New York Clipper (Jun 1923)

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June 27, 1923 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 29 W^Al^ACE XHEA.XRE: NOW, WEEK OF «JUNE '2ff EDNA DAVE LEEDOM AND STAMPER Direction THOMAS J. FITZPATRICK NEW THEATRE BUILDING PLAN Edward B. Kinsila. theatrical architect, who drew the plans for the New Amster- dam Theatre and other theatres buih by Klaw & Erlanger, recently returned from Gennany and announced that he was pre- taring to organize a company for the pur- pose of building a chain of theatres which would be constructed of concrete and poured gypsum, each to cost $100,000 complete and seat 2,500 people. Each of these theatres is to have a rapid inter- changeable stage which is said to be a decided improvement on the revolving type of stage such as was used for the produc- tion of "Johannas Kreisler" at the ApoUo Theatre by the Selwyns early this seasoa According to the plan of Mr. Kinsila Ihe theatres could be built without the em- ployment of skilled labor, -which today is -die most costly item in construction. The plan calls for the employment of ordinaiy labor and using ordmary labor methods. The outer walls of the theatres are to be luilt of concrete, with poured gypsum being used for the inner walls and the floor. Gypsum, it is claimed, is the most fireproof method of construction in the <uvilized world. It was used by the an- cient Greefks and is now being used by the modem builders by being poured by unskilled labor into prepared moulds into masses -which quickly harden into floors that give the greatest strength conunensu- rate with the lightest wei^L' By cover- ing the gypsum with a light coating of thin concrete the surface is absolutely impervious to water. The outer walls are to be constructed of machine pressed blocks, which would eliminate a great degree of waste. The greater portion of the labor used in the construction of these blocks is the un- skilled labor employed in moulding them. The entire work of laying the poured gyp- sum floors is by unskilled labor. Only the preparation of the forms is partially by skilled labor, where carpenters arc used. The inner walls of the structure are to be composed of- thin panels of gyi>sum walls, painted or stencilled in true ancient Gredc Doric style, which it is claimed bring about the most suitable and artistic decoration for a theatre. Colored in the correct ifaade of yellow it is said to have a highly valuable reflective quality for light and is most restful for the eyes. The auditorium of the theatre, which was designed by Prof. Max Littman 'of the N'ational Theatre, Muenchen, Germany, is to be constructed in the form of an elongated triangle, with the widened end at the rear. The plan calls for an orches- tra and three balconies. The lower floor is scheduled to hold 664 persons and will be arranged in eighteen rows, each row five inches above Uie preceding row, so as to give the spectator an uninterrupted view of the entire stage. Back of the orchestra chairs will be three groups of four closed boxes eadi, with small retiring rooms be- hind each, which will accommodate nine persons. Above these boxes on the par- quet floor are to be a dozen loges each holding nine people. Between each row of seats there will be thirty-six inches of space which will per- mit people to go to and from their seats without disturbing people and caus- ing them to rise. At each side of the lower floor will be descending aisles, separated from the regu- lar seating aisles by a row of posts and separating curtains that -will divide the auditorium from the portion reserved for cloak room space. These cloak rooms will be provided with pairs of descending dumbwaiters that go to the basement, where commodious quarters will be located for the storing of the patrons' wearing apparel. Above the parquet floor where the dozen loges are to be located there will be two balconies which combined will seat 1,600 people. From the rear of the upper bal- cony the patrons will have access to a chute which will carry them to the street in twenty seconds and land them on their feet. This chute can be used in case of danger for the upper portion of the hous$ as well and Mr. Kinsila says will empty the entire floor of its patrons in less than two minutes. The rapid interchangeable stage to be used in the theatres was conceived by Adolph Linnebacb, who is the registenr of the National Theatre at Meunchen'and who has already installed this type of stage in the National Theatre at Copen- hagen as well as in half a dozen German theatres. According to the Linnebach plan the usual revolving stage employs as much surface as the scene to be depicted there warraifts, generally ifrom three to six scenes, which is overcome through his method by a simple turning of the re- quired small section that is absolutely nec- essary, a quickly changed scene can be accomplished. This method, it is said, is highly profitable in time and space saving. It is said that it is often the custom to show closed interiors that later expose the open landscape or the reverse. For sudi a purpose a larger area of the ordinary revolving stage is necessary and a smaller portion for the enclosed scenes, and con- sequently a great waste of space in theat- rical performances requiring many changes of scene. The object of this invention is to illu- minate and economize this waste of space. To accomplish this the revolving stage area is arranged into three or more smaller revolving platforms, placed approximately tangent to each other, upon which the vari- ous scenes may be placed and revolved. Should there only be a limited amount of scenes required the revolving platforms can be erected on the stage, but if the scenes are more numerous a similar ar- rangement of revolving platforms are in the basement