Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-09-03
QUITE A SURPRISE
AWAITS THE PATRONS OF TIE OPERA HOUSE
WIEN THE SEASON OPENS
A Splendid New Drop Curtain and Seven Sets o.
New Scsnss Inspscsd at Private View, Last
EVening-Ths Interior Of the Building
Cleaned and Reprinted.

fttIOnS Ol tue Opera nouse VIII uuu
the interior OF that popular place OF
amusement greatly changed, when It's
doors are reopened for the inaugura
tIon Of the regular amusement season,
Thursday evening OF this week.
They will find that the building has
been overhauled throughout, the walls
stripped Of the somewhat pdsse paper,
and handsomely painted and frescoed.
the chairs given an oVerhauling aud
paint applied. new carpet and lInolium
laid down, the entire aspect Of the pros
cenium changed, new carpet provided
for the STAGE new drop curtain In place
OF that which has borne the counterfeit
preseDtiment of Iphigenia, In o some
what pensive attitude, as though wait
ing for her ship to come in, for 10! these
many years, and seven full sets Of new
scenery, with q full compliment Of
drops, borders, flies, etcetera.
In fact, visitors will find the entire
interior OF the building, II not trans
formed, al least looking very much bet
ter than last season. and that there will
be a corresponding measure Of public
satisfaction follow, is matter OF
course.
The work OF cleaning and repaintIng
the building and accessories has been In
progress during most OF the summer.
In May last the management let con-
tract to Armbruster & Sons, the scenic
painters, OF Columbus, for the new drop
curtain and scenery, and all during
June, July and good part OF August
the stage was given over TO the brushes
and paint pots OF the artists, while
Stage Manager VIII Richardson and a
competent force turned their attention
to the remainder OF the interior.
The big drop curtain and one or
two other drops were sent TO
Columbus to be painted, but the major
portion OF the work was done right on
the stage, and when the job was recent
ly finished and the sets restored TO their
old places the effect was so good that
Manager Reister and the Directors de-
termined to invite number OF their
friends to a little private view, last
night. At eight o'clock about twenty
well-known gentlemen assembled in the
Office of the manager. and by his invl-
tation proceeded TO the Opera House
proper, which had been brilliantly illu-
minated, as though for performance.
The small audience being seated Stage
Manager Richardson put the new scene
nv on view, and there was general and
hearty approval OF what had been done.
The new main drop curtain Is about
as different from anything ever seen in
this city before as IL would be possible
to imagine. The main features are q
pleasing draping OF heavy velvet cur
tains, through the central portion OF
which q charming view OF an Italian
landscape is given, the effect being as
IL viewed from the balcony OF some
grand edifce. On the right a striking
effect is produced by the simple yet ef-
fective drapihg OF a long piece OF white
silk, upon ono end OF which roses are
scattered. The whole is bright and
cheerful, and is very good realization
ola happy idea. This drop does not
roll, but is set In gigan-
tic frame. like picture, and
the whole slides up aud down
in grooves. A few feet inside, Of this
drop is another, almost as large and
working in the same manner, serving
as an interlude drop. Ii represents
scene In mountain gap, with a glimpse
OF a small river. and Is very handsome.
There are three other "eXteriors," one
being a garden scene, another wooded
scene, and the third sort OF wilder
ness effect, combining wood, stream and
open ground. In addition, the old
"Luxembo Garden" scene has been
retained, with some touching up, MAX
ing five handsome sets. Ia addition to
these, three new "interiors" have been
provided, one being fancy chamber,
one a Gothic interior, and the other q
general utility scene, the whole giving
the Opera House more and better seen
cry than ever before.
This scenery will be shown Thursday
night, during the representation OF
"Incog," and can then be admired by
the general public as 1t was last night
by few.