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Roadshow and Grind
Theatres in Same
House Paying Off
By LOUIS A. ARRU*
T wo major factors prompted our action to create the Penthouse Theatre in Louisville.
First, for purely civic reasons we turned over our Brown Theatre, originally built for stage presentations, to the Louisville Theatrical Ass’n, a civic group dedicated to keep Louisville well supplied with the finest of stage presentations. This theatre was equipped with 70mm projection and was our roadshow house.
The 810-seat Penthouse which was constructed in the former balcony of the United Artists Theatre in Louisville, Ky., which is served by the original booth. A new projection room to serve the 1,750-seat United Artists Theatre on the ground floor was built at the rear of the theatre, beneath the center curtain of the Penthouse.
IDEAL FOR ROADSHOWS
Second, it became increasingly difficult for the large U.A. Theatre (3,200 seats) to compete with other first-run theatres with much lower overhead. The idea occurred to us that the balcony, since it was there and seldom used, would make an ideal roadshow house.
We held a conference with the architectural firm of Wagner and Potts concerning the structural requirements and had them prepare plans and specifications for the project.
All the plush loge seats (284) were removed. A new booth to serve the downstairs theatre was constructed in the center of the former loge area. Steel frames were erected on the edge of the balcony
•Executive vice-president. Fourth Avenue Amusement Co., Louisville, Ky.
Longitudinal sketch of the United Artists Theatre and the Penthouse.
Ar. escalator was installed to lift patrons to the Penthouse, and can be operated in either direction as nee. d. The old stairway remains. The refreshment counter serves patrons of both theatres.
extending through the ceiling and to the roof to prevent sound transmission from one theatre to the other via the attic.
A specially designed acoustical and sound-proof wall was built to contain sound waves up to 90 decibles.
The screen (28x45 feet) sets four feet out from the new wall to permit the proper placing of the sound horns. The sides of the new wall, that portion not occupied by the screen, were draped and a traveler and
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The lobby prior to remodeling.
The MODERN THEATRE SECTION