The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-08
THE NEW PARK THEATER
FINISHING TOUCHES BEING PUT ON
THE NEW PLAY HOUsE
Will Be Opened i'm Two Weeks-Some
of the Handsome Interior Decora-
tive ETects-The Exits.

Contractors who are working on the new
Park Theater keep their men going night
and day in order to have the theater ready
for the opening attraction Aug. %, two
weeks from tomorrow. From the rapidly
with which the work has progressed re-
Gently the task may be accomplished within
the required time, but there are thousands
of things yet to be done to make a complete
play house. 1t is a standing expression in
theatrical circles that a new theater Is
never entirely completed on the opening
night, but that managers know how to go
ahead with the show without spectators
being being any the wiser.
When completed the Park Theater will
be one of the handsomest buildings in the
city. The exterior effects are not elaborate,
but impressive and artistic. The best view
of the Washington-street front elevation is
obtained from the opposite side of the
t~horoughfare. Lines indicating square tow
ers reach upward at either corner and min
arets make the crowning pieces. The effect
is somewhat after the Moorish style Of
architecture. Between the square towers
is a gabled roof, below which there is a
small balcony. Immediately beneath this
are five tall graceful arches, upheld by
columns. AT the base they are connected
by a railing of some length, behind which
there is a large balcony suitable for band
concerts. Underneath this balcony is the
main entrance, a good view of which can
not now be obtained because of s%caffolding
which obstructs the vision. The entrance is
of stone, however, with a. gable and is
perhaps the most attractive feature of the
front elevation. 1t leads into a broad cor
ridor, on each side of which Immediately
to the right and left are the ticket offices
In the rear of the corridor on each side
of the doors leading into the parQuette floor
are broad s~tairways of white marble which
ascend toward the balcony and gallery.
The floors and wainscoting of the lower
corridor are of marble. Above the corridor
on the second story is a balcony about the
three sides. OAK StairWayS lead from the
open court over the corridor to the balcony
and gallery. The gallery is reached by
separate stairways. A long corridor be-
meath the balcony leads from the east side
to a doorway on the Capitol-avenue side,
which opens out on the platform over the
Sidewalk which has remained standing since
the Old theater was destroyed. Another
door opens on the second landing Of this
platform directly from the balcony and
there are stairways at either side of the
balcony leading down to the exit. In the
gallery there is a large exit opening out
on the roofs of the buildings to the east
of the theater.
THE INTERIOR DECORATION.
$50 ~ %AO AAoAC AAS VI Tx A1llCA1 1AdS
been done and artists are now at work
decorating the ceiling in striking geometri-
cal designs in green and olive tints, en-
bellished with gold leaf. Innumerable in
candescent electric lamps are fastened
about the panels and when the building is
lighted up the effect will be unique and
striking. Although much of the decorative
effects are hidden at present by the scat
folds on which the men work, still it is
easy to see that the proscenium arch will
be striking. 1t is modelled after the cele-
brated entrance to one of the buildings at
the worlds fair. There are five receding
arches, each smaller than the one in front.
They are tinted in the same colors and
highly embellished with gold. Rows of
electric lights follow the five spans hi
scheme practicable it was necessary to do
away with upper tiers of boxes that are
always found in the old-time theaters but
what is lost in seating capacity is more
than compensated by the gain in artistic
achievement.
The stage and auditorium will be sepa-
rated by an asbestos curtain treated in the
same decorative designs and colors. Behind
it will hang the drop curtain. The artist,
Isaac Godlove, who with John Wilson
scenes on the old Park Theater curtains,
is now at work on the asbestos curtain.
Mr.. Godlove has made a sketch Of the drop
curtain. 1t promises to be very attractive.
1t will show rich draperies hanging back
from an oval panel containing a delicate
water scene.
When the asbestos curtain is down there
will be nc connection between the stage
and auditorium, as they are entirely sepa-
rated by an iron and brick wall, the brick
which plastered iron sheeting has been
used, with steel Orders. The stage will be
one of the best appointed in the country.
With the exception of small stairways near
the opposite prompt stand the three walls
are clear. The fly galleries, from which
the drops and curtains are worked, is
high enough above the stage to take in
the tallest scenery used by travelling COM
panies. A carpenter at work yesterday
said that two or three scenes could be set
on the stage. Electricians are now at work
running wires for the thousands of mean
descent lights that will be. necessary to
light the stage and auditorium and stage
carpenters are running in lines from the
rigging loft for the new drops that Mr..
Godlove has painted this summer: He has
been at work several weeks. Until the
work at the Park Theater was far enough
along he worked at the Grand Opera
House. The theater is to be equipped
work, and has been particularly successful
on some of his exterior drops, notably on
a garden and wood landscape
In the new theater the parquette is built
on the ground floor. Entering from the
street there is a slight Upward incline with
out any steps leading to the entrance doors.
cline. The stage proper is some two or
three feet lower than the street level. With
the exception Of four medium sized bust
ness rooms in the front the entire building
is occupied by the theater. The building
is to be heated with hot air blasts from
the big engine that has already been
placed. Ample arrangements are made for
ventilation and the introduction of cold air
i'm the warmer months OF the year. Espe-
cial arrangement have been made for the
comfort of theatrical companies, plenty of
dressing rooms being provided in the space
urder the stage. Ar elevator from the
sidewalk will be used for lowering baggage.
Taken as a whole the Park Theater seems
to be thoroughly equipped for the COM
fort of theater goers and player folks"
Every inch Of space has been utilized and
one can scarcely think of anything to sug-
gest that has not been done.