Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

210 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. VI, No. 5. Interior View of terfering with the exhibition o f t h e pictures, and in addition, more than 1000 other lights may be turned on by the controlling switch. On the left is the organ loft, containing the new $10,0 00 organ which was especi a 1 1 y constructed for the People's Theater, together with a special church chimes box, something never before put in any theater on the Pacific Coast, and which will enable the organist to create a very weird and realistic effect when the peculiar picture being exhibited warrants the use of the chimes. The theater contains a number of very handsome loges located in the front of the balcony. Underneath the stage are a number of dressingrooms. The boiler-room is in the basement entirely separate and apart from the theater and located underneath the store portion of the building. In the rear of the balcony the operating room is located. This room is constructed throughout of solid steel and concrete, its ceiling is high, is well ventilated, and everything known to the latest motion picture science has been inaugurated in this booth, not only to provide safety but to enable the operator to produce the highest grade picture. There are two machines in use, and the lighting and picture screen are designed for the production and exhibition of the largest picture in width, heighth and breadth of any shown in the United States. The erection of the building was begun July 7, 1911, and was finished and turned over by the contractor on October 16, thirty days ahead of actual contract time. The remaining days to November 1 were utilized in putting in the chairs and furnishings and other work coming under the supervision of the company. This is the establishment of an absolute record in putting up a building covering a space of 100 by 100 feet. The entire building, the space devoted to theatrical purposes as well as the space occupied by stores and offices is constructed of steel and re-inforced concrete. On the lower floor there are six distinct exits and on the upper floor there are also six wide exists leading out from the first floor to Alder street, being an inclined floor and entirely capable of taking care of that portion of the audience which will use that side. On the north side of the building is an independent eightfoot passageway laid in concrete which will be ultilized by those making their exit from that portion of the theater. It is estimated by those conversant with these matters than the entire theater can be emptied in less than a minute. The People's Amusement Conipany was organized in February, 1911, and started .with a dozen theaters. It has added to its string of theaters until now it owns, operates and controls theaters in the principal cities, of the Northwest, and it is its aim in time to cover the entire field with theaters modeled after the new People's. The company started out with the idea of educating the public to an appreciation of the best photoplays obtainable in the world, and it was largely through the efforts the People's Theater. of the management that voluntary censorship, made u p of a body of representative public women has become a permanent institution in the city. The People's Amusement Company and the local advisory board of censors from the day of that institution's organization to the present time, have worked in complete harmony and no picture has been exhibited in any one of the sixteen theaters in this city oprated by the People's Amusement Company, without first having been passed and approved by the National Censorship Board and the local advisory pie's Amusement Company, who has charge of the work on all the new theaters being constructed by the company. The officers of the company are : Fred H. Rothchild, president ; Melvin G. Winstock, general manager ; C. W. Metzger, resident manager ; E. Shainwald, treasurer ; Sol Baum, assistant manager ; and the board of directors are D; Solis Cohen, Dr. Holt C. Wilson, A. Berg, Fred H. Rothchild and E. Shainwald. The theater was constructed under the personal supervision of W. B. Armstrong, superintendent of construction of the People's Amusement Company. The program for the opening night consisted of four pictures and two musical numbers. First was the Essanay baseball picture of the World's Championship series. Then came Selig's "Lost in the Jungle." A baritone solo by Arthur Elwell came third, followed by the Biograph "The Long Road." A song production from Lucia was the big musical feature of the evening, by Miss Elinor Hatch, soprano ; Miss Alicia Petitclerc, soprano-coloratura ; Charles E. Reimer, tenor ; Kenneth Metcalfe, baritone, and Douglass Mclvor, basso. Clifford Carney was director and Ted Henkle handled the drums, violin and effects, while costumes and scenery were used especially prepared for the production. "A Disturbing Canine," a comedy, closed the program. Performances run continuously from noon to 11 P. M. each day. The program is changed every Sunday and Wednesday. General admission to the lower floor and seats in the entire balcony are ten cents. A few