The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-09-19
AN INSTANT SUCCESS.
B. F. KEITH OPENS UNIoN SQUIRE
THEATRE WITH A NEW POLICY.
The "Continuous Performance" Idea
Captures the Gothamites Tho House
One OF Most Magnificent In America.

As Providence man was more than
pleased To witness yesterday the Instant
success Of the change in the Union Square
Theatre, New York, whore Proprietor b.
4. Keith's original idea OF continuous
performance' was carried out, to the de-
light OF the thousands Of Gothamites.
II simply caught on in great shape, and
IL any one had any doubt of its success
before it was tried. the last vestiRs was
dissipated when the curtain finally fell
last night.
1t was great surprise to the New
Workers, but IL was no surprise TO Mr..
Keith who, with Mrs. Keith aud A. Paul
Keith, occupied a box and witnessed the
performances, and as he left the theater
be received scores OF congratulations
from members OF the profession and
from other managers who had watched
his success.
Not only was the performances de-
lightful surprise. but the theater. There
was very little left to remind one of the
old Union Square theater. thanks to Cen.
eral MANAGER 4. +. Albee's skiiful super
ision. Ulder bis direction one of the
handsomest theaters In the East has been
created at an outlay Of over $50, 900.
Mr.. Albee has labored night and day
Letic endeavors was shown In play
house which one OF the local newspapers
has already christened the continuous
vaudeville drawing room" The renova-
ton ex ends from the exterior to the very
gallery. The old front has disap-
pearcd. In its place now appears an un-
,omn only handsome front Of iron and
staint glass, richly decorated in white.
cream and gold. This front extends
TO the second story and 10 100 feet wide.
| forming the most attractive theatre ex-
terror ever built ia New York. At night
a myriad of concealed electr,c lights illu
inmate the vari.c lored 0lass The
| old lobby has been torn out. and instead
a division Of the space now gives foyer
and a lobby OF spacious dimensions.
Cream aud gold decorations are also car
red out here.
The ceilings are In delicate olors,
oupds, rises and clouds bling artisti-
cslly painted, aud stereo-relief work
forming a rich moulding. The inner
foyer is decided and delightful transfer
nation from the old arrangement, and is
one of the cosiest in town. At the right
is new cloak room and ladies' reception
room, a novelty in it's arrangement, hand
somely decorated in II hit tints and pro-
vided with rich furniture, mirrors, toilet
conveniences. etc.
At the left OF The foyer is q picturesque
nook, which has bseI filled in with
plants, draperies. etc. The auditorium
presents n still more striking alteration.
A new flooring gives n better pitch and
the seating arrangements have been in
creased. Not "a trace OF the old Union
SauEre remains. The entire proscenium
arch and frame is richly finished in cream
and gold and the carving is more elabo-
rate than In any theatre In New York.
The balcony and gallery fronts are re-
splendent In the same colors All the
side walls. dados, baseooards. etc,
are in pale blue and correspondent
tlnts. The dome is frescoed anew
in specially handsome manner. aud
the dome lights are also new. Fresh
draperies. bright nickel rails and
b furnishings are noticed throughout.
The balcony and gallery share IN the
metamorphosis, and the same sch eme OF
arches noted on the ground floor are pro-
vided above o. e,ch hoor new aud
handsomely furnished recep ion aud
toilet rooms have been built
Ga the stage aud back OF IL n radical
renovato on has been worried. New foot
tights throw their reflection upon new
drop curtain Representing an Italian
sui ject. In which are aIlegorical figures In
graceful attitudes. Light c0lors predomi-
nate, and the whole Is set In artistically
contrived hanging draperies. The stage
machinery has ben entirely recon
ructed. Forty new sets OF drop scenes