San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-20

Santone Takes the Bakery.
The San Antonio public in the course of
years may have had differences of opinions
on many subjects, but they have never been
known to hold two opinions as to the neceS-
sity, imperative and immediate, of some
building for theatrical purposes that would
not be a burlesque upon the name of theater
| The utter lack of any proper provision for
the accommodation of the the play-gOers of
this city was long and unfavOrably COM
mented upon, both by our own citizens and
the strangers within our gates, until such
| comments grew mOnOtOnOuS. Various
| propositions were discussed in private and
| in public, and all ended in leaving things as
before, until the San Antonio club, realizing
that in some sense they stood sponsor for the
social wants of the more progressive ele-
mcnt of our people, took the matter under
adyisement, The necessity for increased
clubhouse accommodations for themselves
was almost as imperative as the needs of the
drama loving public and the demands of
both were considered, until what was at first
a hope became Il certainty. The project of Il
combined Opera-hOuSe and Club-rOOmS, that
would be a credit to the club, an ornament
to the city and a luxury to the lovers of
legitimate drama, being mooted, took form
and the building was determined upon, pro-
vided the funds could be raised.
The San Antonio Club and Opera-house
company was organized and charter filed
January II, 1886. The capital stock was
placed at Sl5O,OOO. with the following gen
tlemena icOTpOratorS: Thomas J. Devine,
Augustus Belknap, ii. Il. Andrews, Uriah
Lott, CaSSiuS X. Breneman, f. ID. l.. Wicks,
w. II. Maverick, j. b. LacOSte and L. 5.
Berg. The building committee was con-
stituted Of MeSSrs. Devine, Belknap and
Breneman, and the work of securing sub
scriptiOns was pushed.
1t was soon apparent that the right men
were in the right place, Subscriptions null
tiplied; success was certain, and the Selec-
ton of site speedily made. Choice
fell upon the very eligible property on the
north side of Crockett street, between Alamo
plaza and LOSOya street. The selection was
fortunate one, being centrally located,
fronting the plaza, completely removed
from the din of street travel, with one line of
street cars in front, and another within one
DlO'h VI llC SluC II
isolated, having streets on the south and
west, the plaza on the east and a six foot
paSSage-way and pavement on the north
The lot fronts IS feet and inches ON the
plaza, - feet on LOSOya street, has a depth of
227 feet along Crockett street. and on the
north side PAL feet.
Among the many plans submitted, those
of }. B. McElfatrick and Son, of st. Louis,
were finally selected. Contract was awarded
to S. Ii. Hoffman, of st. Louis and ground
broken the LIST of August. Work has been
pushed steadily from the hour that the eXca-
Walton was begun, and in a little less than
five months from the time that the first
shovel full of earth was thrown out the San
Antonio OpeTa-hOuSe was opened to the
public.
OPERA-HOUSE BUILDING.
The extreme length of the Opera-hOuse
and club-rOOms combined is 237 feet and s
inches; length of opera house alone ll5 feet;
width, g feet Z inches; height of rear wall,
IS feet; side walls, throughout, Is feet;
height of Alamo street front, 80 feet and
inches. The foundations are of solid stone,
30 inches through fully twO-thirds of them
being dimension stone. The lower walls are
81 inches through, the middle walls II
inches, and the upper walls, ID inches. At
IUUtlNdlS VI ID lttl- NutltNtI lilt SllutlS tll-
ter the walls ~ inch plasters are built,
giving the walls all the strength of 25lI
inCh q inch and II inch wall. The walls
are of the best Eagle Pass brick, the Alamo
plaza front faced with st. Louis stock brick.
The trimmings are of terra Gotta, galvanized
iron ana St Geronimo stone. The windows
throughout, are of plate-glaSs, the door
lights of Venetian and prlSmatic glass. The
Alamo plaza entrance is the most COM
mOdiOus of any in the west or south. You
-, thA into
ffs sPgcoed 0% eod iof Is feet wias O and
ll5 feet long, through which en-
trance is afforded to the vestibule of the
theatre. Just before reaching the yeStibule
you cross transverse hall, the same width,
leading to the stairway of the club-rOOm on
the right, and to the principal Crockett
street entrance on the left. Passing through
the yeStibule which is IL feet by Is feet with
the principal box office on the left, the vOyer
is reached. This is one of the most charm
ing features of the entrance. 1t is So feet by
g. separated from the auditorium proper
by the pOrtiers, or heavily curtained arches,
and affords pleasant resting place while
outer wraps are being removed for deposit
in the cloak room. The floor of the foyer is
| a little higher than the stage level and
affords a picturesque view of the parquet,
! parquet circle and boxes. At either end of
| the vOyer, broad StaircaSeS lead to the balcony
and dress circle. Under the stairway, to the
| left as you face the stage, is the managers
rOOm communicating with the box office.
Under the other stairway are the ladies cloak
and retiring rooms. The gallery has its
| separate entrance and box Office, and is as
! completely cut off from the other portions of
the house as could be desired. The style of
the building is modern Renaissance. The
interior is finished in pine and cherry,
| grained to initiate mahogany, and the work
| has been most substantially and artiStically
| done, presenting solid, rich appearance,
which harmOnzeS wonderfully with the
decorations and wall cOlOrS, giving a very
| pleasing and natural effect. The structure
is solid. OF this, there is no manner of
| doubt. The roofs are Sef-SuppOrting rest