Exhibitors Herald and Moving Picture World (Apr-Jun 1930)

April 12, 1930 Exhibitors Herald-World 121 mew PLANNING THE THEATRE A Department of Architectural Assistance Conducted By PETER M. HULSKEN, A. LA, QUESTION : Having been damaged by fire in an adjoining building we are repainting our theatre on the inside and I am wondering if you can advise as to the best color or shade of paint to use that would blend in best with our “movie” screen. Our walls inside are straight. No fancy work. Both ceiling and walls are plastered. Size inside is 28 x 90 feet. A paint firm has suggested a green color of two shades. This is just a small town of 1,100 population.— K. D. ANSWER: Would advise you to conA suit with a decorator in your city. Color schemes for theatres should always be selected and studied in connection with interior conditions and architectural treatment of the theatre. On account of your house being only 28 feet wide, I would recommend a light tone, but I do not deem green very suitable. A light tan may be better. Splendid results could be obtained by paneling the walls with a stencil design, especially when the walls are plain without any break of ornamentation or pilasters. ▲ QUESTION: We intend to build a theatre for sound and would like to have from 500 to 600 seats, with a center aisle and two wall aisles. The size of the lot is 90 x 40 feet. We would like to have one floor only. Want an attractive stage and front. There are two first-run houses and we will have to have something good, yet not expensive. How about drawing us a sketch in the next issue of Better Theatres?— G. K. ANSWER: I am afraid that your lot, ±\_ 40 x 90 feej, is entirely too small for a theatre with a seating capacity of between 500 to 600 seats. According to the size of your house, you would only have 16 seats in a row across the width of your house. This means that you would have to have approximately 38 rows, figuring the distance from back to back of seats at 30 inches. The seats alone would require more space than the total length of your lot. Your property should be at least 150 feet deep. Also, you should have an alley at the rear. I would advise you to consult with a reputable architect, who could give you NOTE: • IN THIS DEPARTMENT “Better Theatres” will be glad to answer questions pertaining to the preliminary considerations involved in the planning of a new theatre or in the remodeling of an existing one. Only requests for ideas will be answered, since this department cannot assume the practical functions of an architect. All communications intended for this department should be addressed to “Better Theatres,” 407 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago. They will be answered in the department. None will be answered by mail. Although only initials will be used in signing the questions published, it is a requirement that all letters bear the signature and address of their writers. The replies will be prepared personally by Mr. Hulsken, who is a practicing architect and a member of the American Institute of Architects. the necessary information. This type of building can be constructed very economically. A QUESTION : I am figuring on a new theatre. Want to have around 400 seats and would like to have some plans and specifications for a building that would give the best results in acoustics. My town is small, around 1,200 population, and the building cost will have to be kept as low as possible. In other words, if I should build, I want to get as modern and up-to-date a building as possible at a cost of around $15,000. Would expect to use two 25-foot lots, with rented quarters on each side of the box office. — A. D. B. ANSWER: Would suggest that you consult with a theatre architect. The only plans which we could offer you are published in Better Theatres, and these plans should give you some valuable suggestions which would be beneficial to you in working out your building proposition in regard to conditions and sizes of your lot. For your size of house, your acoustic properties should be very good, provided that you eliminate rectangular corners and beams as much as possible. At a slight increase in cost, you could use acoustical material for your ceiling and back walls, which would guarantee you excellent acoustical conditions. Such a theatre as you have in mind should not be very expensive, but I doubt whether you could build it at a cost of around $15,000. If you do not want to be misled in regard to the cost, I would advise you to add at least $10,000 or $15,000 to your estimate. Two 25-foot lots, provided they are over 100 feet deep, and with alley at rear, would be satisfactory. A OUESTION : Please let us know where we can secure a catalog of plans for a motion picture theatre (showing talking pictures) of from 500 to 600 seats, suitable for a small country town. —I. A. K. ANSWER: I do not know whether cata1\ logs of plans for motion picture theatres are in existance or not, and if they were, they would be of little assistance to you, as the conditions of the lot never would correspond with other plans. Plans should be made to fit the conditions of your property. You will find in Better Theatres photographs and plans which may be of great value to you in obtaining ideas. A QUESTION : Would you please send a plan and tell me the cost of a modern theatre for a town of 3,500 population? I would like to' have plans for a theatre with 800 seating capacity, without a balcony; and another plan for a theatre with a balcony and a seating capacity of 950 or 1,000. The site upon which the theatre would be built is 50x 100 feet. I would like to build the theatre plain inside, with an 18-foot stage and a lobby that is attractive, with store room on each side and apartments up stairs. The equipment should include a modern booth, silent cooling system, upholstered theatre chairs and modern rest rooms. Please give me the cheapest figures for constructing theatres of these types. — O. W. ANSWER: I am sorry I cannot provide l. any plans. For suggestions, however, we refer you to the contents of Better Theatres. For specific details and working drawings you should consult with a theatre architect. The theatre you have in mind would cost about $75,000.