The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-06
New System Will Add Greatly to the
Effectiveness Of Productions.
OTHER IMPORTANT ALTERATIONS.
New Carpets for The Orchestra Floor Seals
In Orchestra Handsomely Rsupho'sisrsd.
New and EIahorats Scenery.

A large force of workmen has been
busy in Keith's new theatre during the
past three weeks, the larger portion or
whom have been engaged in making ex-
tensive changes and improvements In the
electrical equipment OF the house; and IL
is likely that the work will not be COM
pleted until the day before the opening
of the house on August 20.
The removal OF the overhead wires Of
the Narragansett Electric Lighting COM
pany and their location In underground
conduits afforded an excellent opportu-
nifty to discard the alternating current.
always previously used, and 10 adopt In
it's place the direct current, which Is In
vogue IN all the large cities throughout
the country.
To a wel-equipped theatre OF the best
class this change means much more IMAM
10 the ordinary user of electricity Tor
lighting purposes, since electrical effects
have come TO play 40 important a part
I'm big theatrical productions; and, al
though the fact probably is not under
stood generally, these effects are now
much more extensively used I'm such high
class vaudeville theatres as those OF Mr..
Keith than I'm regular dramatic produc-
tions.
The fact that the direct current Is al
most exclusively I'm use I'm the big thea
tres throughout the country causes per-
formers employing electrical effects TO
carry such az are adapted for use with
the direct current: and in Providence IL
has. therefore. been necessary TO go TO
considerable trouble and expense To adapt
tho conditions to their successful use
The change now being made, therefore.
Is "A matter OF considerable significance to
the local theatres and TO none more so
..-s..
rent Is employed In many ways much
more extensively than In any other Prov
idence playhouse.
a force of about forty men, under the
direction OF Manager Harry Wright. OF
the Annex Wiring company, which is
virtually a department OF the Narragan-
sett Electric Lighting company, and in
charge OF Foreman Edward King. assist
cd valuably by Electrician Owen Reddy
or the theatre stan, is employed on the
work; and II seems likely that the force
will have 10 he increased TO fifty I'm order
10 complete the work In time for the date
announced for the opening.
Some idea OF the magnitude of the work
may be gained from the statement that
the change being made has necessitated
tho entire re-wiring of the house I'm every
portion requiring about II miles of cop
per wire, and nearly one mile OF iron pip
Ing. varying In diameter from one inch
The installation of the new system has
OF course required the removal Of consid-
cradle OF the plastering anal wood work
throughout the theatre; and this has re-
duired the employment OF additional la
borers. well AZ of the artists who
originally decorated the beautiful play
house, and whose greatest skill has been
required To exactly duplicate the original
effects and obviate any possibility OF the
appearance OF "patchincss.' Their work
has so far progressed that II is safe to
say that when completed II will be impos-
sble to detect where II has been done.
All the old form OF Edison sockets
nearly 1000 in number, have been replaced
by Ediaon flbre-lined sockets; and in the
case OF those located i'm the elaborate
rococo work IN the dome this work has
been one OF exceeding difficulty. owing to
the comparative inaccessibility OF the
sockets. although the system OF using
'bosuns' chairs employed for renewing
the lamps during the season has been
most helpful
The new direct system uses three parallel
wires, middle one of which is dead" or
grounded, instead of two, as formerly;
and the voltage is now i70, instead OF IOi.
previously employed. The three wire sys-
tenn, by it's peculiar use. is equivalent 10 a
four-wire system, the middle wire being
utilized I'm conjunction with one of the
outside wires: and the voltage is thereby
reduced from 40 TO 235, which Is that OF
the lamps used throughout the theatre.
The Increased voltage as compared with
that formerly In use. enables the employ
ment OF n much lighter copper wire: and
this OF course. materially reduced the
cost of construction.
Despite this fact il IL estimated that
the cost or the work, exclusive OF plas-
terlng carpentry and decorating, will
reach nearly 5000; and the other incident
al expenses viii run the total expense in
Cured by the change from the alternat-
ing to the direct current up TO fully $1,000
The change also involves n revolution I'm
the switch-boards on tho stage and I'm the
store-room of the theatre; and advantage
has boon taken 20 introduce several i'm
portant improvements suggested by Eec-
trician Roddy.
At the same time, all the outside arc
lights used In connection with the house
instead OF being connccted.S as formerly.
with the street circuit" will now be con-
trolled directly from the theatre switch
boards Ten A. T. Thompson dinners
have also becn Installed In connection
with the inside arc lights employed for
spot lights" thrown from various nor
tions Of tho stage and fror, the second
balcony upon special acts on the stage:
and this will enable the stage manager 10
produce electrical effects not possible
under the old system. greatly enhancing
The effectiveness OF many acts OF n spec-
tacular character and adding ma terialiy
~ that OF many things.
Mr. Edward y. Aibee tho new proprie-
tor of the house with that llberalIty
which charac'crizes his policy IN the same
measure as " does that ~ Mr. u. r
Keith has insisted from the first that
everything In connection with the work
shall he of the very best. md that only
the best materials and devices OF every
nature shos'ld no employed: and IN this
po'lcv he has had the hearty co-oneration
~ the NarrRRansctt Electric Lighting
rompanv. which has DISPLAYED the same
-p'r't ms regards such portion OF the ex-
re-se a- NAV fell uror a.
The vesuft "a that Helth'r r. rrorourced
~ nxnerts now 70 be nns 81 The most