The Portland daily press., 1892-01-07

evenings, thus giving the Germans of
the west an opportunity to enjoy tho
best theatrical novelties in their mother
tongue.
The company which is erecting the
Schiller is composed Of the leading
German citizens of Chicago. Their OBJ
ject, was, in the first instance, to secure
a place where German plays could be
staged adequately, but the lively com.
petition for the lease of the theater and
the hotel to be run IN connection with
it proved to them that, aside from doing
something for German art IN America,
they had stumbled upon an excellent
( investment. a
The other new theater, to which l
have referred, will be located on Jack
son street, between Wabash avenue and
Michigan boulevard. and will occupy
the site OF the old First regiment armory.
Some time ago it was proposed to erect
Shakespeare memorial theater on this
ground, but the promoters of the enter
prise failed to secure the capital neces-.
sary to carry ont their plans. The
owner of the real estate would not lease
it for less than $4,000 for the first 21
years OF a 99-year period and $4,000
per year for the remainder of the time.
This was more than the Shakespeare
enthusiasts could afford to pay, and a
modern theater with sky-scraping at
tachments was next talked of A CON-
pany was organized and ground lease
signed on the terms mentioned The
projectors at once engaged an architect
to produce something novel in the the
atrical line-and he has done it.
In style and management the theater
will differ from anything now in the
country. The foyer will be circular.
The body of the house will be lowered
after the English fashion. and will be
fitted up with sststalls." Above these
and extending entirely around the three
sides of the house not occupied by the
stage will be row of boxes. Only men
in low-cut vests, says an edict of the
projectors of the theater. and spike
tailed coats, and women in evening
gowns will be admitted to this, the sa-
cred, part of the house. Above these
highly aristocratic seats will be one
allowed to enter No gallery will be
provided The auditorium will have a
seating capacity of 1900.
On the roof a garden of rare splendor
and magnificence will afford the pa
irons of the theater chance to breathe
some of the justly famous Lake Michi-
gan ozone. The garden, when CON-
pleted, will be a veritable crystal pal.
ace, as it will be inclosed on all sides
with heavy plate glass. n the center
of the big room will be an electric
fountain and high-toned bar where
the gilded youth will have to pay 25
cents for a 10-cent drink. Grouped
around the fountain will be collection
of admirable plants. Around the en-
tire building and deepening from the gar
den will be broad promenade balcony,
and outside of this will be series OF
piazza-lilze spaces, fitted with chairs and
refreshment tables The height of the
building, twelve stories, will afford Wis.,
itors an unobstructed view of city and
lake.
The gentlemen interested in the new
theater do not believe in the star system
OF theatricals, and propose to organize
a stock company composed of the fore
most American and English artists.
They are of the opinion that Chicago
and the country tributary to its CON-
mercial and social interests can afford
to maintain a first-class company of
actors.
The cost of the new building, exclu-
sive OF interior decorations, will be
S600,000. 1t will be builtof steel, faced
with terra Gotta and brick, and will be
thoroughly fireproof The parts of the
building not occupied by the theater
will be divided into stores and offices.
The 'swallowItail'' theater may per-
haps not prove asi profitable as it's pro-
jectors anticipate but if they succeed
in Introducing the stock company idea
in western managerial circles the alb
surdity OF some rpf their rules and regu-
iations may in The course Of time be
forgiven, There may be enough dudes
IN the west to- All the house every
night, but no one should be rash
enough to risk any money on such a re-
suit. q. W.. WErpPrERr.