Exhibitors Herald World (Oct-Dec 1930)

November 22, 1930 Exhibitors Herald-World 53 PLANNING THE THEATRE A Department of Architectural Assistance Conducted By PETER M. HULSKEN, A. I. A. QUESTION: I received your letter of September 17, and am very grateful for your offer to give me assistance and information. My knowledge of the motion picture industry is very limited; hence, the details which I give are very incomplete. Probably it will at least give you a sufficient idea of the theatre I am planning, however. I would like for you to outline the establishment and operation costs of a theatre of the following description : Seating capacity, 1,500; adequate theatre service, sufficient advertisement, complete sound system, with two projectors; adequate lighting facilities, good ventilating, cooling and heating systems; miscellaneous theatre equipment [other items here submitted refer to non-architectural matters and have been answered directly'] no orchestra, no vaudeville, all other equipment necessary for the successful operation of a modern up-to-date theatre. The kind of theatre which I am trying to describe is a facsimile of a theatre here. I don't know whether this information will help you to compile the desired information, but the theatre is exactly the type of theatre I want to establish. Also, I would like to see the difference in costs if I should build a theatre in a town where this is no other theatre. — F. W. G. A NSWER: The answers to your difl\ ferent questions in regard to operating cost equipment and income will be, or have been, answered directly by the heads of those different departments. As I understand it, you are interested in a 1,500-seat house, and I am really sorry that I am not familiar with the theatre which you describe, the more because you state that this theatre is exactly the kind that you want to duplicate. There is absolutely no difference in cost if you build a theatre in a town where there is no other house located, as that does not have anything to do with the cost of building construction. The cost of a 1,500-seat theatre varies to a great extent and mostly depends on the design and material used. If I understand you correctly, I believe that you wish to know the most economical cost of a theatre seating 1,500 seats. I am going to describe some theatres with which I am quite familiar and which were built at a very 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. economical cost, and you can see whether the type of these buildings on general description equals the theatre which you describe in your letter. I have in mind a theatre built of absolute fireproof construction, nice ornamental lobby with tile floor, ornate ceiling, poster cabinets, etc., two or three store rooms according to the width of the theatre with basements, office space on the second floor, foyer with women's and men's rest rooms, check room and manager's office, main auditorium seating 1,100 to 1,200 seats, stage and gridiron with dressing rooms underneath, a balcony with seating capacity of from 300 to 400 seats. Theatre designed in an atmospheric or classical or modernistic type. The front part of the building is in face brick with terra cotta trim. There will be an air cooling system, heating and ventilating system and high grade plumbing according to the various state codes. The marquee will have attraction boards. A theatre like that can be built for between $130,000 and $150,000, as a minimum basis. Should you not care to have a stage and make it a strictly picture house, your cost can be reduced considerably. These questions do not include seats and booth equipment or furniture and stage equipment. Of course, the size of your lot will have something to do with the cost. To build on a lot from 80 to 90 feet will be more economical than on a lot 60 feet wide. QUESTION: At present I own a dance and skating pavilion in a town of about 400 population, but it is a real live small town. I would like to convert this building into a talkie theatre. It is built of brick and tile with composition roof and maple floor. The inside dimensions are 50x70 feet, with a 13-foot ceiling. I have the ceiling treated with sound absorbing material, never has been painted. I would like to make a modern small town theatre out of this building. The building would have to be rebuilt somewhat, and I would have to buy all the talkie equipment and inside furnishings. I would be willing to spend from $3,000 to $5,000 on the project, besides the monthly installments for the talkie system. About what do you think it would cost me to make a modern theatre out of this, with heating and cooling systems, rugs, decorations, etc? Would a 13-foot ceiling be high enough? Please let me hear from you. — G. E. R. ANSWER: The inside dimensions of l. your building, 50x70 feet, I do not think are too large for a modern theatre, but since your town has only a population of 400, I believe your present building could be transformed into a very cozy, intimate and up-to-date small house. It is too bad that the ceiling is only 13 feet high, which is not high enough, as there will be no way of putting in a projection room and have space underneath for a foyer. I do not know how your roof is constructed, but I presume the roof joists are carried on roof trusses. The contractor may be able to jack up your roof, say from about 4 feet to 5 feet, but I hope that your first floor level is above the grade line so that you may be able to lower the entire first floor. If this is the existing condition, it would be a great deal to your advantage, as the floor should be sloped, anyway, toward the stage, and I do not think that a building used for the purpose of a skating pavilion has a basement underneath. I am of the opinion that if you go about the remodeling in an economical way, you would be able to get your work done for about $5,000. This, however, does not include projection equipment. There are on the market today some cooling units which sell for about $500 a unit, and which are splendidly adapted to a small theatre like yours and will give very satisfactory results.