The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-17
The philadelphia Opcra House.

The immense building intended for the American
Academy Of Music, or Opera House, at the corner
Of Broad and Locust streets, is nov so rapidly APP
preaching completion that there can be no doubt
that il III be ready for Inauguration or before
the coming first OF January. fhe stige portion be-
gins TO pres ent to the uninitated insight into
all the my steries OF stage construction, with its
ghost 'Iaps, Calls and tacking; and many of the
wonderful changes Of scenery, as presented from
the auditorium of q theatre, become very simple
wht q the machinery TO produce them is examined.
space OF about fifty feet under the front Of the
stage. has been excavated to the depth of twenty
six fect This is divided into two stories the floors
OF each beng ibgeniousIy constructed in sections
so as to allow of their being entirely removed and
repac ed in very short space OF time. great part
OF the thus covered is likewise formed in such
manner as TO lie raised above the ground level Of
the stage floor, 30 as to form bridges &C. for
tie actors, when mount in scenery is required The
whole area Of the stage is ninety feet wide BIZ
seyeniy-'wo feet deep exclusive Of the proscenium
which is eighteen feet wide, making total depth
OF 80 feet, VII ch will certainly make magnificent
area for the most splendid dramatic ltations
The main doors on each size OF the stage are made
large enough for the admi sion Of horses, chariots
and even elephants, which may be required, as
these huge animals have lately taken part in piece
represented In Paris, where oriental scenery in
troduocd. The dressing rooms on either side
very numerous, well lightsd ard commodious. The
green room and the retiring room for the dancers
are quite large.
The plat orms for the seats in the auditorium are
finished, aud it is quite evident from personal in
specton that the promises OF tie architects that all
tie audience. no matter In what part OF the house
would have an unobstrucsed view of the stage, are
about 10 be fully realized. The dome ovec this part
oi the house is Of novel constructions being formed
OF light ribs OF wrought iron, with the apr ,es be-
tween them filed with iron net wire work. upon
which the pastering is laid. This ilre proof con
struction was deemed necessary on account of the
great beat that will he generated by the three hun
died gas lights attached TO the main chandelier sus-
fen6ed Immediately beneath il.
he main ypSti tu1p aln fho ctr
Thirty feet by ninety with stairxays at each end
fourteen 'eot in width. The promenade saloon, i'm
medately ever the vestbule forty feet by ninety
with q ceiling thiItydve feet ia height This room
will lie truly magnificent, and will far exceed in ar
chitectural beauty AID proportion any other rom In
our city. The numerous Ionic columns intended to
decorate The walls are ready to lie placed in their
positions as soon as the scafIcldings are removed
which will be shortly, as the ceiling Is now nearly
completed. This room l. 10 be lighted by ten chan
delers. suspended from the intersections Of the
efoined ceiling, in addition 10 the brackets on the
walls. This saloon il well adapted for banquets
balls CT morning concerts one can dye OF the
large scale on which this Establishment Is construct
cd when it is stated that there will be over 10000
feet OF steam pipes through the bull ling for heitng
ard vsntilatiDg purposes alone The contract for
this work has been given to Messrs. Walworth Of
Boston, who have been highly successful in the M
merous large public buildings they have warned and
ventilated. The ventilation viii be forced by means
OF q steam engine, and fan twelve feet in
dian eter, by means Of which pure tempered
air can be forced in or out "a required. The gas
lights along the walls also aid the ventilation by
having openings alongside into fines connecting
with the main ventatng shaft above the chan.
deer Of the auditorium, which will carry off
oil the heat without nj oil diminishing the light
The gas pipes with have been introduced mea-
sure about fourteen thousand feet, and are calcu.
lated TO supply over two thousapd jets or burners,
and provision has also been made TO place foRr sd-
ditional chandeliers upon the stage, when grand
balls are given. On these occasions the parquet.e
will be loored over and brought a level with the
stage. The saloons, drawing and retiring rooms,
cont guous 10 the obbes in the several stories are
nearly finished aud are TO be furnished with all the
modern convenienccs. The stair ways for the audience
are very numerous wide and OF easy ascent and dis.
tr,buted in the most c1nvenlert manner possible.
Mr. John ID. Jones, the contractor for building, has
displayed mu ii energy and fidelity in carrying ont
the designs, ard expects TO complete his part OF the
contract in about one month. Already the artists
are engaged in painting some Of the scenery. Alto
eether, the building seems TO give the highest salts
faction TO all concerned and promises 10 realise the
desires OF the directors in having one OF the most
perfect and extensive opera houses In the world and
when successfully completed the architects may
well be proud OF their achievement. The building
committee arc anxious 10 complete their task soon
and as complete as possible, but much will depend
npon their success ia raising the balance of 100000
still unsold OF the eight per cent preferred stock.