The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-11-03
HOlOllll'S Family Play House is
Being Blilt.
WILL SEAT AUDIENCE OF 1000
To Be Opened About Dec. l-Enter-
prise of c. s. Desky-Leased
to T. V. King.

The fertile brain of Chas 5. De$ky
has conceived a new scheme. Like
most of Mr.. Desky's schemes il is a
good one. 1t is a scheme which will
accomplish a double purpose. II will
fill, to use a hackneyed phrase, "a long
felt want" 1t Will also fill the purses
of those financially interested. Finally
it will provide rational evening en-
tertainment, at a trifiing cost, 10 4
large portion of this community. and
it will add to the attraction of the
Hawaiian capital.
Honolulu is to have a theatrical
pavilion, TO be known as the Or
pheum." 1t will be situated in the
very heart of the city, within stone
throw from three of its principal
thoroughfares, and yet snugly ensconc-
ed behind their frontages and embow-
cred amid shade trees and strawberries.
Just opposite the Chinese Congrega-
tional Church on Fort Street little
above the Central Fire Station is a
lane, twelve feet in width, flanked, on
the mauka side, by the new Myrtle
Rooming House and. on the makai side
by the Sutherland premises. BY iol
lowing up this lane some fift. odd
feet, there will be found at present a
vacant plot of land, the property of
Bruce Waring & Co. This is the site
chosen for the Orpheum and it must
me admitted that it would be hard TO
beat in point of location or accessi-
bility.
The structure will be wooden one.
It's erection has already been commenc-
ed ana it will be finished before the
expiration of the present month. 1t
will be of a simple design, comfort
rather than appearance, being the aim
of the projectors. Due consideration
will be given the climatic conditions
prevailing here, and the ventilation
will be of such amplitude as to in
sure GOODNESS and airiness for the
patrons. Accommodation will be pro
vided for 1000 persons. There will be
several rows of chairs in front and be-
hind these the seats will be arranged
in amphitheater style. The stage open
ing will be 33 feet wide and II feet in
height. Illumination throughout will
be by electric lights, and the means of
exit so numerous that the audience
can Yacate the pavilion in one minute
and a half At the Fort street entrance
there will be an archway lit up by
two arc lights. The Fort. Beretania
and Nuuanu street tram cars all pass
by or within few steps of the
pavilion.
The enterprising proprietor has al
ready leased the "Orpheum' for
period of two years. The lessee who,
by the way, has plenty of backing of
capitalists, proposes to give variety,
musical and dramatic shows all the
year round for a very small admission
fee, the exact figure of which has not
as yet been fixed definitely. The large
attendance night upon night at the
Kickapoos during a long run has con-
vinced the "Orpheum" managers of the
feasibility of the plan and that it will
meet with success.
Mr.. Desky who knows the popular
feeling in Honolulu to a nicely. has
been wise in his generation. In other
words. in embarking upon this enter
prise he has taken good care to up
hold the high reputation which this
community has hitherto enjoyed and
for this reason he has had a special
clause inserted in the lease to the effect
that the same is granted only upon
the distinct condition that the per-
fOrmances be of a strictly clean and
moral character. Any tendency TO in
troduce the coarse and Objectionable
features Of some of the cheap theaters
abroad viii meet with stern rebuke
and immediate cancellation Of con-
tracts Of players. The prudish. there
fore, viii have nothing to complain Of.
II is confidently expected. that the pub
&c Of Honolulu will accord this new
undertaking a liberal and lasting pat