Motion Picture News (Sept-Oct 1921)

2192 Motion Picture News Interior, showing balcony, part of orchestra and stage, Loeis/s State theatre. New York. Photo by Camera Craft, Xcw York Latest of Loew's Houses a Triumph in Theatre Construction Million Dollar State Theatre, New York, a Huge Amusement Centre Hailed as a triumph in modern theatre construction, the last of the Loew theatres, the State, was recently opened to the public, giving New York another mammoth amusement center and at the same time creating a new leadership for the Loew string through the country. The State, located at Broadway and Forty-fifth street, is indeed a landmark in theatre construction, combining business with beauty and comfort. The great theatre and office building was erected at a cost of one million dollars. The entire plant, including the Loew Building and Annex, and the theatre, covers an area of 31,500 square feet. The sixteen-storj' office building is constructed of granite marble with terrazzo floors. All the doors are of hollow steel. Approaching the theatre one sees the largest vertical theatrical sign in New York City, bearing the name of " Loew's State " and rearing seventy-seven feet above the seventh floor. The power necessary to operate this sign is equal to that required to illuminate the entire theatre. Passing through the outer vestibule and lobby, which is decorated in imported Sienna marble wainscoting and ornamental cast iron grills, the visitor is impressed with the magnifi cent foyer. While the orchestra is reached on the street level, two grand marble staircases on each side of the foyer lead to the mezzanine and balcony. Three huge chandeliers are hung in the foyer, one of which boasts genuine gold plating and is set with heavy crjstals. Three walls of the foyer are covered with a mural painting entitled " The Strolling Players," characterizing the various stages and progress of the silent drama. In the foyer, as well as the auditorium, are richly coffered ceilings. The marble floors of the foyer give way in the auditorium to carpeting of taupe, black and burgundy. At frequent intervals Oriental rugs have been placed. The orchestra and balcony floors have burgundy velour seats, while the loge and box chairs are upholstered in black and gold velvet. Excellent ventilation is assured through the installation of what is known as the mushroom and aisle hood system. Large blower fans feed fresh air to the auditorium through the aisle hoods, while huge exhaust fans at the ceiling line draw the used air out and always give a spirited circulation, the air being changed in the theatre more than twelve, times an hour. A large wellhole off the mezzanine prAnenade, skirted with Sienna marble rails and bal.'strades, augments the ventilating plans. Black, gold and burgundy constitute the color scheme throughout the theatre and give a dignified expression to the handsome draperies. A three-way lighting system of red, blue and white enhances the gold and burgundy of the draperies, which is heightened hy the jet black background. The furnishings, as well as the " inha: tants," of the various rest rooms on the n.L zanine promenade, will undoubtedh^ attract a:tention. The "inhabitants" of the foyer include a live parrot, a monkey, several li^e canaries, and as many canaries in porcelain. The latter are housed in gold cages, while the parrot and monkey are expected to have the freedom of the theatre. Both architect and owners, anxious to secrvo the best auditorium and stage lighting, engaced Max J. Lew to lay out this important part of the building equipment, and the work was in the hands of the Edwards Electrical Construction Companj'. Most of the effects in the auditorium are from concealed sources of light and art gla?s {Continued on page 2194)