The San Francisco call., 1899-02-26

comfortable in the extreme. They are
of deep red plush and will average
twenty inches in width. The idea of
their general size may be determined
when it IS stated that a brOad-should-
cred man, six feet tall, averages eight
cen inches across the back. The seats
will be spacious the width between
aisles sufficient TO allow passage to the
seats in perfect comfort.
The proscenium boxes will be finished
in the same general way as the palcos.
! The heavy partitions which formerly
separated these boxes have been re-
moved and there is a partition of about
two feet high dividing them. They
will be lighted with electricity and
richly but plainly furnished and decor
ated. Wall coverings will be of red
dish color and conform to the prevail
ing tint of the decoration all. over the
interior, which favors terra Gotta red
and Verges to lighter tint of this color
scheme. It has been the experience in
decorating all unusually large interiors
that a shade of red is at once the most
satisfying and the most cheerful, and
that the warmth of the atmosphere so
particularly lacking in some big audi
toriums is best obtained in combining
the red coIors. There will be over 1900
seats upon the orchestra and dress cir
Gle floors, and there will be about 160
chairs in palco and prosceGium. The
family circle and the gallery will be
arranged to best suit the convenience
of the patrons of those sections of the
house, and a regular reserved seat plan
has been prepared for the family cir
Gle. The view of the stage from these
parts of the theater will be just as
sweeping as it is from any of the lower
floors.
The lobbies, reception rooms and
other special apartments of the opera
bOnSo have undergone tranSfOTma-
ton. The decorators have been devot-
ing their special efforts to the painting
of suitable designs upon these parts
of the theater. There will be an en-
tirely new drop curtain, now being
painted by a well-knOwn artist, and the
ceilings of the lobbies, and especially
those in the centrs court. have been
covered with paintings.
The system of electric lighting now
being installed will be as complete as
skill and material can make it. 1t is
estimated that almost five thousand
electric lights can be put into service
before and behind the footlights, and
the effect will be one of surprising bril-
liancy. Behind the stage is being built
one Of the largest electric switch
boards ever constructed for theatrical
purposes and will be able to respond to
the heaviest demands upon it's lighting
capacity. For the first time in it's
theatrical history San Francisco will
possess a great stage perfectly
equipped with all the advantages of an
electric lighting plant of practically
limitlesS capacity.
The theater and the season seem most
propitiOus for the triumph of the COM
ing operate performances. The history
of great seasons in this city shows that
the biggest attractions have come to
San Francisco in the early spring.
Patti, Gerster, Bernhard, Irving, Pade-
rewski. Booth-all of them; so that the
visit of the Ellis Company and it's bril-
timed.
Unless all signs are misleading the
courage of Mr.. Ellis in bringing a COM
pany of such proportions to the Pacific