Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-05-07
THE OPERA HOUSE
To he Renodeied and unde
Beautiful.

Beautiful.
Mr.. J. M. Wood, the well-knowr
theatrical architect of Chicago, ar
rived in this city about two weeks
ago, with his assistant, Mr.. S. s
Lovel, and engaged rooms at the
New United States Hotel. Mr.. Wood
came to this city to draw plans for ex.
tensive improvements in the Grand
Opera House, and with this intention
has been most industriously at work
ever since his arrival.
The gentleman was seen in the 70.
tunda Of the hotel last evening by
the HERALD's representative, and
asked how the plans were progressing.
Come TO my draughtsroom and ! will
show you," said he.
The draughts..room being reached,
Mr.. Wood took out roll OF tracing
paper. and spreading sheet out, ex-
hibited as fine piece of architectural
work as it had ever been the luck OF
the HERALD's man to see.
Judging from the plans, the Grand
Opera House is to be graced indeed,
and when the improvements are fin
ished it is safe to say that its Oldest
and most frequent patron will not
recognize it. The railing which now
stands in front of the entrance will
be removed, and in place of the t1Il-
calmly stairs that now give entrance
to the balcony, handsome and easy
stairs will GO up from within the
foyer on either side, and land the
visitor about haff way between the
first and top rows, thus enabling him
to find his seat, if it is in the first row,
without going from the top to the low
est part of the balcony. The steps
that are now in the hallway, leading
to the entrance to the foyer, will be
Of marble, and the floor of the
entrance will be of handsome
tiles, The foyer will be decorated
with handsome plastic relief work,
and oil frescoing. The present
leather-covered doors will be removed
and three pairs of doors, elaborately
filed with beveled and rich glass
By the stairs, inside Of
The main entrance, will be, on the
eft gentlemen's parlor and back Of
hat gentlemen's tyilet rooms; on the
light will be the ladies' resting and
soilet rooms. The door leading from
Ioyer to the auditorium will be re-
moved and elegant portieres substi-
;rted. The arrangements of the first
1oor will be completely changed, and
i've aisles win be put instead OF the
,nes there now, and SO arranged that
no sitting will be more than seven
,eats from an aisle. The first floor
will be provided with four proscenium
boxes, which, unlike the usual holes
n the wall, will be SO arranged as to
rive every occupant full view of the
entire stage. In order to do this and
lot obstruct the view OF the occupants |
If chairs in the dress circle, the fol- |
owing plan was adopted. The boxes
project out from the wall several feet, |
he one next the stage two and one
lalf feet below the stage level, and I
he floor of the second is six inches
higher than the floor OF the first. The
,oxes are now closed up and any one
itting in the audience behind a box
AN see perfectly over the heads OF
he occupants. The four boxes in the
,alcony are arranged similar to
he ones on the first floor
xcept they are in comparison still
over than the railing of the balcony,
here will also be on the first floor six
'arisian boxes, each seating four per- !
ons and annnliad will: easy arm
hairs. Though these boxes are in
he center of the dress circle, they
Yill not interfere with the view OF the !;
Occupants OF chairs directly behind
hem. The rails of these boxes will |
,e handsomely upholstered in silk |
lush, harmonizing with the colors of |
he decorations of the theater, and |
with ornamental brass |
,osts hung with silk. The boxes in
he balcony are reached by private
,tairways, which run up behind the
,oxes on the first floor. The balcony
boxes are entirely shut off from the
balcony proper. The general form OF
he balcony remains as at pre- sent, ex-
cept some changes as to the
,eats. Instead of the rough bench
ss now in use, fine closing
opera chairs will be substituted. One
change in the building will
% the introduction of gallery above
,he balcony. This gallery will in
,rease the seating capacity of the thea.
er nearly one. third. The benches
now in the balcony will be put in the
gallery. The entrance to the last
named place will be from the street
and entirely cut off from the other
portion OF the building. The spec
,ators who go to the gallery will buy
heir tickets at the top Of the stairs.
The foregoing constitute the principal
changes not to mention the decora-
ions, which will be Of the finest and
most beautiful material. One great
advantage of the new arrangement
that every spectator will appreciate is
The fact that the seats are so arranged
hat the occupant of every chair can
q complete view of the en-
lire stage. Mr.. Wood showed great
Judgment in this particular feature,
and is thoroughly satisfied with the
result OF his labors. Work on the i'm
will commence in about
three weeks and the theater will re-
main closed during six weeks at the
end Of which time everything will be
finished. sts
Our Anaheim Letter.