The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-09
MUSIC HALL.
Frank Curtis New Theatre.

Mr.. Curtis having ascertained from the
bids for the construction of new theatre in
the rear of the Motley Block, that such a
scheme was impracticable at present, has
leased Music Hall for a term of years and is
now remodelling the building into proper
theatre.
By Mr.. Curtis plan, an ircn gate will pro-
tect the Congress street entrance by day, and
at night the large doors will keep out great
amount of cold air from the staircase, while,
at the head of the flight there will be a huge
screen, with swing doors, sheathed up to the
ceiling, so arranged that, at the close of a per
Torrance, the whole screen can be immediate.
ly swung to one side. This screen will keep
out the cold air from the house, and the en-
trance to the lower floor of the theatre will be
removed several feet farther north, to make
room for the SCREEN The ticket office will re-
main where it is at present, and in the OPP
posite corner will be the managers room.
Where the small door, in the corner at the
head of the stairs, now opens on to the lower
floor, there will be dressing room and cloak
room. The lobby between the managers room
and ticket Office will be carpeted and provided
with sofas as Longing room between acts.
The principal portion of the lower floor will
be used for orch estra chairs, the rear three
rows being devoted to the parquette. The
pitch will be changed so that every one can
see clearly over the heads of the persons in
front. By this change in the pitch the seats
will be brought nearer on a plane with those
in the gallery.
The gallery Gas it now exists will no longer
be known. 1t will be brought out over the
lower part of the house in horsesh pat
tern, advancing ten feet forward at the rear.
The front will be of light iron lattice-work
thus giving lightness and airiness to this part
Of the house, while it will make the gallery
which will be known as the balcony-a
favorite. Both Gown and up stairs. in orches-
ira, parquette and balcony folding opera chairs
will be provided. The balcony will be reached
by wide, easy stair cases from each side of the
parquette.
The gallery will be found in the rear of the
balcony, from which it will be separated by a
high bulkhead, and lobby, and it can be
reached only by the treble street stairway.
No person can enter the gallery from the Con-
gress street entrance, SO that the patrons of
the other parts Of the theatre will be entirely
distinct from those of the gallery. Altogether
the new arrangement will give seating
capacity of HOO, with standing room for 400
more.
The lower box on each side of the stage will
be carried up as high as the balcony, and the
upper boxes changed into dressing rooms for
the star actors. A superb chandelier will be
placed in the centre of the house, while gas
brackets will be placed around the sides of the
theatre; none will be found on the front of the
balcony The house will be handsomely de-
corated and frescoed., Excellent ventilation
and heating will be provided. The whole
proscenium will be remodelled after the best
modern plans, and new green curtains and
act drops provided. Dave Richards is paint
ing complete new scenery and act drops and
most all the scenes will be box scenes. The
arrangements behind the scenes will all be
remodelled. VS.
The theatre will be ready for occupancy
Sept. 18th and Mr.. Curtis will provide the
public with all the leading attractions during
the season.