Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1878-09-03
THB CARSON OPERA HOUSE.

In the latter part of 1877 anumber of private
citizens of Carson conceived tho idea of build
ing an Opera House in this city, and no sooner
was the idea born than was Mr. J. T, Pred
dey, tho Carson freight agent of tho Virginia
and Truckee railroad, who is thoroughly
familiar with all details pertaining to the con-
struction and managing of theaters, intrusted
with the carrying out Of this scheme. The
result proves that the right man was selected
Tor the management of this very desirable
project. To-day, with the exception of a
few minor details, the Opera House is COM
pleted, and stands not only as an evidence of
great enterprise on the part of the moneyed
mon Of Carson, but is also an ornament to
the city. The Opera House is situated on the
southeast corner Of Carson and Spear streets.
The auditorium is 70x4S feet, with a seating
capacity of 275 in the dress circle; 1876 in the
parquette and 3G0 in the pit-a total of 79l
adults. There are four proscenium boxes,
two on either side of the stage, ornamented
with Corinthian columns, done i'll parti-colors
and giit, producing rich and brilliant effect
by gaslight. The boxes are to be hung with
lanberquins of gold and crimson. The front of
the dress circle Is encircled by neat cast
iron work Of harp pattern, which is plain but
very attractive; aud the seats are to be covered
with crimson cnaneIed duck. The house is
illuminated by one hundred gas Jets, all of
which are regulated from a table, with pass
cocks, situated on the prompt side of the
stage. The size of the Stage is 33x4S feet,
with all modern improvements. The dress
ing -rooms three in number, 12xl8 feet, are
under tho stage, hard finished lighted with
gas and very comfortable There are three
exits, which oan, in the event of a panic pro-
duced by fire or any other emergency, clear
the building very rapidly, the doors opening
outward. One fronts on Carson street,
ten feet wide; one on Spear street, eleven
feet wide, and another from the stage leading
to Spear street The hight of the interior of
the building is thirty feet from floor to cell
ing. The acoustic properties are excellent,
but the ventilation of the building is sus-
ceptible of Improvement. Dir. T. F. Lay |
cock, the scenic artist, has as yet only fin |
ished three sets of scenes, viz street scene, !
garden scene and forest scene These pro-
auctions from the pencil of Mr. Laycock |
stamp him a scenic artist of rare merit, and |
assure us that the remainder of his wCrh,
when completed, will be received with much
applause by the theater going people of this
city. The drop curtain, representing scene
in Venice-the Custom house, situated on the
quay also from the pencil Of Mr.. Laycock,
is an artistic gem of which the creator may
we'll feel proud The plumbing and gas fit
ting was executed by D. H. Lentz of this
city, and the carpenter work by Capt. Frank
Cook, of Reno The Opera House, as it now
stands, is the handsomest and best appointed
theater on the coast, outside of San Fran
cisco. This enterprise deserves a more ex-
tended notice, but space does not admit of it
At present. We wish the stockholders much
success and congratulate the theater-going
people of this city. The present officers and
Trustees are President, d. A. Bender;
Wee President j. E. Cheney; Treasurer, H.
T. Dunning; Secretary, J. T. Preddey.
Trustees, F. r. Elrod, J. H. Ferris and J. T.
pantlind