Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-04-14
s'Thc MacKaye ectatorium.' .

| "A vast deal of curiosity has been
aroused as to the magnitude and
scope and peculiar features of "The
MacKaye Specta torium,'' which the
Columbian Celebration Company is
building at north end of jackson
Park on the lake shore, Chicago.and
that curiosity has ina measure been
satisfied by view Of the mod
ell which was given to the press a
short time ago. BOth the Associated
Press and the Chicago papers join in
unstinted praise oftlle enterprise. A
comprehensive idea Of how it af-
fected the audience OF trained and
professional critics is perhaps best
conveyed by quoting the opinion Of
one of them, Mr.. VII. Hall, dram
attic editor and critic OF the Chicago
Post who, after a detailed description
Of some of the novel features, closes
his article with the following words
Enthusiastic applause from the lit
tie company greeted every scene and
every remarkable manipulation OF
the lights and i. the conclusion,
there were those present who pre-
dicted that the 3sspectatorium would
rival the Fair itself. It is safe to say
that it will attract more attention
here. during the Fair, than did the
Eiffel Tower jim Paris. No descrip-
ton can carry any idea even of the
model and what will the great and
complete be. MIR. MaKaye was
showered with congratulations and
voted wonder and there was not a
dissenting voice." It is not usual
that an audience composed entirely
Of critics, men whose training, i'll
clination and profession leads them
to sit in cold judgement, is stirred to
enthusiasm and mechanical appli-
ances. And vet this was all that was
shown them in the model and Mr..
Hall voiced the general expression of
astOnished wonder when he asked, if
the model SO startled the profession
al mind what will the grand pro-
due ton do.
In the description given one learns
that by light effects it is possible to
produce all natures atmospheric
changes, that there can be portrayed
with equal fidelity the dawning of
the morn, the meridian splendor OF
the noon and the quiet shades OF
twilight; the silvery light OF the
moon gildes the scene as naturally
as it does in nature and that even
the stars seem to twinkle and glow
in the heavens. Then, to, the de-
scriptions tell of vast wave-makers
by which the calm, unruffied bosom
of the ocean, for the ocean in the
spectatorium is represented by near
ly 5,0O0,OO gallons of water, can be
stirred into ripples or lashed into
foamcrested breakers; that the wind
can he made to sigh gently or with
tempestuous force threaten the de-
struction OF the fleet. They tell OF i'm
mense machinery capable OF moving
600 tons at one time and making a
change OF scene over a distance OF 60C
feet in forty seconds d!s: They tell OF
stages which appear and disappear
almost with the rap1dity of thought
but forty seconds being required for
a complete change of scene. These
are but the mechanical and electrical
effects and there is much of grandeur
outside OF this. Tho Specta torio
''The World Finder" which is to be
represented will be set to the most
sublime and novel music of the
masters. 1000 people will lend color
and life to the various scenes and the
action Of the spectatoriO will in sub.
Unity be in accord with the grandue1
of all the the environments and the
event it is tD celebrate.