St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-12
Singular and Unique Archi-
lecture of the Coming
Great Structure.
Exterior Elevations, ArcadeS
and Rotunda AMI Interior
Decorations.
Four Entrances on as Many
Streets to the Amusement
Temple.

The new Arcade opera mouse, OF 81.
Paul, when finished, will be the finest
in the United States. Over one million
dollars will have been spent on it before
its completion and no possible conven
ience OF attraction will be wanting to
make it in every respect the most COM
plete and palatial structure OF the kind
that could be erected. The location is
one that gives to an architect many
aesthetic opportunities. From the plans
and elevations it will be seen that Mr..
Burlington has developed these to the
utmost. Taking advantage of the four
frontages and the impOsslbility of get
ting good view of more than one IA
cade at time, he has boldly designed
each frontage in different style
of architecture. The St. Peter
street front cannot be touched at pres
ent, owing to the Glass Block store
standing in the way, but the plans are
drawn for an entrance from this street,
which can be built at later date. The
building in it, entirety is in the form OF
a cross. With the exception of the opera
house part of it, it is two stories high,
while in the center of the Fourth street
front rises massive block about 100
feet high. This is the theater proper,
and the vast expanse of blank wall is
the back of the stage. This majestic
facade is treated in bold :early Italian
style of architecture. That on the op-
posite or Fifth street end is severe
Romanesque style, while the Wabasha
street front is monumental design in
Italian Renaissance. Mr.. Burlington
has impressed his own style upon the
whole design, giving it long. bold, unin-
terrupted outlines, with elaborate orna-
mentation on certain parts where it can
be suitably placed without spelling out
lines or cutting it up with the effect of
an apparent reduction in size. The en-
frances are treated in the most fiorid
Italian style, with ornate carving on the
cornices, while the interior both of the
opera house. arcades and rOtunda is one
The flooring is all marble. as are the
arches and balconies, while the wood
work of the ceilings and interior fronts
of the hundred stores will tax the skill
of the carver in its intricate elaboration.
From Fourth street to the central rO-
tunda run two arcadeS fifteen feet wide,
with the opera house between them: on
the outside of these are stores, From
the rotunda to Fifth street is another
arcade twenty feet wide, with stores on
either side, while straight across the
building from Wabasha to st. Peter
street runs a twenty-foOt arcade. All
of these arcades have two stories of
stores and offices opening into them,
with fronts of marble and mahogany. 1t
was found impracticable to make more
than two stories. owing to the impossi-
bility of getting enough light. With
these four arcades and rotunda 1O4x73
feet in size, it will be seen that there is
room for large number of stores and
offices. About fifty of each are arranged,
as will be seen from the plan, and these
will vary in size to accommodate all
classes of clients.
The theater itself is of vast size, being
one hundred and seventy-five feet long
from the back of the stage to the en-
trance and seventy-six feet wide. The
stage is fifty-fve feet deep from the
footlights, seventy-six feet wide and
eighty-six feet high, while at the sides
it is fifty feet deep. The parquet is
seventy-six feet deep and seventy feet
wide. while the foyer at the back is for
ty-four feet long and thirty-five feet
wide. On entering the theater from the
rotunda foyer is seen opening onto
the parquet. On each side Of this are
elaborate carved and inlaid woods.
These stairways lead to the balcony,
around which are lOgeS. the best seats
in the house. Behind these loges short
flights of stairs lead to rows of seats,
while other seats fill the space between
the loges aud the front of the balcony,
and this opens onto marble balcony
overlooking the rotunda. This will form
a delightful place to promenade between
the acts. The gallery is above this
again, and is reached by stairs from the
back OF the balcony. The slope of all
the floors from parquet to gallery is
steep, thus giving first-class view of
the stage from any part of the house.
The stereOtyped horseshoe way of ar
ranging the seats is discarded, and as
good a view is obtained from the
extreme side seats as from the
center. Three boxes on each
side on each floor are arranged so as to
give an equally good view from any one
of the twelve. The foyers are foored in
mosaic, while toilet and smoking rooms
are OH both floors. Two fireplaces in
the rear of the parquet will add to the
comfort and appearance of the interior.
The means Of exit are numerous, the
stage having three, one at the rear onto
Fourth street, and two onto the side !,
corridors, while the parquet has four
doors on each side, beside the main en-
trance. The ventilation of the theater !;
is provided for in an artificial way. An 4
engine works an enormous fan which !;
blows heated air into the house in !,
cold weather, and in warm, air !.
that has been passed through a 4
spray of ice water, thus ensuring 4
a comfortable temperature at all |.
seasons. Large windows at the side of |:
the theater will admit light for any 4
meetings or affairs that can be con-
ducted in daylight. The interior deco i
ration of this great auditorium is of the i
most elaborate description, and every 1
device of the wood carver, painter, 1
glider, and frescoer will be used to i
bIlng about the most magnificent and
harmonious effect. The ceiling is treat
ed in peculiar way, springing in a
series of curves from the very edge OF
the proScenium arch, thus leaving a
great vacant space of wedge-like
shape, roughly speaking, between the
ceiling and roof. To improve the
view of the stage the orchestra
is sunk Seven feet below the
floor Of the parquet, and a second i
series of footlights are provided on thej
partition. The whole building will be
made as nearly fire-proof as possible,
being built Of Stone and iron. The
floors are Of cement covered with car
pets, while those of the parquets are
of mosaic. Under the cement are fire.
proof tiles, ana the only woodwork in
the hllildinp ia that in the store and I