Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-09-22
THE DRAMA.
improvements, Decorations and New
Scenic Effects I'm she New Memphis
Theater for the Approaching Sea.

With new life and spirit our fashion
able folks are returning In large numbers
from the watering places and spas where
they have spent the summer to renew
their rounds Of delightful and instructive
epjoyments in the city during the fall,
winter and spring Among the many
means of entertainment which are open
to them none are more beneficial to the
public at large than that of attending the
theater and supporting the drama, which
is calculated to improve the mind and
smoother the rough ways of society. We
are happy in being able to state that
Msssrs. Spalding, Bidwell & MacDon-
ougb, of the Olympic Theater, St. Louis,
and of the Academy of Music, New Or
leans. have altered. arranged, improved
and decorated the New Memphis in such
a way as to make it the loveliest temple of
Thespis in the world and the most COM
plete place one ever saw for the comfort
of our bellies, who love the drama, and
who are said to be the handsomest and
sweetest creatures on the globe. As one
enters the doors of this theater on Jeffsr-
son street be finds the vestibule newly
painted, frescoed and ornamented-th
outside doors plain green, the inside
doors grained oak, bannisters and rail-
ings pure white, and the walls lilac; but
when he enters the dress-circle scene
of elegance and ornament presents itself
that dszzles bis eye with beauty and
makes him almost feel that he lives and
breathes in Fairy Land. The circle is
completely carpeted, the enclosing walls
painted lilac, the inches for the statuary
blue, the ceiling white, the front pill.
lars white and capped with gold,
the front railing cushioned with cherry
color silk velvet, the front Of the circle
above covered with light brown paper
sprinkled with golden stars, the iron
orchestra railing beautifully bronzed, the
music stands tastefully grained in oak,
the drop-curtain a broad sheet of red
baize, the procenium richly draped and
bordered, the tormentos newly painted
and gilt, the cozy array of new chairs,
six hundred and seventy.fve in number,
including those Of the parquette, and
down upon this combination Of light and
shade and lovliness flashes food of
light from hundred jets Of gas centered
in the dome, and athwart it shoot
rays of softer light from two
hundred border lamps. and in its
midst uprise golden brilliancy from
one hundred and thirteen stage and or
chestrs jets, producing a lively. pleasing,
picturesque and sparkling effect. The
dress circle and parquette chairs are
more comfortable and convenient than
the low. back long benches, and one feels
glad on seeing them in the New Memphis,
| if for no other reason than that they af-
| ford late.comer chance of securing a
seat The private boxes, one on each
side Of the circle adjoining the stage, in.
crease the grandeur of the place, and
serve to keep one in mind of the "olden
time" when there was no dress-circle,
but plain "pit, box and gallery" What
is called the family tier, and in fact
the best part of the house for observing
play has been greatly improved by rows
Of newly-grained and newly.cushioned
benches admirably arranged and even
the colored folks who patronage the drama
have not been forgotten, their boxes
in the upper tier appearing quite bright
little gay, perhaps, and little gaudy,
a mixture which suits the African. Mr.
Harvey Merry, the scenic artist, Mr.. W.
7. Buchanan, tho carpenter, and Mr..
George Cook, the property man, are still
at work, and say they are determined to
make the New Memphis, in scenery, ma
chinery and properties, equal to any
frst-class theater in the East or West.
New working traps have been made liz
the stage, and the top scenery has been
raised FIVE inches, making it eighteen
feet from the floor, like the scenery in
the Academy of Music, New Orleans,
and the Olympic, St. Louis; while,
for the comfort Of everybody, new heat.
ing apparatus has been arranged SO as to
keep the house quite warm in winter. In
fact everything has been done to make
the New Memphis credit TO our city,
and to show the world that although
we live close to the hactvoedS we have
as good g taste for the drama and fine
arts as the most polished people who en-
Joy the clear air of cooler cline.
oor Hp,u 4. n..L-..t.. n-.t.-