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Exhibitors Herald-W orld
51
April 12, 1930
Seating 2,400, the main auditorium is designed on stately and more beautiful lines than many of the more luxurious theatres. Straight line is employed with pleasing effect, the proscenium arch being as severely straight-cut as the panels, which are the only means of wall ornamentation. The clever and distinctly artistic use of color, however, has gone far to compensate for the plainness of form, and one catches as one enters a refreshing impression of old gold and silver, flecked with jade.
The entrance lounge and tea rooms are similarly treated in silver with strong splashes of scarlet. Silver walls and a pillar box red ceiling, without any ornamentation, create a charming effect quite surpassing many more expensive schemes. The London county council now insists on the provision of covered waiting room for at least 25 per cent of the capacity of the hall, and to meet this demand, a large waiting room has been put in. It serves as an entrance lounge also. A single unbroken flight of shallow stairs leads from this hall to the tea rooms, while side stairways lead to the balcony. The floor rake, both below and in the overhang, is sharp, to keep a clear view of the screen. Western Electric sound appartus has been installed. There has also been installed a large Compton double console organ, which at present is augmented by an orchestra. The Astoria has a large stage with a counterweight system. Presentations and other types of stage shows will be given. The technical equipment was installed under the supervision of Major Bell, who is engineerin-chief to Paramount in London. The theatre has its own electrical generating plant and can keep going in the face of any local emergency.
A novel feature in connection with the organ is the isolation of the chamber. This is placed 30 feet above the roof.
The auditorium from the stage. Here is well shown how decoration was kept at a minimum, reliance for relief from plain surfaces being on dashes of scroll work. The sharp decline of the floors was obviously due to the relative small depth of the auditorium.
The proscenium arch, a simple comparatively unadorned rectangle designed to achieve i the effect of beauty through its own lines rather than superficial ornmentation. Through grilles at each side is emitted the music from the organ chamber, which is located 30 feet above the roof.