Exhibitor's Trade Review (Nov 1925 - Feb 1926)

December 26, 1925 Page 59 The Grand Theatre A Theatre Believing That Quality Improves With Age By RALPH COHEN THIS adage seems to sum up the history of the Grand Theatre, Columbus, Ohio, as nicely as any lengthy discourse might. This theatre built 25 years ago as the Grand Opera House and housing everything from burlesque to stock until it passed into the hands of the James Amusement Co., in 1922, is as imposing in its presentations as it is unpretentious in its exterior appearance. When this property was acquired by the James interests twelve big posts marred the vision of the audience. For a time these obstacles were allowed to remain. Their values as liabilities were obvious. J. Real Neth, general manager for the organization, devised a plan of removing these, but could find no contractor or builder willing to undertake the proposition. Finally, a young chap — Charles Carlson, agreed to try it. On one Saturday night in 1922 immediately after the last show, one hundred artisans of all kinds rushed into the theatre, and worked for one week continuously day and night removing the posts, placing eye beams across the theatre, resting these on girders in the walls and firmly placing these in place in the basement. One week after the start, the show was opened on schedule time. The name of the archietct and contractor who built this structure has been forgotten but the engineering feat of Carlson will live in architectural annals for years to come. The entrance fronts twenty feet on State street, opposite the Ohio state capitol. The front of the building is grey stone. The lobby is twenty by forty. French doors lead both into and out of this lobby. The theatre proper is seventy by one hundred and fifty feet and contains a main floor and two balconies. The first has 647 seats. The latter have 325 and 280 seats respectively. Ten boxes are also located on each floor. Each holds six chairs. The stage is seventy by twenty-eight. The drapes around the boxes are a dark blue. The stage set, made by the New York Scenic studios, consists of three curtains in a cycloramic effect in front of the screen. They are in burnt gold and orange. The organist operates their opening and closing. No murals cover the walls. Instead the entire surface is painted in buff and light blue panels. The ceiling, decorated with ornamental plastering, is a cream color. The lighting effect obtained in this theatre is original to it. A specially prepared canary tint covers each bulb. This color was prepared by the Sterling Bronze Co., of New York. While the show is in progress the lights in the indirect lighting fixtures, which predominate, are dimmed. During intermissions the bulbs are turned on full, bathing the audience in a pale-canary glow. The organ a three-manual instrument, was installed bv the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., at a cost of $35,000. The ProBert Sheet Metal Co., of Cincinnati, made the marquee, an ornamental glass and iron affair, installed after the change of ownership. P. F. Yoerger, Columbus, manufactured the huge three story sign which spells out "Grand" in varied colored lights. The projection rooms were fully equipped by the American Theatre Equipment Co., of New York. Among the larger pieces included are two Powers motion picture machines, one spot light and one double dissolving stereopticon. The lobby frames were also purchased from the above firm. Charles Carlson, Columbus, made the booths. In the lobby are twelve big carved display frames with polychrome mirrors over each. These were made by the (Continued on page 60)