The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-05
ALL THE GOOD SHOWS
To Be Given at the era WfOrd
Instead of the Grand.
The Smaller Opera House Has
Been Entirely RemOdeIed.
It Has Now the Gandsomest Interior
of Any Opera House in Kansas
Attractions for the Month.

Many transformation scene has
been accomplished within the Crawford
Opera House during the years it has
stood as public playhouse in this city.
but none was ever more striking than
the change effected in the opera house
ltseLf within the last three weeks. 1t
mas Deen transformed from a dingy
place Of amusement into a comfortable
bright looking, up to date theater.
NO magical art or spectacular effects
were used in making the change. A 18th
century decorator and a cOntrac tOr who
knew how to carry out their plans are
responsible for the transformation.
The letter heads of the National
Amusement company announces the
theater as the New Crawford Opera
House, Topeka" and in its renovated
condition it really deserves the name
The house Will be formally opened on
the night of October IA with the presen-
tatiOn of the Milk White Flag when
all the interior work viii be completed
and it is probable that those who at
tend that night Will find it hard to real
ize that they are in the old Crawford
theater.
The entire interior of the opera house
has been changed. The stage has been
built out several feet into the auditOrI-
UNI, the seating space of the first floor
increased and the balcony and gallery
made wider. and stuccO work has tax
en- the place of wood and paper on the
front of the stage, the boxes and the
3diGolN anu SdllGIN DdlQSLEduGS- or
merry the theater seated less than LOCO;
in its present condition it will seat 300.
The two tiers of old boxes have been
completely torn away and three tiers of
new bOX0s in different arrangement
built to take their places. The front of
the stage has been constructed in
square fashion and along both sides
and at the top continuous rows of in
candescent lights have been placed. The
stucco work on the front of the stage
on the boxes and baIustrades is tinted
in rose and cream cObors with gold
trimming, and under electric light gives
a bright and pretty effect. The new
stage and box arrangement is very like
that of the Ninth Street theater in Kan
saS City.
The arrangement of seats on the first
floor has been entirely changed, and
new plush covered seats provided for
the dress circle. The old dress circle
seats have been moved back, and the
seats which formerly occupied the rear
in the parqUet. placed in the front rows
of the balcony. The interior walls have
been freshly papered in light cOlOred
paper and a new curtain supplied to
take the place Of the Return of the
PrOdigal Son"
Additional exits have been provided
by means of substantial iron stairways
at the north side of the house, and af-
ter the theater is formally opened. pat
rons OF the gallery viii leave the thea
ter by the side entrance instead of the
front As a precautiOn of safety, the
walls and floors have been strengthen
ed by iron trusses, and the front en-
trance on Kansas avenue will be put in
a first class condition. Some of the
best attractions booked this winter will
play at the Crawford theater-
The improvements will cost Mr.
Crawford several thousand dollars. L
A. Thiel of Chicago has charge of the
decorations and Mr.. A. A. Prau of St. |
Louis is the contractor.
The attractions booked for the Craw- !
ford and Grand Opera Houses in this |
city for the month of October, with /
dates. are as follows:
Crawford Opera House-The r. z. |
French company, presenting Lincoln J. |
Carriers Tornado -'Defaulter' and |
Fast Mail" October Z, s and 9.
Andrew Mack in An Irish Gentle |
man." October IL.
cinderella" under the direction of .
Mrs f B. Meredith. October u. A /
performance will also be given |
on Saturday afternoon, October Is.
Hoyt's "A Milk White Flag" October |
IA.