The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-07
TIE NEW OPERA HOUSE.
Work upon 1t Commenced Yestcrday-
It will bo Completed on tho FIrst OF
December.

Tho citizens OF Charleston hnvo so often
been deceived by the reports that tho oity was
to have frst-class theatre, that thoy will
scarcely believe us when we state That, on yes-
terday, work was commenced upon tho Adger
building, at the corner OF King and Market
streets, and that there is every prospect of a
frst-class theatre being opened on or about
the first OF December.
Those who are still skeptical, can do as we
did on yesterday, and observe The workmen
busily engaged in carrying out the designs of
che architect, MIR. John 81. Devereux, who has
been engaged by Mr. John Chadwick, who, un-
daunted by adverse circumstances, has COM
menced an Improvement which has long been
needed, aud will be lasting monument to his
energy and public spirit. ct.,..
TILE BUILDING.
The entrance on King-street will occupy the
entire space formerly used as dry goods
store. 1t is fifteen feet wide by one hundred
feet deep. This will present row OF Corin-
THAN columns on each side with appropriate
enrlohments, cornices and panels. Between
the columns thero will bo frescoes and statu-
ary. Likenesses Of tho great masters and poots
have been promised. The entire I mt will be
thrown open, and tiling Of white marble will
extepd back in the outer vestibuie. Entering
the inner veHtibule Immediately in the audi
toriun, we aHcended the main stairway leading
to tho dress circle, totho right, and going for
ward enter parquetto and orchestra, immediate
ly under the platform Of tho grand stairway
and in the centre Of the main audience room.
The distance between the balcony chairs and
dress circle Will be thirty feet; distance from
drop curtain to tho front of tho balcony chairs,
thirty-two feet. The stage will be forty-flve
feot deep, and fifty-foQr feet Wide, with an open
proscenium Of thirty feet.
The auditorium proper will bo fifty feet deep,
and furnished with double tiers of galleries.
The first floor or orchestra, rising back from
the footlights, will attain On elevation OF about
four feet-something similar to that of Booths
theatre in New York. The auditorium proper
will also be like that Of Booths theatre, in.
having the shape OF horseshoe, q style which
is 30 popular among theatrical men. Tho
main ceiling, attaining height Of fifty feet,
will be domed, and enriched with paintings in
fresco, architectural decorations and foliage.
The proscenium is to be q copy of Broug-
hams theatre on Fifth Avenue, Now York, and
will be an elliptical shaped arch, decorated
with foliage, columns and caryatedes. The
galleries will be supported on iron columns.
with caps bracketed, and moddillioned corni-
ces, finished with iron railing in form of cyma.
rccia, and capped with red plush velvet. .
The stage will be furnished with all Tho mo-
dern IMPROVEMENTS. We informed that on
expert has been secured to construct said ap-
pliances. The elevation of tho proscenium
opening on the stase will be some forty feet.
The vestibule itself promises to be beautiful
presenting an easy sweep Of stairway twelve
feet wide, leading to the dress circle. The
walls will be decorated.
The entrance to the upper tiers will be on
Market-street, the family circle being so ar
ranged that the first four rows OF seats are cut
of, and entirely separated fok the sole use of
respectable colored people. The upper tier
over the dress circle, will be SET
aside for ordinary gallery purposes.
It has been estimated that the building when
completed will cost between $25, 900 and $s5,-
600, aud will comfortably seat about twclye
hundred persons.