The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-27
DEDICATED TO
MIMETIC ART
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hoCheSleF, Tue architects AMI urSlI In-
ers. aud their numerous skilled and
earnest assistants.
EVERY SEAT A GOOD ONE.
The auditorium itself is entirely
novel in rs arrangement. The private
boxes Of the Rockingham, iustUad OF
being stutfy bunches Of overwrought
decoration are really part Of the main
auditorium, just separated sufficiently
20 give occupants u SENSE Of privacy
without sacrificing either their view of
the stage or that Of tho main aud
ieuce. In passing it should be
said that this theatre is one OF the
really few houses in America which.
so far as could be- learned by careful
personal tact prosecuted in every NOOK,
crook and corner has literally no IN
desirable seats. There is not a spot in
main floor, boxes loses or either bal
couy whivn fails to command u direct
aud comprehensive view OF the stag,
and Of al the actors upon tho stage
Ia the arrangement of the loges.
over tho boXss and in frolt
of the balconies. lowered so as
not to interfere with spectators sitting
on the main rows, this new thentsr
has smother point of originality that
last evening attracted much favorable
comment All these loges are supplied
with handsome parlor chairs aud en-
circled by nlCkeled railingS, tho lust
rous shine Of which, mlngliug with the
yellow, salmon and old gold huAs of the
ceilings and the suOlued purple of the
drsperiss gave an agreeable variety
ana sparkle TO the general scene. All
the fronts Of the boxes, logss. orchestra
circle, balcony and gallery, it should be
said, are richly upholstered in plush
and surmoulted by railings Of nickel
All rows on the main floor AMI in the
first balcony the first two rows are
equipped with masuificently upho,-
stored chairs, while the remainder Of
ths first balcony seats ara Comfortable
folding opera chairs, without the uphol.
stering. In tina upper gallery, the
benches ara SO arranged as to prevent
one tier Of occupants from interfering
in any manner with either the CONT ,rt
or the view Of occupants of any other
tier
BOXES, LOGES AND RAILINGS.
The private boxes and upper loges
are beautifully draped in terra Gotta
velvet, richly trimmed with heavy
fringe, cords and tassels. a feature OF
much beauty Is the wide and spacious
orchestra pit, which is cut off by a
partition surmOunted by nicksled
railing. The entire auditorium ia GOV.
srsd with stereo relief, not an inch OF
plaster bsiug used for the walls or cell.
ings In the matter Of colors, as has al.
re ady been remarked, too much cannot
be said. The hues employed are cream,
buff, salmon, copper amt gold, artistic
ally emphasized at various points with
gold and copper bronZss. Especially
notable are tho graceful and pleasing
curves of the gallery railings, the
superior archways Of tna main ceiling,
the dslicately twinsd draperiss and the
beauty Of the grand proscenium arch,
with the rich decorations, ornamental
tions. columns. brackets and the other
anrichmsnts Of the Moorish design,
u vjng to the characters upon the stage
the bSneft Of a setting that suggests
nsndsoLeeiy framed portraits in some
mellowly Eghted famous gallery.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE.
The seating capacity Of tho Froth-
ingham is about 1909. but when
crowded the tbeatsr will easily hold
> 900 persons. Exits are plentiful and
conviantly located. Besides the large
of exits on the arcade side,
there will hs several broad stairways
and first hjor exits to Penn aveuul.
The house, when crowded, can he emp
tied in about two minutes. The sy5-
tenn of lighting will employ both gas
and electricity. Electricity has the
preference, but gas will b. employed
in case Of emergency, All the modern
appliances for both gas and electricity
have been introduced and everything
has been done to make the house as fire
proof as possible An asbest0S curtain
covers the entire prOscenium opening
and extends into the fire wall ut both
sides One feature Of the iirs-proof
curtain, found only in theater3 designed
bv the architects OF this theatsr, is that
the curtain doss not rest upon tho
stage, when down, but passes through
the stage into the brick wall, u1Isr-
meath, thereby making it imponible
for the fire to pass through into the
should u frs ocjur upon
the stage and also protecting the stage
in the event Of q blaz) in thu orches-
ira pit or elsewhere.
STAGE AND DRESSING ROOMS
The stage is large enough to accom-.
modate any travelling organization in
the country. It's width is 81 feet,
depth 40 feet and height TO gir l'r'l.
so feet. A fun set OF drops and bT,3G'S
will be introduced. Magnificent scenic
settings are in readiness, and yet others
will be provided The dressing rooms
are a particularly happy feature Of tho
new rockingham, and upon them n
great deal Of care haJ been lavished
They number seventeen, are large and
located and could, in
emergency. accommodate 100 people.
All the rooms will he supplied with
speaking tubes and electric bells com
with the prOmpter
The architects Of the rockingham
make n specially Of theatrical work.
The entire building, with all It's b,au-
tiful decorations, was ulanued AMI de-
signed by them. under Mr., FrOthing-
hams contract, and ths tinting. color
ing aud painting was done under their
personal supervision The gas aud
fixtures were especially de-
signed for this house. Even the steroo
relief work was patterned after moulds
suggested by them, and is of the same
general character az that in tho new
theaters ut Ithaca. Schenectady and
elsewhere.
At the rear of tho auditorium, on the
first floor, is located a stairway, leading
10 the basement where large and
beautifully furnished room will be
equipped rs "A gentlemen's smoking
room. Near this will be toilet rooms,
layatories and the like. Tho architects
of the house are Leon II. Lompert &
Son. of Rochester, N. Y; the suporin-
tendent Of the stereo-relief work is Il.
G. Averill, of New York; Mitchell.
Vance d Co of New York prOVidpd