ADVANCE, NEW PLYMOUTH!

Taranaki Daily News, 13 December 1916, Page 6

ADVANCE, NEW PLYMOUTH!

EVERYBODY'S THEATRE. - OPENING TO-MORROW A BEAUTIFUL STRUCTURE The Taranaki Amusements, Ltd,, have just built a theatre Which in joint of solidity of construction, design, comfort, safety and general excellence, can truly be claimed to be one of the finest (if not the finest) picture palaces in New Zealand. Everybody's Theatre opens its doors to the public to-morrow (Thursday) evening. It is situated on the section adjoining Avery's and the Criterion Hotel, running through from Devon street to Powderham street, in the very heart of the town. Trams stop almost in front of the main entrance. Th'e theatre will be made conspicuous to the pedestrians in Devon street by a bold facade and the rows of bright electric lights oyer the _entrance. On entering the theatre the patron is conducted along a grand, brilliantly-il-luminated hall-way to the spacious vestibule that forms the approach to the auditorium and dress circle stairways. To the right of the hall is a recess which forms the ladies' cloak room, and nearby is the ticket office. The dynamo, which forms the source of the electric supply of the theatre, occupies an apartment to the left, and adjoining the dynamo room is the manager's office. Ample room is provided in the hall-way, and vestibule for the movement of patrons when entering or leaving the theatre. To the right and to the left of the foyer are short flights of stairs which give access to the luxuriouslyappointed lounge and the roomy dress circle. The stalls are gained by proceeding across the fama floor of the vestibule through the large bevel-plate doorways on the ground floor. ORNATELY DESIGNED INTERIOR. The design of tha Interior of the theatre is Grecian, the lonic features being at once majestic and imposing. The walls are of the purest white plaster, relieved by the lonic coilonades, which take away from the height of the Avails. Below a-re Grecian figurative bauds and flags .worked out in plaster that provide ventilation and at the same time are pleasing to the ey,e. The roof, however, is a most interesting feature. The immense stone beams, supported by shoulders of a simple yet handsome design, conforming to the general scheme of the building, give an impression ot immense strength and solidity, and it is a true impression, bacause if the architect has erred at all he has erred on the side of safety.. The arched roof is worked out in panels, as were the Grecian temples of old, and over the main auditorium is a magnificent dome, which is elliptic in form, extending almost the whole width of the building. It is, the writer understands, the largest and finest theatre dome in the Dominion. The top of the dome is latticed to draw up the air, and the lighting is bidden. The. lighting, indeed, is one of the most charming features of the building. It is all indirect, hidden ia ornate holders and thrown on to the roof or sides of the building, whence it is thrown back, and here and there are torches shedding a soft light, the holders again being executed in the lo.nie style. The screen is flanked by two heavy ornamental columns, and above the screen there is a pair of wings, after the wings of the Grecian goddesses, giving effective finish to the proscenium. COMFORT OF PATRONS. Everybody's Theatre is planned with a view to giving the maximum of comfort to patrons. The first general impression on entering either the dress circle or the main auditorium is the roominess and the large amount of air space provided. Instead of providing seats for from 1000 to 1100 patrons, as could easily have been done, the company have limited the accommodation to about 800, all the seats being of extra width, and there being plenty of space between the rows. The ground floor slopes perceptibly from the entrance to_ the stage, and the screen is so arranged that the pictures can be seen with the utmost comfort from every seat in the building. The front seats are we'll back from the screen, and there is a wide orchestral well.

The circle is on the straight-aero=;\ rake principle, the old idea, of trailing the seats around the sides of the theatre being abandoned. This assistpatrons in the dress circle to get a straight-on and a full and uninterrupted view of the screen.

(Upstairs and downstairs high-class easy-sprung leather-upholstered seats, with comfortably-disposed backs, have been installed. AMPLE SUPPLY OE, FRESH AIR. The ventilation scheme is a perfect one. The ceiling is very high from the floor, and in the centre of the dome is a large lattice, of artistic design. Two smaller domes are arranged under the dress circle. Latticed wall ventilators, planned in accordance with the general design, are calculated to provide a liberal supply of fresh air in the theatre all the year round. A SOLID STRUCTURE. The theatre is built in ferro-eoiicretc, and is, as it looks to be, a very solid structure. Fire-proof fire exits are provided to Devon street and Powderham Street, there being four beside the main entrance. The operating box is situated outside the dress circle. -Superior finish is given to every part of the theatre, and the beautiful .plaster designs and rosewood finished stairways and ballustrades, all worked out in the Grecian flag design, arc creditable samples of skilful workmanship. THE DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS. The theatre was designed hy Messrs Grierson and Amier, of Auckland, and was built by Messrs Chappell and Woolley, also of Auckland. Mr. T. H. Bates, as clerk of works, supervised the construction. Messrs Nixon and Xixon installed the electric light, and the Carra'ra Ceiling \Company were responsible for the plastering. Messrs. Henry Brown and Co. were responsible for the joinery, and its excellence is not only a great advertisement for the firm, but a credit to the maker, Robert Howe, who is not hinv out of his apprenticeship, also to the foreman, James Piper, who supervised the work. Kvcryijody's Theatre is an acquisition .tlit! town might vrtll be proud,"f, and

the company's enterprise is deserving of the success it merits.

Arrangements have been made for the supply of the test pictures available,' and the popular price of one shilling for the dress circle and sixpence for the stalls will too observed. The manager of the company, Mr. G. 11. Saunders, will conduct the theatre, Mrs. George will direct the orchestra, and Mr. Brandon Houghton will be responsible for the projection work>