Motion Picture Herald (Apr-Jun 1931)

May 9, 1931 Motion Picture Herald 7S PLANNING THE THEATRE A Department of Architectural Assi By PETER M. HULSKEN, The Question: WE ARE planning the j erection of a theatre in our town and de|jj sire to secure some information from you before talking with an architect. It is our intention to erect a theare with a seating Ijiii capacity of 450 on the main floor, 150 in f|| balcony, making a total of 600 up and down. We have a lot to the rear of the three stores that measures 75x89. It is our intention to make the entrance an arcade and build behind the arcade a building, say, 48x89. Allowing two feet for the walls will give us net inside 46x87. The length being 87, and from this deduct the foyer, say, six feet, and the stage, 14, will leave 67 feet for seats. Figuring seats 30 inches from back to back will give us 20 rows of seats from foyer to within 17 feet ■ • of stage. Should we put the screen eight . . feet back from edge of stage, it will give a [ i distance of 25 feet from the front seat to ti the screen. Isn't this ample? Should our width of the building be 46 feet inside, \ taking from this four three-foot aisles, which leaves 34 feet for seats. Could we 1 make center bank of seats ten to row and two banks of six making 22 across ? I have figured seats measuring 18 inches. Should we have 20 rows of seats, 22 to a row, would give us 440 main floor. Our entrance as per drawing is 22j^ feet wide. Would you suggest a ceiling say 15 feet high? We had planned on a ceiling for the auditorium to run from 21 feet low point to 24 feet high point. That is a three-foot floor slope. Isn't this ample? Our balcony we plan to be ten feet above the floor. Our idea is to erect a straight picture I house. This town is too small for road I attractions. We just want a modest house I that seats between 500 and 600. The build\ ing behind these stores could be built out I of common brick, but the lobby and arcade could be constructed elaborate. Our arcade would be 75 feet long, as we have to go the full length before we strike our lot. This arcade could be split, say, the first part could be a lobby 22x30 feet, and a set of doors, and the second part, 45 feet, could be a promenade into the foyer, six feet, thence to the auditorium. Don't you ' think a building 48x49 would be ample? The Answer: AFTER giving your sketch careful study, it is my opinion that you can make a very attractive house on the size of your lot. You state in your letter that the theatre proper will be 48x89 feet. 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," 1790 Broadway, New York. They will be answered in this 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. Hulslcen, who is a practicing architect and a member of the American Institute of Architects. while your sketch shows the building to cover the entire lot, namely, 75x89 feet. You should figure your seats not less than 20 inches in width, and as the center section of the house has the best seats, I advise you to make this section 13 seats wide, which complies with the majority of theatre building codes. Thirteen seats measure 22 feet across. Add to this three feet six inches for each aisle, making a total of seven feet, as you only need two aisles instead of four, as you mentioned, and make the side sections of four seats in a row, adding 14 feet with the thickness of the walls and clearance space for seats, leaving the over-all width 46 feet. This would leave 30 feet, or 15 feet on the east and west side, for exit purposes, which is more than required by ordinance. You will have room for 22 rows, making the lower floor seating capacity 462 seats. It would be better to make the foyer 8 feet wide and take the extra two feet from the stage as 12 feet for stage is enough, as you mentioned that your house will be a straight picture house and not for road attractions. I suggest that you build a solid wall behind the last row of seats up to the soffit of the balcony so as to separate the auditorium from the foyer. Place doors at the end of aisles and place windows behind center sections of seats so that the standees can see the picture while waiting. STANCE Conducted A, L A*— — ~— You do not need 25 feet from screen to the front seat. If you do not care for an extra row, increase the distance from back to back of seats to 32 inches. ▲ The Question: WE WOULD indeed be grateful to you if you could have us furnished with some cuts or drawings that would enable us to get some idea as to what we want in the following: We own a theatre that we built in 1929, which we find not adequate for our needs. The present seating is only 450 seats. We are thinking of remodeling and will enclose size of building and thought possibly that you may be able to get us a few drawings that we may get some ideas as to what we want in about 600 to 650 seat-house on the present site. We do not want anything that there is any cost to at this time, but just want ideas to help decide what we do want and can afiford for a town of our size. However, we want an up-to-date theatre. Thanking you for anything vou may do for us.— B-H. M. C. The Answer: AS WE have stated before, it is against the rules of this department to furnish inquirers with drawings or sketches. We may refer you to our past issues, as we have been publishing a great many interiors. Off these interiors you could get a very elaborate idea of what you might want. After you have made your decision of what would meet with your requirements relative to interior treatment, I would suggest that you consult with a theatre architect to carry out your plans. You further state you were thinking of remodeling the theatre which you built ifi 1929, and you state that the seating capacity is only 450. Your enclosed sketch shows the total length of your house 140 feet long, and 40 feet wide. Off that you take 32 feet for stores, leaving only a balance of 108 feet. It would be impossible to increase your above stated seating capacity unless you install a balcony. This 108 feet does not provide for an apron or space for horns and screen, and I believe that it would be useless for you to spend any amount of money on this size of building to increase the seating capacity, as it is impossible unless you do away with your store rooms and start your auditorium as close to the front as the space required for the lobby or foyer will allow.