Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-06-20
THE CONCORDIA OPERA HOUSE.
AN ORNAMENT TO THE CITY.


Saturday evening next, June %, 1888,
the new Concordia opera house will be
formally opened to the public, and gen
eral description of the building will not be
out of place at this time. The building is
of modern American style of architecture
50x86 feet, with solid brick walls to the
hall floor the balance being brick veneer
ed, and every foot of the structure is used
to advantage. A basement under the en-
tire length is divided into dining room,
kitchen with artesian we'll, sink and the
other essential appurtenances for culinary
purposes, store rooms, dressing rooms,
corridor Tx Sc feet to be used either for
bowling alley or booths for fairs, and a
commodious bar-room, with all the con-
veniences attached. The building is 6ne
ly lighted and ventilated, and one essen
tial and popular feature is the spacious
exits, there being two main entrances, on
First street and two on Madison street. At
the head of the stairs is large lobby or
vestibule, 16x2O, from which lead two
stairways, each five feet in width, to the
balcony and gallery. In case of necessity
it is estimated that the hall crowded to it's
fullest capacity could be vacated in about
two minutes. The ticket Office is situated
at the head of the landing, forming al the
same time tasty bay window. On one
side of the vestibule is tie ladies' recep-
ton room and on the other cloak room,
each apartment having a door to the
main ball.
The first impression received upon en-
tering the auditorium is most agreeable
one, with the lofty curtain opening and
the graceful sweep of the balcony front,
architectural features heightened to such
beauty by the artistic hand of the decor
ator. The frescoing throug hout is in tone
with the general surroundings the terra
cottas and yellow predominating with an
azure blue skillfully touched here and
there, the whole finished with the lavish
use of bronze.
The audience room is lighted by mag
ni6cent reflector containing forty-eight
jets, besides elegant gas fixtures on the
walls. The seating capacity without
crowding is 600, which can be increased
when necessary to 800. The best seats
are the balcony being the improved opera
chairs, upholstered in old gold colors
The parquette has portable chairs con-
structed for both convenience and COM
fort, the same kind as those used in the
Cincinnati Music hall The seats are all
conveniently arranged and easily reached
by sufficient number of aisles. All the
odd numbered seats are to the tight and
even numbers on the left, greatly simply
ing the work of the ushers. The stage is
24x24 and of sufficient height to admit
of any scenery carried by the largest
troupes The appointments of the stage
are of the most modern construction.
The stage settings are perfect models Of
completeness and artistic scene painting,
and were made especially to order for this
stage by the most prominent firm in this
line in America. With the splendid drop
curtain before them and the other sur
roundings the audience might well
imagine themselves in Fl rst-class metro
politan theatre. In regard to the seats
one thing is worthy of particular mention
and that is that any one seat has as good
view of the stage as another.
The building was designed by VIM
Waters, of Oshkosh, theater architect
of reputed skill and experience, the first
consideration in its construction being
safety, with due allowance for convent
ence and architectural beauty. The
builder, L. Kabet, has done his work vel
and given entire satisfaction in filling his
contract. Straw & Murphy are deserving
of credit for the skill, taste and fine work
manship displayed in the painting an6
decorating, which are such essentials in
giving character to the whole. The en-
tire cost of the building including its fur
nishings is about $4,000.
The Concordia opera house will 'stane
as a great improvement and an erna
ment to our city, and the society is to be
congratulated upon the acquisition ofsuct
a fine, handsome and convenient piece Of
property.
Bedridden "a Years.
Michael Wendt, aged 81 years, died
Saturday last, at his home IN the Sixth
ward, aged 81 years. Deceased had been
for nearly half of his life great sufferer
having lain on his back for twenty-tsul
years, unable to move his head, hands Oh
feet, with disease known as sclerosis Of
the spinal cord. He was born in Prussia