Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-09
"A NEW THEATER.
Mr.. John W. Albaugh Purchases a
Centrally Located Site.
FOR SUMMER AND WINTER ADJUSTMENTS
The Building Will be Of the Span
ish Renaissance Design.
TO BE READY NEXT FALL.

Over 100000 have just been agreed upon
as the price for the purchase of build
ing site in a central location in this city.
The purchaser is Mr.. John w. Albaugh, the
well-known and popular manager of thea
ters here and in Baltimore He proposes
to continue to cater to the amusement low
ing public, and with this purpose in view
he has secured a block of ground, where he
intends to erect a splendid theater building.
The location selected is on the north side
of II street between 18th and 14th streets.
1t is about 100 feet east of 14th street The
deal was made through Ellerson & Wemple,
real estate dealers, and the exact consider
alton by which the owner, MIR. Widdicombe,
transfers his right and title to the ground
is SlO6,oOO. The ground secured is ample
Tor the purposes. 1t has a frontage of %
feet and depth of la feet to a 3O-foot
alley. Along the west side and nearly to
the front of the lot an alley 20 feet wide ex-
tends. For the remainder of the distance
10 the building line it is the purpose to have
the new building recede from the party
me- SO as TO leave space for an extension
Oh the alley along the entire west side.
rms VIII correspond with the east side,
where there is an alley along the entire dis
tance from the front to the rear In fact
this Complete isolation Of the ground Inv
alleys on all sides was one of the main
Ieasons. IN addition to it's admirable CEN
tral location, which led Mr.. Albaugh to
select IT.. The ground contains 13, $50 square
rect and the price paid is nearly So per
square foot
Handsome Design.
A design for the proposed theater build
Ing has been made by w. Bruce Gray and
Arlstide Rodrigue. and while the exterior
Is an effective example of the Spanish re-
naissance, with its arcades and square tow
ers and tiled roof, worked out with buff
brick and light stone, yet after all 1t is
upon the interior that the largest amount
or time and thought has been spent. The
entrance will be directly from the street
and on a level with the street. The feature
OF the interior will be the ample exits not
only for the first floor, but for the two
galleries: There will be doors opening out
on all the four sides and they are to be
connected electrically that they can be
opened promptly at any time. There will
be a seating capacity for about 800. An
admirable feature will be the location of
the heating and electric light plants in a
vault outside of the building The con-
struction of the building will be as nearly
fireproof as possible.
The plans OF the interior. while following
in general that of other theaters. has In ad
dition feature which is entirely novel and
unique in this city. The roof Is to be fat
and is to be used as summer theater
end and the canopy of heaven Is to be the
roof. The entrance win be through a COW
cred court. the front OF which forms the
arcade as found in the design of the ex-
terror. Access to the summer theater will
be either by staircase or by elevator. The
two parts of the building will be entirely
distinct. and for that matter 1t will be
possible for performance to be going on
on the stage below while artists are enter
tanning an audience under the starlit sky
above.
Ready Next Fall.
1t is expected that the work Of construct
ing this building will be begun early in the
spring so that it will be completed and
ready for occupation next October. Mr..
Albaugh's lease of the opera house in this
city, which bears his name, expires next
year. 1t is his intention upon the erection
of the new theater building to remove his
residence to this city and to devote his en-
tire time to it's management.