Theatre Catalog (1946-47)

A Theatre Becomes the Focal Point of a New Warrington, Florida, Community Development THE NAVY POINT THEATRE Navy Point, near Warrington, Florida, hard by the Navy’s famed air base at Pensacola, is typical of the war-born communities that seem destined to live on ina world at peace because of the substantial and forthright planning in its execution and development. How this community came into being is set forth in the article, “Navy Point, Streamlined Community Center,” by Francis B. Johnson, on pages 174 and 175, to which the reader is referred for the communal aspects of the development. The Navy Point Theatre, which, with the multiple-venture store building, dominates the business center of this community of 750 homes, was designed by Harry Pembleton and built at a cost of $150,000. The completely fire-proof building is constructed of brick, concrete, and steel, with a facade faced with Italian Barrisina marble and stucco. The marquee facing and sign carry out the Navy color scheme of blue and gold THE NAVY POINT THEATRE is built from a framework of 70 tons of structural steel with walls of 8-inch hollow tiles, faced with brick. The front of the building below the marquee line is of Italian Barrisina marble. Above the marquee there is stucco painted a cream color. The marquee hag nine channel letters, spelling cc =e 1946-47 THEATRE CATALOG (yellow), with just a touch of red to set it off. The soffit is lighted with fluorescent lights. There are eight entrance doors— four doublets. The walls of the lobby and foyer are finished in maple panels, finished in natural color. The walls resemble a fine piece of furniture, as. they were hand rubbed between each coat of varnish and, in the final finish, were rubbed with oil and pumice to a velvety finish. A spacious concession space, properly equipped and having a marble serving counter both in the lobby and on the street side, occupies a prominent place. Off the foyer are the ladies’ powder room and lounge, fitted with individual makeup tables and modernistic chairs. The luxurious drapes adorning the standee area are of a rich maroon velour, made in such a way that it touches the floor to make a modern, rich appearance. The auditorium is finished modernistically, the walls being perfectly plain and Fr finished in large Celotex sheets of soundboard. The seats are fully upholstered and finished in coral colored mohair backs. The stage is luxurious. The grand drape is of rich maroon velour. The valance is of the same material, trimmed with an 8-inch gold fringe. The bottom of the curtain has an 8-inch gold band and then the same gold fringe on the valance. Behind this curtain on each side are the legs of royal blue, trimmed in gold. Just in front of the motion-picture screen is gold velour screen curtain. On the second floor, besides the spacious projection room (is a cry room. It is interesting to note also, in this connection, that the development’s business center provides day nursery facilities. The cry room is said to be the first in this part of Florida, and is making quite a hit. As the theatre opened, the policy embraced four changes a week, with an admission of 40 cents for adults and 16 cents for children. out the words Navy Point. It is done in blue, gold, red, and green. The theatre is located as the cenfer of the Navy Point development, catering, within a radius of two miles, to some 25,000 civilians and Navy personnel. Within the business area are included all the various types of businesses necessary to the community. 81 —_—— aE