New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-30
TIE NEW AMERICAN THEATRE.

Mr. FEENCH'S HANDSOME HOUSE TO OPEN on
NAY II.
The new American Theatre, al For'y-frst ST.. Eighth
avc and Forty second st.. owned 10y Elliott +.
ZborowsM and T. Henry French. Is now almost
finished and is TO be opened on May 10. d'Scrip
lion OF II gwen IN these columns week ago.
The further account Of the building which here fol
lows gives the details Of some points which were
not then touched upon. The architect Is Charles C.
Haigh.
icing the first theatre to come under the
now provisions Of the Building law. II has, in all
cases where safety was concerned, exceeded the re-
ourements 1t IS as lreproof possible, the only
wood used being In the doors ana floors. All the
doors Of exit OF fire and all doors between the
stage and connecting rooms Of metal. The SAM
tary and vcntating systems the best that could bc
devised The theatre itself + 100 by $50 feet with
frances from FOrty-secOld-st Eighhave. and Forty
lrsst The first the entrances TO the parquet
and balcony while the gallery may be reached from
Forty first st. The TortysecOnd-st. and lghthavc.
entrances lead through corridors u Octagona vcst
lme twenty feet In diameter This has a domcd
ceiling and In angle of the OctagOn Is the box
Office Just of the vesubule Is The foyer. 20 10y Gt
feet with the main balcony stairway rising at the op
posite end from the entrance. From the foyer,
through four doors. the parquct Is reached.
The seating capacity Of the house. exclusive
OF the boxes. /, nearly 1000. The total ca
pacity including the standing room al In"
back of the parquet and gallery. IS about 2.lC0.
The boxes are reached 10y u private stairway leading
from the parquct The balcony ana gallery have
been brought the stage than IS usual. The
lines OF sight and the acoustic qualities OF the audi
forum have received particular care and attention
The boxes are divided from the rest Of tie house
but separated by metal screens, which add much to
the lightness ana opcnness Of the auditorium while
curing perfect privacy to the occupants.
There are three elevators connected with the
theatre for the use OF its audience; two Of thes"
rise from the parquet ana from the Forty
NrS-st. entrance. They stop al each floor ana con
TIME to tie roof. They Of large size and
swift running. The elevators are run bv electric
motors ana equipped with the most improved
safety devices, The dressing rooms arr, largo. vel
lighted and well ventilated. all opening upon the
OUTSIDE air.
Above the auditorium Is tie roof garden. about
ninety feet square a portion Of ills IS rooted. If
fordlmg protection from the weather or ;hc danpncss
Of the evening air. while giving a perfect view Of
the roof garden stage. Both the theatre proper and
~ connecting buildings On Forty -s.cond,si and
Eehth-ave are used In tleir upper stories for II
bachelor apartment house ard for lodge rooms. They
are finished In light brick and terra.coita \ phase
of Spanish Renaissance has been used In their de
sign, Thc Forty ,iir:s,: front being 80 feet in
has been carried out In modelled plaster work. vii
applied ecl"r , ana gi,ains The b9Ars are richly
" the balcony and gallery have festOons. and The
ceilings under these decorated with richly modelled
work The browning feature Of the interior j. u
panellcd dome. fiy-scvcn feet I'm diameter
The corridors. vcstibucs and foyer paved with
mosaic and hard marble bases AT the side walls, deco
rated with P"'rd plirSirrS. ana Their ceilings hnv"
moulded plaster work with applied color and gid
ing The general scheme az color employed !, IN
rod, and yrllows. giving warm tone TO She In
terior There Is an extensive clcclric plani. Of
sufficient capaGfy 10 than 1000 lights. h.
sides the five electric elevators the ventilntng fan
and the otter motors. There seventeen ways
~ exit from the auditorium Will" six furnished
Tor The stage. These exits vide. and Civ" direct
access 10 the streets. The automatic sprinkler -
en- and the fire hose connection are OF approved
The New-York Central presents the best service 10
Detroit, Cleveland and Chicago.