Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-03
The SAVANNAH THEATRE.
It, Complete Transformation and the
Magnificent Furnishing Of its Interior

It, Complete Transformation and the
Magnificent Furnishing Of its Interior
What Money and Energy Can Do.
The amusement season Of 1888 will be
opened at the Savannah Theatre t0-mOT-
row evening. and the sixty-fifth year OF
that historic institution will be inaugu-
rated. Theatre-goers viii fail 10 recognize
the venerable structure as it has been for
years. The old walls. that have been silent
critics u the faults and virtues Of the e4del
Booth. Macready, Nandennou ana tng
Eenbles. and half century ago looked
r1r0u. Forest and the CoCpeTs and laQghed
AZ The crnicalitias Of Finn HllsOn, Hack
att and the Piacides. are still there. but
sra concealed beneath the gilt and fresco
~ marvellous transformation.
The wonderful changes that this hither-
I'd ffrne-worn and ugly looking old edifce
lss undergone since il was closed 70 the
public last June. are an instance OF what
money and energy can do, Instead Of the
plain and rigid exterior walls. a more
modern architecture has been introduced.
and while the strong and solid features
have been retained. the entire exterior mas
been changed and the building developed
into a handsome structure. The front
facing Chippewa square bears the words
Savannah Theatre in gold over large
r0sette Of fiIagTee work. underneath
which are the figures ISIS, the year IN
which the structure was built.
\ MORNING News reporter. after
noting these various changes, crossed the
lobby and entered the auditorium and. as
the public viii De. was surprised at the
wonderful transformation everything had
UNDERGONE. save the old drop curtain.
whIeh has been - universally admired.
not vestiZe Of the old decoration re-
manned. rut instead everything was
wrought in exquisite beauty. Manager
Johnson. through whose courtesy the re-
porter paid the visit stood with his hat
m. and. proudly looking around. IN
sufriuglv asked: well. what do you
think Of il
II i needless 10 give the scribe's reply
IS he stood gazing upon one Of the cosiest
and most elegant audltOriums IN the
country one Of the many Improvements
that have been made. and perhaps the
most conducive 10 the comfort Of its
patrons. l. ii hot air furnace weighing
--y1 pounds, capable ri conducting dry
neat through fourteen radiators 10 any
part Of tle STAGE and auditorium. This
arrangement. similar 10 that in the Madl-
son SQUARE Theatre in New York. is one
# the most appreciahle inventions that
has ever been introduced in heating anG
sentilatinz public assembly rooms.
The architectural features remain the
same. with slight changes, the great
change being in decoration. About the
stage there are few alterations. The
urOscenium arch i now supported upon
four fluted columns Of dark brown and
gold. having capitals Of gold and silver
bronze. Between these four columns are
ranged SIX private boxes. semi-circular
in shape. Of open cast-irOn work. finished
with blue silk velvet rails. and enclosed
with elegant drapary, divided in the
centre. and shifted back and forth on
brass rods. which are also formed in half
circles to conform % the shape Of the
boxes.
In the centre of the prOscenium arch.
which Is finished q bronze. Is beautiful
piece OF stuccO work. representing Van
ity-a life-siZed woman-ln hdli-recum-
bent posture. holding in her hand a mir
TOT in which she sees reflected her half
revealed charms of bust and limb. Just
above this handsome picture Is
. hanging fringe. CORES spending IN width
t1 the gallery fronts. ranged In tiers be-
meath. making a halt circle around the
dOmeS. in the centre Of which Is
suspended "a chandelier or reflector 0fsiXty
lights. ranged III three tiers. and sur
rounded hy cut glass pendants. which
rot only adds u the beauty Of the house,
tut sheds a perfect sUnburst OF light on
Tie painting in The dome above. This
painting II done on canvas. and
the subdivisions Of space. the selection
and blending Of cOl0rs being in
such harmony with the frcscoed ceilings
below. that uO defect can be seen either
in taste OF execution. The skill Of the
painter is shown in the four emblems sur
rounding the dome. and representing
Music. Art. Literature and Science. \
lower range OF vision reveals the side
walls. finished in panels Of handsome pa
Ter in velvet and gold beading, and mitred
around plush borders, making light re-
1lecting finish. pleasing 10 the eve.
In the lobby the walls are finished like
the interior. The ceiling. however. unlike
that in the auditorium. j. a pale shrimp
pink above a perspective OF lattice work
Of silver bronze.
The scenery has been retOuched and
improved. and new features have been
added. The dressing rooms have been
handsomely frescOed and furnished and
carpeted. and hot and cold water intro
duced. with other cOnyeniences to render
them attractive and comfortable.
Savannah NAV well be proud of the
oldest Theatre in the country. as il now
stands. and its manager has a right to eX-
pect. and no doubt Will receive, the praise
aud liberal patronage Of the amusement
public and the citizens who are not slow
in their reward Of enterprise and merit.