Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-07-22
rba Clnnie onera House.

The "Clunie Opera House, the name OF
the new and elegant theater nearing COM
pletion at Eighth and X streets, Will be
thrown open to the public on Monday
evening. August 31st, with tirst-class
stock company, composed of ladies and
gentlemen of acknowledged ability, who
will produce in rapid succession all the
dramatic and amusement novelties OF the
day, under the sole management OF Messrs
Cotton d Chenowith. lessees. in dlmen-
sions the theater is IS feet in width, by 122
in deptb. The foundation is six feet in
width. and around the outer wall are but
tresses 10 by 80 inches. To the hight OF
the proscenium the walls are Il inches IN
thickness, and from thence upward ID
inches, which, with the buttresses, give the
equivalent of 26-inch wall throughout
From the parquet floor the hight OF the
ceiling is 80 feet inches. The dimensions
of the stage are 70 feet in width by 80 feet
in depth, and the auditorium IS 90 by rs
feet in the clear On the sides OF the stage
are four open boxes, which are decorated
with rich satin lambrequins with gold ana
bright colored fringes, and draw-curtalns
tastefully arranged. On and above the
stage are nine finely furnished dressing
rooms. and below number more, sufll-
Gent to accommodate the largest COM
pany. In the construction OF the house
especial pains were taken 10 arrange
the line of sight. the comfort of
the audience, the points of egress (Which
are six in nuInber), and the ventilation
the system applied in regard to the latter
making it the best ventilated place OF
amusement in the Stale. Another adVan-
tage in the location is that it is some twelve
feet removed on all sides from any other
building Under the stage is a space of
twelve feet, which is divided off into stor
age rooms. The ceiling above the stage is
of such a hight that " trip lines will not
have to be used for borders or draperies.
The border lights will be of the most i'm
proved kind, arranged so as to raise and
lower, and at each stage entrance Will be
float lights. The seats are to be the latest
improved opera chairs, with fitting backs
and each will be two inches wider than the
standard size. They will be arranged in
rows of only eight, and between each sec
ton will be a broad aisle. The house will
be provided with an entire set OF scenery to
play any standard piece. with all the nee
essary 90 set stuff, such as houses, baius-
trades, walls, balconies, set waters, tail
rocks, etc, making it complete IN APP
pointments. The auditorium is TO be
frcscoed in the most modern and artistic
style-in fact it is designed to have this
done in a manner 10 equal if not surpasS
any place Of amusement on this coast.
There are to be two entrances, that from X
street being 10 feet wide at the opening,
and widening as the doors leading to the
auditorium are approached. On the right
of this, and before the latter is reached, are
the box office, managers office and finely
10 III
opening directly into the auditorium Adj
iacent TO the auditorium is a vesibule
some a feet III width into which there are
40 feet Of openings, so that the house can
be cleared, when filled to its utmost capa-
city LOGO, in about three minutes, On
Eighth street is the gallery entrance, some
eight feet in width, and leading to the gal
lery is flight of stairs of the same width.
Colonel 4. NJ. Gray, the superintendent of
construction, has no hesitancy i'll pro-
nouncing the new opera-hcuse the finest on
this coast, and that his opinion goes for
something is attested from the fact that he
has made q speciality of theater-building for
yeGrs-haying erected twelve and remOd
tled many others, and received from the
leading professionals Of the East and West
the most tlattering compliments for the eX-
celence Of his work. \. ID. GOodell was
the designer of the plans, and the erection
of the structure was personally superin-
tended by him, while L. A. Bower was the
contractor That the latter's work was
most thoroughly and conscientiously per
formed is attested by all who
have visited the premises. At all times
present in person and by reason
of his long experience here and else
where as a builder, he and his foreman,
Harry Blose, have given the greatest care
TO details and the result is evidenced i'll the
neat and substantial structure now nearing
completion. A portion of the scenery is
already painted by John wilkins, scenic
artist, the plasterers are almost through,
and the painters commence to-day.