The Film Renter and Moving Picture News (Jul-Aug 1922)

July 29, 1922. "HE FILM RENTER & MOVING PICTURE NEWS (Technical Supplement). v. ee a Theatres & their Equipment. New Super Kinemas. ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee eee ee No. 1.—THE RIVOLI, WHITECHAPEL ROAD, LONDON, E. kinemas in the London area is the Rivoli, which rears its noble proportions in Whitechapel Road. ideal site on the south side of this well-known thoroughfare, saddling the entrance to St. Mary's Whitechapel Station on the O*. of the most imposing and substantial of the super Tt occupies an Front Virw or THE Rivontr. “nderground ailway, with its main entrance on the west sic Underg 1 Railway th its main entr t] st side of the station, and its exits and stage door on the east. Through the courtesy of the managing director, Mr. Walter Wanger, and his able assistant, Mr. Lewis, a representative of the Firm RENTER was courteously shown through the theatre, both in front and behind the scenes. The Building. The building has a magnificent frontage of 165ft. in Whitechapel Road, facing due North. The gencral design is reminiscent of the Italian Renaissance, of which it exhibits free treatment; the front is executed in white faience. The — interior shows a considerable degree of French influence. The entranee is treated as an arcade: of five arches, and a similar treatment is employed for the exits. The underground station, which lies between these two portions of the structure, will shortly be rebuilt in harmony with the rest of the design. The planning of the building, evidences meticulous thought on the part of the designers, and nothing that would make for the comfort and safety of its patrons and staff, as well as the practical excellence of its entertainment, has escaped consideration or been omitted. Yet even now a scheme is being formulated to add to, rather than improve, sfeotural ole" conditions. Digitized by \zOC 1g general The vestibule is noble and imposing, as the photograph we Fium Renter) should provide amp!e evidence. The flooring is of black print herewith (one of several specially taken for the and white marble tiling: the walls a pale stone colour and panels of light art green, picked out in gilt. There are. two pay-boxes, one on either side of the main staircase. The corridors and stairways throughout are broad, whilst their rake or slope is easy and gradual, ‘ The Auditorium. The auditorium is extremely handsome, and singularly free from the disadvantages frequently experienced in some earlier constructed theatres. It is 118ft. in length by 80ft. wide at the front and 103ft. at the back. The rake of the floor, while considerable, is not apparent. The colour schemo of the walls is a cool grey and gilt, the flutings in the Corinthian columns are painted in a light blue, and the caps and other ornamentations are heavily gilded. Deep red and gold thread curtains cover the The tip-tip seats, which are very comfortable, with ample leg-room between the rows, are of inlaid mahogany on gilt iron frames, and are upholstered in dark blue green tapestry. The floor in the auditorium, as in all parts of the house, is completely covered with a heavy carpet, bearing a subdued paitern on a toned pink ground. There are 1,500 chairs in the auditorium, while the baleony contains 800 seats; the net seating accommodation is therefore 2,300. The baleony has a projection of 50ft. by 100ft. wide. The rake is approximately 1 in 3. There are four exits from the baleony, while in the auditorium cleven are provided, The stage, which is shortly to be windows, Ope Mesragyie. NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY