Exhibitors Herald (1927)

18 BETTER THEATRES SECTION OF October 29, 1927 Even Small Theatres Need the Majesty of Light THE smaller sizes of the famous Wurdack Remote Control Switchboard bring the Majesty of Light to the lesser playhouse as surely as do the larger types to a 5,000-seat auditorium. A priceless advantage to both, it wonderfully enhances the beauty of a setting and directly affects box office receipts. The WURDACK MODIFIED-PRE-SET, REMOTE CONTROL SWITCHBOARD being built of standard units and wholly custom-made, can be as simple or as elaborate as desired, and in every case exactly suited to the particular need. Far more than a mere switchboard — just as an organ is more than a mere collection of pipes — this super lighting control offers combinations and effects which captivate an audience and make a theatre supremely attractive and popular. 4444 Clayton Ave. St. Louis, Mo. CHICAGO INDIANAPOLIS DALLAS KANSAS CITY DENVER LOUISVILLE MIAMI MINNEAPOLIS NEW ORLEANS OMAHA SAN FRANCISCO TULSA The New Stanley Theatre ( Continued from page 11) separate control and can be raised or lowered conversely with the orchestra if desired. The stage center also on an elevator is independently controlled and may be run up and down regardless of the movement of the orchestra pit or organ console. The picture presented by the Stanley’s proscenium is that of a double arch, the outer arc of which stands the width of the theatre and the inner traces the actual outline of the stage aperature. This arrangement forms a perfect “orchestra shell’ adding appreciably to the acoustic properties of the theatre. The stage of the Stanley is 50 feet wide, 30 feet deep from footlights to back wall and 38 feet high from footlights to top of proscenium arch. The gridiron is 100 feet above the floor of the stage and is controlled by 40 lines insuring full capability for handling easily and adequately any type of production it may be the desire to present in the Stanley. A notable improvement in the Stanley stage is found in the movable tormentors at either side whereby the actual playing area may be made sufficiently flexible to provide a stage width anywhere from 35 feet to 48 feet across. The Stanley is equipped with dressing rooms sufficient to house independently 12 complete acts and these rooms again stamp the Stanley as the utmost in improved treatment by providing shower baths, ample makeup facilities, clothes 'lockers, etc., in addition to which a large greenroom is provided. The dressing rooms are located on the stage level and floors above. Under the stage are equally ample provision for stagehands, musicians and others directly connected with the back stage acitivites. The switchboard controlling the stage lighting is the largest and most approved type to be found South of New York City. It is such a complicated mechanism as completely to baffle the mind of the layman and embodies such innovations as mechanical signals to all dressing rooms and the greenroom whereby individuals and acts may be summoned to the stage without the services of the call boy, one of the traditional figures of the theatre. In heating and ventilating equipment the Stanley stands supreme. Heat is diffused to all parts of the house in cold weather by an intricate system of giant fans which may be set either to supply forced air in all parts of the house through specially constructed ducts and outlets or to exhaust stale air as occasion may dictate. The fans range in sizes according to location in the house up to huge affairs 12 feet in diameter operated each by an individual motor varying in proportion to the size of the fan from 20 h. p. to 50 h. p. The ventilating and cooling system to be utilized during the heated term of each year employs the same fan system as the heating plant but is additionally equipped with an air washing and refrigerating mechanism which operating under propulsion of 175 horsepower motor, under a pressure of 1100 pounds per square inch, creates the equivalent of 250 tons of ice in each 24 hours. In a theatre the size of the Stanley the refrigerating coils necessary to the proper cooling of the air represents a total length in excess of five miles if converted into a straight pipe. The air forced into the theatre during hot weather is double washed, once before passing through the refrigeration process and once afterwards. The cooling system is in its entirety under thermostatic control with points of com