Motion Picture News (Jul - Sep 1926)

168 Motion Picture News Two views of Harry Crandall's new Colony Theatre, Washington, D. C, the latest addition to the extensive Crandall circuit in that city. The colony seats 1,500, all on one floor. Note the type of structure which also houses apartments and stores Harry Crandall Opens Colony Adds Another Fine Residential House to Washington, D. C, Cireuit CRANDALL'S new Colony Theatre, on Georgia Avenue at Farragut Street, Northwest, Washington, D. C, recently completed and formally dedicated, adds another residential house of the first class to the constantly growing chain of theatres founded by Harry M. Crandall and now operated in and about the National Capital by the Stanley-Crandall Company of Washington, of which Jules Mastbaum is president and Mr. Crandall executive vice-president in full charge of operation. The Colony is a part of a five-story improvement thai also embodies six stores on the Georgia Avenue frontage and 26 apartments, ranging from two to seven rooms, exclusive of bat lis and kitchens. The theatre itself occupies a ground area 125 feet by 125 feet and has a total seating capacity I 'proximately 1,500 on one floor. The box office and entrance to the foyer abul directly upon the corner of the intersecting avenue and street, with entrances on each side of the corner. From the foyer a rise of a. U-\v steps leads to the lobby proper, which is 100 feet long and 22 feet high, with sidewalls paneled to accommodate pictorial display frames on current ami comina: attractions. The lobby is handsomely decorated in harmonizing shades of tans and browns, set, off by blue and gold, The foyer, lobby and auditorium .ill are effectively wainscoted with Roseal Tennessee marble in tunes that blend well with the genera] color scheme that has been skillfully carried out. The auditorium gives an immediate impression of spaciousness and comfort. Here, I he color scheme IS executed ill tans, browns and blue, with a cerulean dome effect that emphasizes the artistic quality of the multiple color lighting system. This dome, directly over the center of the orchestra floor, is 35 feel in diameter and S I'eet deep. The lighting here is indirect, with wall fixtures Burnishing semi direct auxiliary illumination. The proscenium opening is :il feet in width and l(i feet long and embellished with a series of drapes that add much to the beauty of the playhouse. The treatment of the interior is further enhanced in artistic value by the utilization of exquisitely proportioned cut-crystal chandeliers. The Colony is equipped with wide, leather-seated orchestra, chairs of utmost comfort. The house is ventilated by the latest improved giant fan system, which can be made to supply twice the amount of fresh air, for which provision must be made under the District of Columbia Building Code. The heating is done by a specially installed oil burner which also heats the stores and apartments in the Colony Building, although stores, apartments and theatre may be separately controlled and operated singly, if desired. The building is completely fireproof and of self-supporting steel construction, the steel framing being totally independent of any masonry. The projection booth in the theatre is absolutely the last word in application of the best usages in providing for flawless projection of the image upon the screen, it stands at right angles to the screen, in a direct line and is equipped with a full battery and reserve of Powers' Peerless low-intensity machines. The Colony was designed by John J. Zink, well known Baltimore architect, and is under the management of LeRoy Sherman, formerly manager of Crandall's Savoy Theatre in Washington, who is particularly proud of the specially assembled orchestralunit pipe organ that was built to order for this house under the personal direction of Joseph P. Morgan, general manager of the Stanley-Crandall Company of Washington. This triple-manual instrument is one of the largest in the city of Washington and is presided over by George A. Emmans, concert organist. Crandall's Metropolitan to Be Redecorated Crandall's Metropolitan Theatre will be closed for a period of two weeks beginning July 18th, for the purpose of making extensive alterations of the interior of the auditorium and the seating arrangements on both floors. Recarpeted. reseated, redecorated and with amplified stage facilities the Metropolitan will be in a position to take its place again with the foremost first-run houses in the country. Another New Theatre for Detroit's East Side Another new theatre on the easl side of Detroit is to be erected ;it once that will have ;i seating capacity for 3,000. The Harper Van Dyke Business Association an i nee ;i community house and recreation building to be erected on Harper Avenue between Van Dyke and Maxwell, costing approximately one million dollars, which includes the theal re. View of the main lobby, looking toward the {oyer and entrance of Crandall's new Colony Theatre, a neighborhood house at Washington, D. C. Sail Lake House Installs Perrlrss Arcs Tom Olsen, assistant to Louis Marcus, Western Division Manager lor Famous Players Lasky, announces that new Peerless Reflector Arc have been in-tailed in the Paramounl Empress Theatre, Salt Lake City, which have improved the projection considerably, lie also states that the new uniforms for the ushers of the Paramount Empress ami Victory Theatres will be in eek.