San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-10-18

to give those who have more intelligent
appreciation of its beauty, capacity and
completeness, we append a descriptions
The house was opened December 90, 1888,
by Emma Abbott in Lucretia Borgia, an
elegant satin souvenir was presented each
person attending. In addition to the cast,
there was printed on the programme the
officers of San Antonio Club and Opera
House company, I. j. Devine, president;
L. S. Berg, secretary; w. II. Maverick,
treasurer, together with the builders,
Messrs. Hoffman & Cook, of st. Louis,
the architects, j. b. McElfatrick & Son,
st. Louis: scenic artists Messrs. Noxon.
Albert a Toomey, also of st. Louis.
In order to complete this sketch and
give the reader an adequate notion of the
dimensions OF this monument to the en-
terpriSe of its projectors. we must invite
him to enter in imagination with us the
spacious marble-tiled hallway or en-
trance. This is sixty feet in length by
twenty in breadth, very lofty. The ceiling
appropriately painted in fantastic, colored,
designs, and the walls hung with portraits
of theatrical celebrities. Portiers. or
heavy colored hangings prevent sounds
from the stage reaching the hallway. The
seats on the first floor arranged as orcheS-
ira and orchestra circle, are upholstered
in green plush and furnished with foot
rests, hat and coat racks This floor has
arranged as dress and family circle has
seating capacity of 1856. Seats in the dress
circle are upholstered in old gold plush and
the family circle are spring back perfora-
ted natural wood seats. The gallery,
which has seating capacity of 800, is
furnished with seats similar TO those OF
the family circle. A perfect view OF the
stage is obtained from any seat in the
house, and as the acoustics OF the house
are exceptionally good one can hear an
ordinary conversational tone on the
stage, in any part OF the interi-
or. The house and stage are lighted
throughout by electricity, a.key board on
the stage similar to a telephone switch
board enables one man to control the
with crystal pendants ornament the cell
| ing, walls and proscenium boxes, OF which
| there are four. These boxes have seat
| ing capacity of eight each, are elegantly
| carpeted, have chairs upholstered in vel
vet of color to match the hanging.s lace
| curtains and Lin Crusta Walton
| paneling, and are so arranged that If de.
sired absolute privacy may be obtained
| by the occupants while they are enabled
| to see the stage and any part OF the
house. The ornamental outer border of
| the proscenium boxes is of blue satin with
silver hand rail. The drop curtain is a
| scene from Verbs opera, La Africane,
ana Is DarOaTlc III lbs Iufgiu
splendor. The ceiling of the house
| proper and walls of the stage
| front above the curtain are adorn-
| ed with heads of musical and dramatic
| authors, the MUSES. and devices
of the Thespian art, with hand
some portrait of Shakespeare in the centre.
A number of exits preclude any danger in
| case of fire.
| Ascending the stage we are in world
| of flats, painted wood cordage and all the
countless appearances OF the modern
| stage
The stage, which is thirty eight feet in
| depth by thirty-two in width, is supplied
| with three chamber scenes, one village
| landscape, one prison, one palace, one
| street. seven kitchen, one landscape, one
| dark wood, and with one horizon, one
| rocky pass, one cut wood, one foliage, two
| stairs and two room drops. Quite enough
| we should imagine to supply any play
| from heavy melodrama to light comedy;
| Eight dressing rooms below stairs ana
! two on the stage for the stars afford
ample accommodation for the largest
company. An exit below the stage Tor
the orchestra prevent them disturbing the
audience in their necessary exit ana en-
frances. The personel OF the present
management is Mr.. L. w. Muilaly,
manager, Mr.. Frank III. Bushick,
assistant manager; ID. 9. KISS
Ter. stage manager. Houston, electrician,
| Max Mendlesohn, leader of orchestra,
and William 7. Schumacher, head usher.
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