Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1890-10-17
FINE OPERA HOUSE.
Olympia Supplied with a Frst-class
House for Amusement.

House tor Amusement.
Prepared for CAPITAL Campaign Committee by
John A. Eea.
Every capital city should have an
unusually good opera house. 1t is
expected by the public and ii possible
the public should not lie disappointed.
The society and all the conditions
a Capital, state or Ma
tional, call for Il fine playhouse.
Olympia can show her fine school
houses, pointing to them with more
than ordinary pride. They are an in
dex Of her educational side. She can
point to the cut OF her finest hotel
and satisfy the strangers and neigh
Dor that she has hotel facilities that !
are frst-class. She can now point to
her opera house and claim public
place OF amusement that in many re- |
spects will rank as high as any house
Of its kind ON the Pacific coast.
We learned long ago from Law
renee Barrett that it was not size
that made an opera house. First OF
all he said the stage was most inn
portant. When Ralston built his San
Francisco theatre, Barrett's word ruled
every feature of the stage and when
completed the theatre Of that stage
was the best from Il players stand
point in the world. When Mr.. Muir
ply, editor of the Standard, made up
his mind to build an opera house for
Olympia, he adopted the theory OF
Barrett that it was not size but COM
pleteness and adaptability that made
the best theatre. He outlined his
plan and submitted it to the Scientific
american and that great paper
wrought out what it would call a
scientific playhouse; scientific, because
complete in every detail and adapted
at every turn to the purposes of true
amusement hall. 1t is this plan that
has been embodied in Murphy's opera
house.
OF course this house will not cost as
much as the Tacoma or Spokane
theatre cost, but it more than holds
its own with either rs true
theatre. The general dimensions Of
the building are 55x140. Beginning
with the stage we find it is 40x55 in
the clear. Under it are the dressing
rooms all large and as convenient as
Booth, himself, would wish. This fea-
ture alone adds wonderfully to the
popularity OF theatre. Mr.. Murphy
will fit them up in fine style. The
scenery is being painted by the best
scenic artists in Chicago and will cost
$500. The drop curtain will not be
some old ruin or view in Italy or
Spain, but grand forest scene that
will always be pleasing to the eye.
On the stage are numerous buttons
that carry a summons to every portion
of the house. The boxes are as we'll
designed as the boxes in any theatre
in the country The occupants can
see as well be seen. The boxes, pro-
scenium and drop curtain will form a
picture that will be very pleasing to
the eye. The auditorium is 79x55,
with parquette, parquctte circle and
balcony. Total seating capacity will
be nine hundred. That's large enough
when we remember that the average
audience attending amusements does
not exceed four hundred. 1t will be q
| fine performance that will pack the
: house. Back of the parquette circle
is the foyer. The house will be lighted
by electricity and gas. A large chan
delier will hang from the center of the
) lofty ceiling. The decorations will be
tasty and with beautiful furnishings,
/, the interior of this house will BIZ very
> attractive. Chow cosy!" "How
) beautiful" will be the voluntary
tributes to the auditorium. But the
5 auditorium with its delightful foyer
2 or promenade and the stage with all
8 OF its exact appointments are not al
r of the house.
There are rooms enough in the front
1 to make another auditorium. Facing
upon Fourth street, one of the best
streets of the city, are two parlors
: connected with promenade. One ii
e q gentlemen's parlor 2Ox26 feet, Gle
gantly furnished, and further i'm
proved by a bay window. Back o
this parlor is large gentlemen.
toilet room and back OF that the man
ayers Office. BY electric bells ant
E speaking tubes the manager is in in
slant connection with the different
! parts Of the house and particularly
i with the stage. The other parlor is {
J ladies' parlor 2Ox2O, with bay window
and massive mirror. This parlo
will also be furnished to a lady's taste
= Back of it, and connecting. is a ladies
q toilet room, and then comes the cloal
= room and next, where the audience
enters the auditorium or properly tin
foyer, is the opera glass room. AL
these conveniences, the convenience
of the most fashionable dwelling
o make the Murphy opera house doubl,
). attractive.
q 1t will be pleasure to attend per
Torrance in this house. The hous,
itself will be an attraction. FRS
!, of all, overcoats, umbrellas, overshoes
- shawls and bonnets can all be turned
into the cloak room and checks re
:, ceived for them. Second, abundan
. toilet room is furnished both ladie
i, and gentlemen for curing any dis
| arranppmpnt of hair or ayon;nU drocu