The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-10-17
A building that will he an Ornament
stp1the City Of Dallas.

we were presented yesterday with q
photograph OF the new Dallas Opera
House, designed by Leonard Bros, the
we'll known contractors of this city.
The building when completed will cost
sixty thousand dollars aud will be an
other evidence Of the prosperity Of
Dallas, and will further substantiate
her Well founded claim Of being the
most go-ahead and enterprising city Ia
the State of Texas. The building was
designed by Mr.. ], A. Leonard, the
Junior member Of Leonard Bros,
and the architectural plans were
drawn by tile late 4. b. Borst,
the wsll known architect who died IN
this city last August. The location of
the Opera House is at present undecid-
ed although the property ssholders on
Commerce street are making strenu-
Gus exertions to have the building
erected on that street, opposite the
San Jacinto Hotel. Other interested
parties are endeavoring to induce the
stockholders to locate 1t OH Main street
somewhere in the vicinity of the La
mar Hotel, while the Elm street mer-
chants are determined that their street
shall be graced by the new building.
1t Is impossible therefore to correct
ly locate our new theater, as it will
simply depend on the energy and vim
of the different property owners on the
three streets mentioned. The total
cost Of the building WILDE sixty thous-
and dollars; OF this sum thirty thous-
and dollars has already been taken by
different citizens of Dallas without So
licitation, and it Is already assured
that there will not be the least difficult
ty in disposiug of the remaining thir-
ty thousand dollars worth OF stock,
AS the only question that
will arise, o. we have before
asserted, will be the definite location
of the building. asisa 10
The structure Will be four stories
high, including the Mansard roof, with
a front width of seventy-hve feet, ex-
tending back q distance of one hun
dred and eighty-five feet, with a mean
hight of nlnety-four feet. The front
will be of pressed brick and iron col
umns, with Il triple tier of windows,
three feet by ten, flushed with iron
stills and caps, over the main entrance.
This entrance, situated in the center
of the front of the building, will
be twenty feet wide and eighty
long, leading directly into the
parqnett and dress circle which will be
situated on the ground floor. On each
side of this main entrance will be two
store rooms twenty-five feet wide by
sixty long. At the rear OF the hall,
just at the entrance to the dress circle,
u stairway ascends to the second floor
over the store rooms and also the seo-
ond gallery in the theater. The second
floor front will be occupied as offices
and the third and fourth floors front
will be thrown into one large hall
which can to used for balls, parties
and other entertainments.
The theater proper will seat one
thousand persons, and Is constructed
with u proper regard to all modern inn
provements, such as sound, unobstruct-
ed view Of the stage, ventilation and
comforts. The dress-clrcle and parquet
occupies thes first floor The latter
will be furnished with the late i'm.
proved patent opera chair, and the
former with comfortable arm chairs.
The second and third galleries will be
furnished with cushioned benches,
which will be so constructed as
as to allow an unotstructed view
of the stage to every spectator.
The entire width of the stage will be
sixty-six feet by thirty-seven feet deep,
with front opening of thirty feet.
On each side of the stage will be q tier
of boxes rising to, the third gallery.
All the latest improvements in scenery
and stage effects will be introduced,
and the machinery for scene shifting
will be unsurpassed by any theatre In
the country. The front of the stage
will be elevated four feet above the
lowestpart of the parquet, thus insur-
ing an unobstructed view to all. The
interior will be lighted by an immense
chandelier, containing twelve hundred
burners which will be suspended in
the center of the building immediate
" under the ventilator. Every pre-
caution has teen taken to insure sutii-
,ient avenues Of escape In the event of
fire. There will be four large Ell.
frances and exits, one In front, two on
he sides and Whe In the rear of the
'tage, and every door viii open out
wards. Taken all In MI, our new OPP
IRA House will be the hsndsomest and
most complete, in all Its appointments,
If any theater In the South, and win
attract the best talent In the country
o Dallas. 'A'oA
LIE GRAND HOTEL.