The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-02-13
The Opera House Matter.
OPCt6 110Uoo
Manager j. A. Schwerin Gives Up
the Opera House.


Messrs. j. A Schwerin l. Co, lessees of
the Opera House on Friday afternoon noti-
fed the City Council through their Attorney,
Lee + Noise, that ihev would surrender the
lease of the Opera House. 1t was agreed
after consultation that the surrender OF the
lease should tnke effect Oh April lst. The
reasons given ty the essees for their action
are that the inadequate arrangements for
heating the building have caused them
heavy losses during Tie present season, and
that the losses will coniiuu- as long as the
present arrangements continue. They estl-
mate that the loss on Thursday night was
not less than $3.50 and probably more,
hence it would be an injustice 10 themselves
TO continue a contract tnat caused Them TO
be subjected to such heavy losses.
The question of heating the Opera House
has been more discussed than even the cold
weather, and this is not 10 be wondered at
when the experience Of Thursday night is con-
sidered. There is no doubt about the present
arrangement being failure as far as heating
the Opera House is concerned, for there was
scarcely anv perceptible difference in the
temperature outside and icy atmosphere with
in. Manager Schwer,n says that be tarted
the fires in the furnaces a, o '>~'t rsday
morning and kept them going Ay and
until the play Was over. and that il ls stterly
impossible 10 heat the building so as 10 rem
der it comfortable with the present furnace
and the present arrangement of the building.
The arrangement Of the entrance 10 the
Opera House is such that there is no means
to keep out draft from the front, which
sweeps across the house and stage. This
is more percep,ihle and more uncom for,ahle
when the curtain is raised ihan at any other
time The open front also permits the hest
within to escape almost as rapidly as it 10
generated.
1t is absolutely necessary, il the Opera
House is TO be used as place of amusement
and entertainment, en- that some measures he
taken TO make it comfortable. If other heat
ing apparatus is needed, il should be sup
piled it the front entrance ls responsible, as
some claim. something should te done TO re-
medy the defeat The public will not submit
to being frozen, even TO have the pleasure of
witnessing the very best plays.
The City Council, Architect Turner and
Contractor McKeiver made thorough in
speciion of the Opera House Friday after
nooa, and then had full discussion of the
whole matter
Architect Turner said the heater now in
use is not large enough tc heat the building,
and tha. even with a larger heater, it
would be necessary TO keep the fires running
for twentv-:our hours before performance 10
order to have the building comfortable.
Contractor McKelver said that be had OBJ
tanned the advice Of au expert from Winning
ton, n. c., before putting in The heater, aod
that he was assured that the No 3 heater
now in use would furnish sufficient heat to
make the house thoroughly omfortable He
offered 10 take out the heater and put in a
No. heater the largest made. This will be
done at once.
1t was decided also, that the open transom
above the entrance shall be closed with glass,
and the doors at the entrance shall be made
closer to keep out the drafts that now sweep
across the house and make it so exceedingly
uncomfortable.
Council will use every e1ertion TO have the
defects in the building remedied and have it
made comfortable. Ii will be difficult mat
ter 10 accomplish this, however. as the design
of the building seems to preclude the possi-
bility of comfort during cold weather unless
steam radiators should be put up in various
parts of the building to distribute the heat.
To pu, in steam heaters would require large
expenditure of money and considerable time.
Ii is estimated that not less than l,500
would be needed, which is more than the city
can afford. This idea may not be correct.
however, and when the new and larger heater
has been put IN it may be found that ii will
work satisfactorily 1t is TO be hoped that
the new heater will be success, for tpe city
has already expended q great deal of money
building and equipping the Opera House, and
i: would be great disappointment to the
public 10 have building unavailable on ac-
count OF so tri1ng defect