What's New? (Mar 1949)

Page 6 CD Me Foo THE PARAMOUNT—NEWEST FAMOUS PLAYERS’ SHOWCASE OPENED in HALIFAX by LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR MacDONALD The Paramount in Halifax is the Maritimes’ newest theatre, designed to provide the city of Halifax with a motion picture theatre of the most modern character. This latest Famous Players house conforms to the high standard of design and comfort now associated with all our new theatres. Special lighting, air conditioning, comfortable seats, modern decoration and pleasing furnishings plus ideal sound and screening conditions make this new theatre the most outstanding in the Maritimes, comparable only to the Paramount in St. John which was recently opened. The Paramount in Halifax is located in the heart of the city on Barrington street, on the site of the historic old Orpheus theatre which was razed to make way for the new Paramount. The theatre is entered from Barrington street and includes an outer lobby with box office and an inner lobby with a winter box office, a long foyer, a lounge area and a refreshment centre. The auditorium is of the stadium type without balcony and there are two floors of office space above the front entrance. The outer lobby end entrance contains the box office on the street line, a large display frame, the entrance to the offices on the floors above and the five plate glass doors into the theatre. The ceiling of the marquee and lobby is continuous in treatment of lighting and color. The walls are of red Levanto marble, full height with display frames of sliding plate glass. Fluorescent louvred lighting boxes the ceiling. The inner lobby contains the winter box office, three display frames and a set of five plexiglas full doors leading into the upper foyer. The ceiling has three longitudinal recessed lighting troughs with glass panels set in the flat plaster. The wall treatment incorporating the displays is of corrugated transite set in splayed stenped effect with the displays recessed into it and is provided with concealed lighting. The top of the transite contains a_ lighting trough for color illumination of the ceiling. The wall opposite the displays includes the box office and is covered with brilliant cut glass mirrors secured with natural wood buttons. The floor is terazzo in the same design and color as the outside lobby. From the foyer, a staircase and landing lead down into the lounge and theatre proper and serve as a transition from street to theatre. The ceiling is in plaster with lighting through ‘‘egg-crate’’ louvres with concealed lighting effects. The walls are plaster painted in mottled yellow with travertine border and the stairs have travertine treads and black marble risers. A special feature is the iNuminated display and planting box in the wall above the staircase. The stair hand rails are of modern design, chromium plated steel. The refreshment centre is placed off the landing and consists of a counter and back bar. A polished metal reflector trough over the back bar lights As a part of the ceremony in connection with the opening of the Paramount theatre in Halifax, Angus L. MacDonald, Premier of Nova Scotia, on behalf of Famous Players, turned cver the opening night’s receipts to F. M. Covert, President of the Halifax Children’s Hospital. Bob Roddick, Maritimes supervisor, introduced the Premier to the capacity audience. the ceiling. The walls and ceilings are of painted plaster. The lounge is a large semi-circular space and serves as a concourse. The ceiling is of moulded plaster with lighting troughs and _ downlights, decorated in the modern manner. The walls are lined with natural finish striated plywood and the flooring covered with an attractive carpet. The auditorium is reached b stairs rising from the lounge. Two black marble columns stand at the foot of the stairs and reeded birch pilasters add interest to the decorative scheme. The lower lounge, down a few steps from the main lounge, is treated with a coved lighting ceiling, painted plaster walls and built-in seating. Large mirrors are placed on the walls and an interesting feature is the three modeled plaster motifs, replicas of those used in the lobbv. The offices of the manager and the assistant manager and the ushers’ and storage rooms are accessible from this lower lounge. All patrons enter the auditorium at cross-aisle level and proceed to their seats either up or down in this stadium type theatre. The cross-aisle is a wide carpeted space extending full across the auditorium. The rails on either side of the aisle are treated in padded leatherette in rich red with buff strappings to form panels. The auditorium has been treated and designed to satisfy accoustical requirements and to provide effective and_ interesting lighting. Specially shaped and steoned plaster work on the walls and ceilings and walls and the use of sound absorbing materials achieve the desired results. The lower part of the walls is covered with corrugated asbestos painted in color. The rear wall is covered with ‘’fibreglas’’ sound insulation and perforated asbestos, all treated to match the color scheme of the theatre. The stage front is in shaped plaster and contains exhaust air grilles. Two noteworthy features are the modelled plaster relief motifs on the walls and ceilings and the stage’s curtain treatment. The old time proscenium arch has been eliminated and the auditOrium ceiling and walls extend right up to the curtain and, to add a*further touch of intimacy, the curtain continues along the side walls into the auditorium. These side wall curtains are illuminated around the edges and the lighting is concealed by ornamental plaster. The effect is of a very wide curtain embracing the audience rather than excluding it from the screen. The special lighting includes vertical and ceilifg troughs containing neon tubing. Down lights provide illumination during operation. Wall and ceiling decorations have been designed in the modern manner. All designs and effects tending to distract the audience during a showing have been suppressed. Exit doors are curtained and aisles carpeted. The projectionists’ suite partially in the roof space at the rear of the auditorium, contains projection, rewind, generator and storage rooms and toilet facilities. The film is taken to and from the booth by means of a hoist from the ground level. The ladies’ powder room off the lounge is nrovided with a illuminated vanity table and mirrors. The walls are papered with Varlar and the dado around the room is in_ pearl-grey padded leatherette. The men’s room, also approached from the lounge, has Varlar papered walls and a_ rubber tiled floor. The seating capacity of the Paramount in Halifax is 1162. Heating of the theatre is mainly by warm filtered air introduced at pressure into the auditorium and elsewhere at high level supplemented by radiators in box offices and unit heaters in the lobby. In the summer, cooled air can be introduced into the theatre as required and a large water storage tank has been provided in the basement. A completely modern electrical plant has been installed in the theatre and provision has been made for special electrical effects. An emergency lighting system has been installed. The architects for the theatre were Kaplan & Sprachman of Toronto and the theatre was built under the supervision of Jules Wolfe, supervisor of construction and maintenance for the Eastern Division. Receipts from the first night’s per-. formance were devoted to the Children’s Hospital Fund. Present at the opening ceremonies were Hon. Angus L. MacDonald, Premier of Nova Scotia; Hon. Harold Connolly, Minister of Agriculture; Mr. Justice J. H. MacQuarrie of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and Morris Stein, Eastern Division Manager and R. S. Roddick, Maritines’ construction. Freeman Skinner was chosen to manage the new theatre. JACK FIELDS HONORED The Famous Family has no more popular member than E. P. Fields, manager of the Capitol theatre, Moose Jaw. Recently Jack, as he is affectionately known, was honored by a large group of Moose Jaw citizens on the occasion of the anniversary of his service in the Boer War. Half a century ago, on February 3rd, 1899, Jack Fields enlisted for service in the South African War. He served with the Cape Mounted Police and took part in numerous actions during the war that lasted from 1899 to 1902. When his friends gathered at Jack’s home, M. A. Germain voiced the good wishes of all present, wishing the 25 Year Club member continued good health and happiness.