The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-09-07
THE NEH OPERA HOUSE.
Work upon it Commenced Yesterday
1t will be Completed on the First of
December.

The citizens of Charleston have 80 often
been deceived by the reports that the city was
to have first-class theatre, that they Will
scarcely believe us when we state that, on yes
terday work was commenced upon the Adger
building, at the corner Of King and Market
streets, and that there. is every prospect OF a
first-class theatre being opened on or about
the first of December.
Those who are still skeptical, cansdo as We
did on Seeserday, and observe the wofkfneh
busily engagsal IN carrying out the designs of
the architect, Mr.. John q. 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, and will be lasting monument to his
energy and public spirit.
THE BUILDING.
Theeutrance on King g-street will occupy the
entire space formerly used as a dry goods
store. It is fifteen feet wide By one hundred
feet deep. This will present row Of Corin-
THAN columns on each side with appropriate
enrichments, cornices and panels. Between
the columns there will be frescoes and statu-
ary. Likenesses of the great masters and poets
have been promised. The entire front will be
thrown open, and tiIing Of white marble will
extend back in the outer vestibule. Entering
the inner vestibule Immediately in The audi
torium, we ascended the main stairway leading
to the dress circle, to the right, and going for
ward enter parqlette and orchestra, immediate
ly under the platform Of the 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 curtait'to the front OF the balcony chairs,
.hirty-two feet. The stage will be forty-fve
feet deep, and fifty-four feet wide, with an open
proscenium Of thirty feet.
The auditorium proper will be fifty feet deep,
and furnished with double tiers of galleries.
The first floor or orchestra, rising back from
the footlights, will attain an elevation OF about
four 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, a. style which
is 30 popular among theatrical men. The
main ceiling, attaining q height Of fifty feet,
will be domed, and enriched with paintings in
fresco, architectural decorations and foliage.
The proscenium is to be copy Of Broug-
hams theatre on Fifth Avenue, New 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 moddiioned corni-
ces, finished with iron railing in form Of cyma-
recta, and capped with red plush vsiyet.
. The stage will be furnished with all the mo-
dern improvements. We are informed that an
expert hss.been secured to construct said ap-
ptiances. The elevation OF. the proscenium
opening on the etage viii be some forty feet.
The vestibule itself promises to be beautiful,
presenting an easy sweep of stairway twelve
feet wide, fading to the dress circle. The
walls will be decorated.
The entrance to the upper tiers will be on
Market-street. the family circle being 30 ar
ranged that the first four rows Of seats are cut
of, and entirely separated for the sole use Of
respectable colored people. 1he upper tier,
Immediately over the dress circle, will be set
aside for ordinary gallery purposes.
1t has been estimated that the building when
completed will cost between $4,000 and $S5,-
600, and will comfortably seat about twelve
hundred persons.