Motography (Apr-Dec 1911)

November, 1911. MOTOGRAPHY 209 The People's Theater at Portland By Charles F. Morris PORTLAND, OREGON, has stepped into line for picture theaters on the higher plane. The Peoples' Amusement Company has opened the People's Theater, with de luxe appointments, an exceptional musical equipment, and admission prices from ten to twentyfive cents. When these photographs were taken the theater was not quite finished, as is evident. But they give a good idea of the size and architecture of the house, and will at least serve until others are taken. The People' Theater, occupying a space 100 feet by 100 feet, at the corner of West Park and Alder streets, Portland, celebrated its grand opening Wednesday, November 1. It has the distinction of being a "made-in-Oregon" product. The company itself is a local one and the material used, with the exception o f the onyx with which the lobby is trimmed, was all secured either in Portland or some part of Oregon. In all matters pertaining to construction, architecture and decorating the work is the product of local artists and artisans. The exterior of the theater is decorated with appropriate plastic work, especially designed for this particular theater, and consists of figures typical of the drama, tragedy, music and motion picture art. The exterior lobby is trimmed in beautiful Mexican onyx, and the entrance doors, four in number, furnish the most artistic and original idea of the kind in the country. These four doors are especially designed art glass, being entirely unique and original, representing music, art, the drama and tragedy, and are especially attractive when illuminated at night with hidden electric lights which shine through the transparent glass. The foyer is very large, roomy and comfortable, Front of the Unfinished People's Theater at Portland. being divided off from the main floor by a partition which is beautifully decorated with hanging curtains of Alice blue plush. From the main foyer there are two stairways — one to the right and one to the left — leading to a genuinely attractive and comfortable balcony. The main floor is divided into four sections and leading into each is a wide and well-lighted aisle. The lights are entirely unique in design, coming up under the seats and yielding perfect and complete illumination for every seat on the main floor. The stage is somewhat larger than is usually found in theaters constructed exclusively for the exhibition of motion pictures and it is thoroughly and completely equipped with whatever is necessary in order fully t o exploit highclass pictures, as well as song productions and the turns which are peculiarly appropriate to this form o f entertainment. The grand drapery is beautifully executed in the shape of an overhanging curtain, and the color scheme, both of that and of the large asbestos curtain, is fully in harmony with the generall character of the decorations, the color scheme being Alice blue throughout very largely following the decorative scheme of George Cohan's theater, which has recently been constructed and is now open to the public on Broadway, New York — the home of beautiful theaters. In addition to natural ventilation of the highest order, a complete system of scientific suction fans has been installed, by which the air entirely changes in the building every two minutes. The lighting system of the theater is taken care of by ten light wells in the ceiling of the main auditorium, being a peculiar system of inverting which carries the rays of light upward and which enables the house to be fully lighted without in the slightest degree in