same manner are located all about the house to show the folks to their Sfeats. It adds quite a pretty touch, to the picture to see these girls moving quickly, yet silently, all over the house. Occasionally one will ! see a Jap. dressed all in white, with a

patent shovel and broom in his hand, bobbing up and down,' picking up the crumbs and threads on the beautiful carpeted stairs and aisles. ■•' _ «• '■» '/■ •* ■. ; *. : ■ " On looking around the first thing thiat atrikes you is the magnificent organ built on both sides of the theatre —was here ever, such a wonderful orfan on this one? One of Los Angeles' est organists officiates, and ■: one Could sit all day and listen to the beautiful rendering of some of the world's beat music. You completely forget that you are in a' picture show until you are rudely awakened by the orchestra - striking -up;-' v This : orchestra is fif t.v strong—imagine, it! .Some of the city's best musicians are here, and with the many different instruments some very charming music is heard.

The evening's performance opens up with the usual Pathe Gazette, and then is introduced' some vaudeville turn of quite a superior order. This is followed by a little playlet acted by very good artists - and, with the wonderful drapings of the theatre all in a most beautiful shade of . soft peacock blue, one is very pleased with the entire setting. Then cornea the feature picture. So you . see the programme is quite; a lengthy one. . ■ ■ «• *■: -X- ■_ ,* •'

The prices of/admission to this Million Dollar Theatre are anything but

reasonable, but it is compensated by the very excellent programme. Qcca- ' sionally the management arrange to ; have the star,- who is playing in the feature picture, to appear in person just previous to the showing, and. as Los Angeles worships movie stars there is always a crowded house when this takes place. # * * *

I must not forget to mention the altogether charming rest rooms, which are on one side of the entrance to the gallery. This theatre being so beautiful is, as you can imagine, very well patronised, and unless one is very early or has reserved her seat it is a question of a long wait after the programme has started. It is for. this purpose that these rest rooms have been provided. Delicate peacock blue couches and cushions and carpets furnish these rooms and, with electric light stands shaded with a most gorgeous shade of old rose, a very pretty harmony of colour is struck. They are rest rooms in every sense of the word.

When the " Yama-Yama " girls find there is further seating room they will come to the rest rooms and inform you that there is opportunity to obtain a seat. Tlie entire theatre is most elegantly carpeted in the peacock . shade of blue. The ladies' retiring -rooms off the lounge are fitted up in the very latest style—-long mirrors, dressing tables, drinking water and little paper clips that you destroy after using. This all goes to show that there is little left to be desired by the patrons of this " Million Dollar Theatre." »

BillrE " Bender