The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-08

Miss Annie Maynor ably sustained the
part Of Flora Temple, as did Miss Annie
Lockhart in the part Of Cora Gray.
The members OF the Roanoke Light
Infantry deserve praise for the manner
in which they acted last night. Their
marching was excellent, and in tho fight
with the Arabs they deported them
selves like truo veterans
The mem bers Of the Machine Works
Guards, who acted the Arabs, also de-
serve credit. Although only remnant
OF the Machine Works Band was in the
great parade, they made as much music
as an ordinary band.
The theater will be opon for matinee
this afternoon and performance to night.
BUILDING TIE HOUSE.
The completion OF this theatre shows
what pluck and energy can accom-
plish. Just about year ago the foun-
dations Of the house wero laid. I hon
many obstacles were encounters but
none were too big for the men who had
charge OF the enterprise. and slowly but
surely the walls arose, the roof was
placed in position, tho I'M terror finished
and the house opened.
The theatre is owned by tho Academy
of Music Company, of which r. II.
Woodrum is president, w. Ii. Baker,
secretary and j. w. Coon, treasurer
On Nov. f. 1891. Il. j. Amweg signed
contract for tho construction OF the
building, and went to work immedi-
ately upon it. With his usual nush he
soon had the building under way and
on July 6, 1899, he signed contract
for the interior finish of the building.
Then it was that work began in earnest.
large force of men were employed
and in short time the building began
to look like theatre. Five weeks ago
and from that time on 1T has gone
ahead at rapid rate, the men fire.
quently working all night
On August Nick Loritz, the we'll.
known theatrical man Of New York,
came here and assumed charge Of the
fitting up of the stage and the decora-
tions of the interior Of the house. The
company was fortunate in securing the
services of this gen.lt man, for he stands
without peer in his line OF business
and his large experience enabled him to
sec just what was wanted and how it
should be done. When he came here he
found that the stage had too big pitch
and his first WORK was to lower it so that
it now has pitch of but four inches.
This consumed some little time, but by
of the house was com pleted In time.
Mr.. Loritz has finished theatres in
New York, Brooklyn, Washingt ton. Bal
timore. Cincinnati, St. Louis, San Fran
cisco, Denver, Pueblo and other places.
The curtain and scenery were painted
by Castel Bert, formerly Of the Grand
Opera House in Paris. The scene on
Tho curtain ia very appropriate one
for this time, representing the landing
OF Columbus. There will be thirty. five
sets of scenes, all painted in tho most
artistic manner. NJ. Bert is graduate
from the Art Academy of Lyons. For a
long time he was connGctoo with scenic
productions III Paris and New York. IIe
painted the Cycloramas of Manassas
and The CrucifXion," which is now on
exhibition in victori, Hall, near Bel
gravia, London, Eagland. He was also
Dorado, in New York city. After fin
ishing tho scenery in the Academy he
will Immediately commence work for
Kiralfy's great production in New York
city.
The house will he lighted throughout
with electricity, but it is also provided
with a complete set OF gas pipes so that
gas can be used If anything should hap.
pen to the electric plant. The work was
done by the Southern Ele ctric Company,
OF Baltimore. under the personal direc-
ton OF l.. l.. Kingsbury, tho general SUI
perintendent OF the company, and is
one of the most com plete pieces of work
ever done in the South. In all there
are alb cut 700 lights in tho house, 800 of
which are on the stage. All of the
lights are controlled from a switch
board placed on the stage. This board
IS OF white marble, 55x6O inches, and
into it run tho eighteen circuits into
which the house is divided. Each of
these circuits is supplied with q pilot
lamp, placed on the switch board. The
obiac> OF these lampsis to show the man
in c'arge of the board that the currents
are burning and are in proper condition.
Ore OF the greatest advantages OF this
system is the fact that the wires arc all
run through tubes, which makes them
absolutely moisture and Ire proof. This
obviates any danger whatever OF the
Wires causing q fire in any part of the
Guiding The greatest Improvement
made in electric lighting, however, is
he fact that the lights can be dimmed
o any degree desired, the same as with