The Moving picture world (May 1922)

424 II MOVING PICTURE WORLD May 27, 1922 Better Equipment Qonducted fecPE.T.KEYSER 1 1 The Yonkers Strand Is a Credit to Ex-Mayor Walsh and Architect Quick THE Strand Theatre, Yonkers' beautiful, new house, which recently opened, constitutes not only a testimonial to the ability of its architect, H. Lansing Quick, but is a concrete illustration of the conservation that may be effected by skillful planning. When the Strand Realty Corporation purchased the property of the First Reformed Church, on South Broadway, for the erection of the Yonkers Strand, it was the original intention to demolish the church and erect a new theatre building on its site. But after a careful study of the situation by Architect Quick it was decided to retain the main auditorium of the church, while an old school building, adjacent to the church, was partly demolished and replaced by an extension to the church auditorium. This made it possible to devote a portion of the property acquired to the acecommodation of the theatre entrance and an office building of one hundred feet frontage by forty-five feet in depth. The building, housing the theatre and offices, is three stories in height and its front is faced with rough finished grade brick, laid in ornamental panels, with trimmings of granite and glazed terra cotta. Arrangement of the Building The main theatre entrance occcupies the centre of the first floor, with eight-foot corridors at each end to serve as fire exits. The remainder of the first floor is divided into three stores, with one of the fire escape corridors serving as an entrance to the office building. The second floor is entirely occupied by offices and the third by the Chamber of Commerce. Over the main theatre entrance there has been erected an ornamental marquise, with electric displaj' signs. The ceiling of marquise is paneled and contains three hundred lights. The entrance doors have been recessed into front of building for a distance of about ten feet and the ticket booth is located in this entrance. The booth is novel in its construction, the lower section being of the same ornamental brickwork as the building and the upper part of bronze with leaded glass windows. For the protection of the occupant there have been installed telephone and electric alarm devices. A Xon-Slip Floor The main lobby is twenty-five feet wide, with a vaulted ceiling fifteen feet high. The floor, laid with terrazzo, has a slight ramp to meet the rotunda floor under the main auditorium. A quantity of carborundum mixed in the composition guards against the patrons slipping. The side walls are treated in Caen stone and ornamental plaster, which is decorated in blue and gold. The w-est panel of the lobby is decorated with a mural showing life-size figures with gold mosaic background. The lighting is by means of two romanesque lanterns suspended from the ceiling and six ornamental brackets on side walls. STRAXn THEATRE, YONKERS, XTJr YORK Slio'icing the tlirce-story front and the entrance to house The rotunda is entered from the lobby through wide glass doors and is twenty-five feet wide and fifty feet long, with octagonal ends. Directly opposite the entrance is a ladies' alcove ; this alcove contains an ornamental fireplace, mirrors, easy chairs and .settees. The floor is covered with a one-tone carpet. The Rotunda The openings of the octagonal ends directly to the north and south lead to fireproof stairways, to the rear of the auditorium and to fire escape doors at the sides. One of the octagonal panels at each end is fitted with bronze drinking fountains and Dixie cup vending machines. The other two openings in the octagonal ends are ramps leading to the main auditorium. The floor of the rotunda is of terrazzo laid in design, with Caen stone walls and ornamental plaster ceiling in blue and gold. The lighting is by means of two handsome Romanesque ceiling fixtures and ornamental standard lamps. At the foot of the ramp on the north side of the building is the men's smoking room, which has a terrazzo floor and side walls decorated in a leather effect. OflF this room is the men's toilet. At the foot of the south ramp a door leads into the ladies' room, which has a one-tone carpeted floor and decorated walls. Both the men's and ladies' toilets are fitted with most modern appliances. The smoking room, ladies' room and toilets arc heated and ventilated by means of steam coils and electric fans, forcing in the heated fresh air and an exhaust fan for ventilation. The Theatre Proper The theatre is entered by means of ramps directly in the center of the auditorium. It is a one-floor house with a cross-over and step in the center. On entering one receives a distinct impression of vastness because of the height of the ceiling and the old church dome, which has not been altered, but added to in connection with the enlarging of the auditorium. The side walls are treated with ornamental Caen stone and are panelled off to suit the spaces, the panels being filled with tapestry of blue and gold. The ornamental glass in the old north and south windows has been removed and plain glass installed so as to open. These openings in the day time are covered with silk curtains with vclour drapes, so arranged that in summer the silk curtains may be drawn to one side, giving the effect of an open-air theatre, .^n old cast window of the church has been entirely removed and bricked up. Directly back of this is the projection room, located in the court between the front office building and the theatre. It has been constructed entirely fireproof with an entrance from the office building shut oflf by double fire doors. It is one of the largest and best arranged booths in the State of Xew York. It contains two Powers projectors, spot-lights, motor generator and re-wind cabinets. The room has been provided with plumbing for the conveniences of the operators, and has every possible fireproof device. The proscenium opening at the west end of the auditorium is elliptical in shape and is of