directly beneath those on the stage level. These platforms are so ar- ranged that the revolving points each platform are perpendicular and m the same axis, each above the other. They are connected with each other by a fixed framework, which can be raised or low- ered smultaneously by levers or other force so that the lower platform may come to approximately the stage level, while the upper platform may at the same time dis- appar to the hidden regions above the gridiron or proscenitnn arch. This plan has been found very practical in Europe and in some plays where thirty- six scenes are used the changes of scene were made in as rapid time as five seconds. This type of stage, the theatre audito- rium proper and furnishing of the theatre to make it ready for production, Mr. Kin- sila says, can be aU done for $100,000. At the present time he has taken op the proposition with several wdl known New York theatre owners who are examining models of the new project. ASKS RECEIVER FOR HILL Frederick V. Peterson, who recently ob- tained a judgement of $10,128 against Gus Hill, producer, made application last Satnr- day to the Supreme Court for the appoint- ment of a receiver for the property of Hill, and sale of assets to pay the judgement which he is unable to collect. In his complaint, filed through Gilbert, Campbell & Bananco of No. 14 Wall street, Peterson asserts that HiU formed three dummy corporations to which he transferred ail his assets, including a valu- able home in Locust Point, N. J., to con- ceal bis assets from creditors ana prevent him particularly from collecting a judge- ment. Estelle Hill, wife of the producer is named also in the complaint as wdl as the three corporations, the Wellbgton Invest- ment Company, the HiUok Annuement Company and the Wellolc Company, Inc., all defendants in the action started by Peterson in effort to collect the judgement obtained by him on November 8, BARNES CAR IN FIRE One of the Al. G. Barnes advance cars was in the Pennsylvania R. R. Broad St. station when the station was badly damaged by fire Monday, June 11. The fire started about 12:55 a. u., and the men on the car who were all in their berths at that time all got oar safely. The car was blister«i from the intense heat and damaged by water and smoke. FLOYD KING IN NEW YORK Floyd King of the Sanger show was in New York a few days last week and l^t again to join the shoiw in Western Penna. Mr. King reports that his Show is playing to good business despite the hot weather. "GREAT MOGUL" NEWING PLAY De Witt Newing has written a drama entitled "The Great Mogul," the produc- tion of which he is negotiating with Au- gustus Pitou for next season. RASTELU RETURNS FROM U. S. London. June 25.—Enrico Rastdli has retnmed from America and opewd at tbe Victoria Palace for a tour of the halls. ANNIE RUSSELL UFE MEMBER Hiss Annie RusseU has been made a life m e m ber of the Actors' Equity. Miss Russdl was one of the pvneer members and has been strong for the organiratym ever since. NO FIRES IN THEATRES Pabis, June 25.—According to results recently announced, tibe munidpal labora- tory of Paris has completed a series of successful experiments that prove thegr have discovered a new and sure method of prevention of scenery, curtains aod other theatrical accessories from ntr*ting fire. Back before the war, in 1912 and 1913. a commission composed of chemists, seene painters and theatrical directors «aa formed to study the best methods of pre- venting fires in theatres and imder an ordinance passed in 1906 all theatres were required to use only non-inflammable scenery, but it was found then that all existing ways of employing fireproof accessories affected the original coloring of the scene. This ordinance was never strictly enforced. ln_ the exp e r im ents conducted in tbe municipal Idioratory two pieces of scenery were sprinkled with alcohol and then ig- nited. _ The one that had not been ti e aled according to the new fonnula bu r ned up in less than a minute, while the other, after the alcohol had burned out, remained m- scarred. The experiment was also tried oo flimsy materials, sudi as tnlle anl nmslin, with the same results. The formnla is not given in detail, but borax and boric acid are mentioiicd as two of the principal ingredients. HETTY KING WINS LIBEL SUIT EjiiNBUBC, June 25.—Hetty King, masic hall artist, who has played the woiM round, won a suit for £500 from the Glas- gow IVeekty Record for the printing of an alleged interview in which she was re- ported to have severely criticized Amer- ican aodienoes. According to the interriow, Miss Kinz said the American audiences were dull and slow on account of jnofaibitioo, and that her act suffered. Miss Kin^ denied that she had ever ^en such an mterview and claimed that its publication would famt her in America, especially as she plans to letuiu to ^Bt country soon. "When I read the article I cried and oried. and I could not sleep for nigfats," she said. "The Americans were most land to me and they took me to their hearts." The newspaper denied tiie libd and claimed that the article was based on an interview supposed to have been ^ven by Miss King in America to a jonmalist who has since died. "JACK STRAW" CLOSES London, June 25.—"Jack Straw," after being snocessfolly revived, is closing at the Criterion Theatre. It is to be fol- lowed in the bouse by "Send for Dr. O'Grady," Canon Hanna/s play. Sir Charles Hawtrey and Mai]garet' Bonner- man will appear in the leading roles. EMPIRE TO REMAIN OPEN For the first time in its history, the Em- pire Theatre will remain open during the summer. Alice Brady and her play "Zander the Great" are responsible. wmmm mm and miss yannksi THE BLONDE AND BRUNETTE WITH ARTHUR FREED, THE COMPOSER, AND JACK GIFFORD. RIVERSIDE THIS WEEK. PALACE THEATRE, NEW YORK, NEXT WEEK.