Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1872-08-15
& FIRST class OPERA HOUSE FOR WASHINGTON.
A FIXED FACT.
The Plan all Arranged and Entered
Upon.

Mr. John T Ford, of renown throughout the
country as a theatrical manager, and who has
two great theatres in Baltimore Fords Grand
Opera House, and the Holiday Street Thester-
has arranged fully with Mr.. Thomas Berry, of
this city, to have an elegant frst-cisss modern
Opera House erected on the site of Walls
Opera House, destroyed by fire, snd the large
lot adjoining lately purchased by Mr.. Berry.
The auditorium and stage will be all that taste
and wealth can produce; and the capacity for
seating viii be greater than the celebrated
French Theater (Feehter's) in New York. The
ize Of The lot allows for the erection o.
sUPERB BUILDING,
as its depth is now with the addition) greater
than that of the National and the average width
about the same Mr.Entwistle, OF this city, builds
the house, Dir. Clifford constructs the interior OF
the auditorium aud stage, ithe theatrical part, D
and Mr.. Charles 5. Getz Will paint the scenery.
The several departments cOnld not be in better
hands, as al viii recognize.
THE DECORATIONS
will be very beautiful. The gas will be lit by
electricity. Electric telegrsphing wires Will be
used in communicating messages in managing
tie stage and front, and the clocks will be run
BY an electric battery. The house will be heated
comfortably and uniformly by steam through
The best modern appliances.
The erection of this magnificent place OF
amusement will be the coming event for Wash
ingtOn. Mr.. Ford hopes to open IL with the world
Kellogg, both in the same company, under NJ ak
Maretzek. AT all events. the public here have
entire confidence In Mr.. Fords ability 10 cater
satisfactorily tor their tastes, and are willing
for him 10 illustrate, in his own way, what he
knows about managing. To our much respected
fellOw-citZen, Mr.. Thomas Berry, the public
will also feel that they owe debt OF gratitude
Tor supplying the desideratum of a handsome,
commodious and accessible place Of amuse-
ment.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW OPERA HOUSE.
Mr.. Thomas Berry, tie owner of the site
upon which Wallis Opera House stood, has
purchased the lot adjoining, having a front
of Is feet on street and Louisiana avenue
and has low entered upon the construction of a
theatre upon the two lots, as above stated. The
new building will be much larger than the old
one, and OF more imposing appearance. 1t will
have a front of 125 feet on street, the same on
Louisiona avenue, and 40 feet on 9th street.
The back Of the building, however, will have a
width of 50 feet, giving an average width of 90
feet TO the structure, and depth of lbs. II will
be of brick, three stories high, with cornices,
window caps, trimmings, &C., OF galvanized
iron.
THE GROUND FLOOR
will be occupied by six stores, four OF which
will have front on both Louisiana avenue and
q street, and two front on 9th street. Ii has not
yet been definitely determined whether a man
sard roof will be put on, but it is highly prob
able that one of that description will be erected
instead of the ordinary roof. The building will
be about ifty-four feet high from pavement TO
cOrnlce, and the auditorium of the theater will
have q ceiling 35 feet high.
THE MAIN ENTRANCE
will be on the 9th-stIeet front, by q door and
portico raised six feet above the pavement, and
double stairway leading thereto. Upon entering
this door the ticket Office will be reached, and
double stairways then lead to the auditorium.
The exits will be by two large doors on q street
and two on Louisiana avenue, connected BY a
gallery, from which a substantial stairway will
lead to the pavement, so there will be five exits
from the theater, besides that communicating
with the stage. The stage will have a depth OF
40 feet, and an average width of about 20 feet
being somewhat larger than that at the y ational
The building will be rooted in by the LIST of No
yember, and ready for occupancy by the LIST OF
January.
Mr. John It. Ford, the well-known theater
manager OF Baltimore, has leased the building
from Mr.. Berry for ten years, and fits up all the
interior himself except the stores on the first
floor. From his long and successful experience
IL may be expected that the theater will be ar
ranged in the most comfortable and attractive
style. The entire cost of the building when COM
pleted will be about 100000. The cellar under
it is now nearly completed, and the superstruc-
ture viii be commenced In few DAYS. The
work is in the hands of the following competent
builders and mechanics :-Entwisle * Barron
contractors and builders; John Frazier archi-
tect; 3. j. Digs, bricklaver; Thomas Berry
granite and stone work; ". +. Gebhart, orna-
neDtaI iron work, and ). s. Parker. painter,