The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1900-03-13
THE NEW OPERA HOUSE
Chsmsksta Lodge Will Probably Build
on High Street.
Theatre to Seat One Thousand People
Manager coFdray Says Il
Wo3ld Pay.

: Salem will have a new opera house
At least, the indications all point 10 tn
understanding Of the enterprise b
Chemeketa Lodge No. ], I. o. o. F.
The Odd Fellows have bad this il
contemplation for some time. Tn
lodge appointed committee to bay'
plans aud estimates prepared, consisting
Of J. w. Young, A. N. Moores and Til
man Ford.
The first plans received involved al
expenditure Of about, $4,000, but thi
was more than the lodge cared TO invest
Pugh & Gray architects, have now
completed plans for q building to cos'
s25, 600 10 10000. It is understood
that the committee will report fayorably
on the matter at the regular meeting oi
the lodge Wednesday night. II Is also
understood that dnal vote will then be
taken the members having been noti'
fed 10 be present for that purpose.
There is little doubt that the plans will
be adopted and the building will be put
up in the near future.
The site will be the corner Of High and
Court streets, where the Fashion stables
formerly stood, and the building will
face High street and the courthouse.
The plans in the Office Of Pugh & Gray
show that the building will be hand
some one and an ornament 10 the town,
well calculated 10 stand In proximity to
the city hail. the courthouse and the new
posto6ice.
The plans contemplate building Of
brick and stone construction. 80 by no
feet, the 80 foot frontage being on High
street. The total heighth 10 the top Of
the tower will be 100 feet.
There will be three store rooms on the
ground floor; a drug store 22 by so feet
on the corner; confectionery % by 80
on Court street, and an office 20 by "a
on Court street.
The theater will be on the ground
floor, and the main entrance will be
wide and roomy. On the right will be
the box Office, and on the left the stairs
and elevator will lead TO the second aud
third stories.
There will be but one entrance 10 the
theater and the stairs 10 the balcony
will be inside at the left Of this en-
trance.
The audience room OF the theatre will
be 90 feet square, aud the seating cap
acily, including wide balcony, will bo
1000 or more. There will be boxes. The
proscenium opening will be 30 feet wide
and 20 feet high. The stage will he 40
feet deep and 90 feet wide, aud will oc-
cupy the heighth Of the building
The second story, outside Of the thea.
tire, will contain four fine office rooms
and a large library room.
The third floor will be- fitted up for
the lodge. There will be lodge room
i4x00 feet, n banquet hall 34xl2 feet
with kitchen, ante rooms, cloak rooms,
rooms, retiring rooms etc.
This building will be a credit the city
and TO Chemeketa Lodge, aud will un.
ioubtedly be source Of profit TO the
latter, That tho present barnlike opera
house il not extremely profitable il no
Indication that a comfortable and prop.
'rly constructed one would not pay.
Every attraction now brought here has
laicultiea 10 contend with that would
he entirely absent In the new theatre.
People who go TO this opera house do 30 ,
Il tho expense Of much inconvenience
Ind discomfort, and the theatrical com.
,anies are prevented from showing any
Elaborate scenery by the smallness Of
he stage.
In this connection an extract from
o,ter written by Manager Cordray, Of
)ordray's theatre, Portland, will be Of
interest. lie says;
81 am very much pleased 10 learn that !
/. O. o. h. Lodge OF Salem contemplate ,
lao erection Of such building aud /
lncerely believe that IL would be a good I
Investment | should be very glad to :
i've you any information can In order
o help you In this enterprise,
"Salem, the capital Of Oregon, has
'een In bad repute from theatrical
,andpolnt for long time, This in
Measure has been attributed to a bad
pera house.
There IL no reason why city tho
lac Of Salem should not support a frst.
lass opera house, Every man woman
nd child In the town should hail with
eight building Of this kind. Not only
nr theatrical entertainment can such a
iilding bo used, but ior many other
'urposes, Such as public meetings and
ocial entertainments.
Manager Cordray also said that he
Iould be glad TO consider proposition
D lease the house Il terms could be
greed on.
Calvin nellig Of the Marquam Grand e
as also expressed a desire to lease the
cw house and put Il in with his circuit
theaters.
With the poslofiioe building the -four
'g mill and the new opera house al
nder construction, Salem will look as \
sha haN taAau Z. -. -. "a ttf.