Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-28
LAFAYETTE SQUARE OPERA HOUSE.

Last week I had to read the riot act to
some OF the workmen, but we are all right
now. and the publcswill be satisfied, think,
when we open the doors Monday night with
Miss Lillian Russell in her latest operate
succes2, 'TZigane'
The new building has a frontage of near
ly seventy feet with depth of lag feet,
with public alleys On three sides, thus
afording ample exits. The ground con-
tains about 10000 square feet. Madison
place is ninety feet wide. including a thir-
ty-hve-foot pavement and parking. The
building is six stories in height, with a
roof garden.
The style of the exterior is of the classic
Grecian order. 1t is built of gray polished
granite to the portico, above the first
story, and buff brick ornamented with
bun terra Gotta constitutes the remainder
of the front elevation. The columns Of
the colonnade In front of the first story are
of polished granite. Located in the base
ment of the building will be Turkish baths,
the floor and walls being laid in thing and
white marble: and in addition a barber
shop and toilet rooms. The structure IS
hghted throughout by electricity and heat
cd by steam, the dynamos and engines to
be located under the rear alley and sepa-
rated from the main building by a fire.
proof wall.
The main entrance to the theater is thir-
ty-six feet wide and only couple of steps
up from the sidewalk, and opening into a
lobby which is finished in mahogany and
floored in mosaicS from which two broad
marble staircases lead to the upper floors.
The office of the theater Is in the north
west corner of the building. In the south
west corner are the elevators. The house
mas seating capacity of 1880. In the
auditorium the foyer Is not rallied off, but
marked by statues and ornamental vases
me main floor, which is laid in thing rises
IN five tiers, and is constructed on the can
tllever plan, so that there are only two
supporting columns on the main floor and
three In the balconies. None of these in
terfere with view of the stage from any
seat in the house. as they are set in the
rear or the last row. The chairs are of
IRON, with leather seats and backs of ma
hogany. and are fastened to q wooden strip
embedded III the floor for that purpose
There Is no center aisle, means of egress
being furnished by two side aisles sIoping
directly to the stage.
Above the auditorium is a mezzan,na
noor. divided into thirty stalls, seating from
-FOUR to eight persons each. There are six
teen proscenium boxes, eight on either side.
aTJoning reception room and promenade.
me crnamentation Of the fronts of the bal
COMES Is composed of artistic wrought steel,
as are also the doors throughout the build
ing. new feature is the ceiling, which
slopes down to the top Of the proscenium
arch. thus forming an immense sounding
BOARD Ipe ceilings of the proscenium boxes
aiso rise In series of curved sound boards.
wnich greatly increase the acoustic prop
critics Of the house. The latest improved
system of ventila ton is used
The stage, like the other parts of the
building, Is also constructed of fireproof
mate and equipped with the latest fire.
proof scenery. A rigging loft, sixty-five feet
above the stage floor, is erected, from which
all the scenery and drops will be operated
beheath this loft is a narrow gallery on
eltner side Of which are the steel ropes and
puiieys used in securing the scenery work
from the stage floor. A handsomely painted
asbestos curtain is raised and lowered nv
an electrical arrangement connected with
the rack of the musical director
90 10 f,,1;
attendance Monday night, and the new
opera house will open under very fayorable
auspices, even though 1t may take some
NIUE time yet before all the finishing
touches are put on.