Wichita eagle., 1888-01-20
THE NEW OPERA HOUSE.
The Work Being Done-A Description OF the
Interior.

Work is rapidly progressing upon the
new opera house The interior Is lathed
and the piaStererS are well under way with
/ their work. In order that the work may
be pushed with still more rapidity an
electric light was placed in the building
last night, and thus the work can so on
night and day. The main stairway lead
ing from Topeka avenue TO the interior. Is
almost finished. There remains, however.
TO be done the laying OF the tile on the
landings.
Within, the structure is now a mass of
scaffolds and incompleted arches and
floors. The floor and seat rests of the par
qvet and dress circle are completed; the
post OF the rear. separating the dress circle
from the promenade are in position and
between them will be hung the richest
Turkish curtains. Upon this, the lower
floor. are TO be placed SIS chairs. all with
plush backs and leather seats The two
boxes, which viii be elegantly arranged
and decorated, will be double boxes and
each seat eight persons. The boxes above
will be single and each seat six persons.
The stage is certainly one of the largest
and best arranged in the west. The pros
cenium opening is - feet broad aud ~ feet
high with - feet lift for the curtain.
The stage itself is Is feet deep and from
the floor 10 the rigging loft is 90 feet. On
the sides are arrangements for incandescent
lights soon "a they are in Use
in the city: and which will supplant the old
fashioned foot lights 10 be used at first,
The scenery, of which there are fifteen sets
now ready for delivery, are eighteen feet.
On the left Is "A door for answering recalls.
Beneath the stage are dressing rooms;
four for gentlemen and the same number
for ladies both of which will be well and
completely furnished. Besides there are
two large chorus rooms, closets, halls
and other conveniences. Two large boilers
will be used for heating the building, the
steam passing beneath the floor in the
coils of piping.
The balcony will have S3S opera chairs
with plush backs and veneer seats This
floor will be well supplied with exits
by means of which ii can, in case of fire.
be quickly emptied. II is the intention to
furnish this with the same neatness if
not elegance, as the lower floor.
Still above is the gallery, with seating
capacity of 600, furnished. rs is the balcony,
with means of safe and speedy exit in case
of fire
The ceiling is arched and comes directly
back from the proscemluni. thus. IL il
said, adding greatly 10 the acoustic
properties OF the house. The light Will be
from the center, by means of an immense
Bush light.
Besides the theater proper, there will
be in the front of the building
large dance hall, light and airy. on the
third floor and beneath, on the lower
floors, the offices and rooms for the man
ager and attaches of the house. Beneath
the parquet are the store and property
rooms for advertising matters and fixtures
required about the opera house.
The furnishings of the interior will
be rich, not gaudy, and neither
expense nor pains will be
spared TO make everything complete and
elegant. The house Is certainly one of the
best in the west, not only in its finishing
but also in the completeness OF its appoint
ments, and will be a revelation not only TO
strangers, but also to the citizens OF
Wichita.
There is no doubt now but that the house
will be ready for opening at the date an
nounced, February i, with Conreid's
Gypsy Baron" The auction sale OF seats
for this occasion will take place Thursday,
January %.