Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1901-11-30
A NEW OPERA HOUSE
MARTISsBUBG rs TO HAVE An UP
To DATE THEATRE.
All Arrangements Completed and work
VIII be Commenced Next Week
Fall Description Of the
Plans

Plans.
One Of the fondest hopes Of the cit
izers of Martinsburg-- the erection
of new opera house--is about 10 be
realized. The plans for an up-to-date
theater have beer completed by Mr..
A. f. Lambert, the manager of the
Central Opera House and before the
end, of the winter the theater gong
citizens of Martinsburg will have the
long desired opportunity of sitting in
a building boilt on modern plans and
with all modern conveniences.
There has been considerable talk
of late about the construction of q
new opera house, but something of
very definite nature has now been
given out. Mr.. Lambert has been
conducting negotiations and perfect
ing plans for sometime past, but in
order TO guard against any disappoint-
ment on the part of the public, if he
tlations. he has withheld the announe-
ment Of ANYTHING definite.
| But now everything is arranged and
work viii be commenced the first of
next week. The play tonight will be
the last that will be seen before the
footliehts of the old stage. The first
of next week the work will be COM
menced and will be pushed forward
with all possible haste.
| Although the new opera house will
not be new in every sense of the word,
it Will be partially new and as up-to-
date as is seen in any city the size OF
Martinsburg in the country The
only thing that will distinguish it
from new building will be the fact
that it will not be constructed of
| brick or any like material The new
opera house will be metal both on
the interior and exterior. The old
building will be utilized as far as pos
sible in the construction OF the new.
PLANS OF THE BUILDING
To begin with. the front of the
building will be entirely remodeled.
In the center will be the entrance into
the theater, 45 feet in length and lin
ed with metal, with a store room on
each side extending back the same
distance. Over the store rooms and
entrance will be large rooom. for
dane ing and .other purposes The
store room will be for any business,
except the liquor business.
The entrance, which is to be on an
incline from the door, leads to large
foyer, l0x50 feet, and them comes the
floor on which the seats are arranged,
slanting toward the stage. On the
floor will be arranged regular opera
chairs. )mfortable and up.to-date.
There will be three aisles one through
the cener and one on each size.
The roof over the seating portion
of the building will be raised ten feet
higher, making it twenty five feet in
height, and, like the entire interior
of the theater, will be lined with the
latest designs of metal, beautifully
decorated. An octagon shaped baico-
ny will extend around the entire in
terror of the rheater. The entire
length of the building will he $50
feet and its width 90 feet. Cutting
off the store room and entrance, it
Will be 105 feet.
STAGE WILL BE FINE.
On the stage and nearby Mr.. Lam
bert will put forth his greatest efforts.
The stage will be one of the largest
ana best equipped in this section and
will be capable of accommodating
shows that visit much lager cities
than Martinsburg. The depth of the
stage including the dressing rooms,
will be 40 feet while its width will
be 20 feet. The percanium opening
will be 20x24 feet. The rigging loft
will be 43 feet, extending a few feet
above the remainder of the building.
There will be an entire set of new
scenery, which will be very elabo.
RATE. There will be a dropsin front
of the stage for the orchestra, which
will in no wav obstruct the view of
the stage. The curtain will also be
elahoate.
The seats on the entire ground
floor will be reserved and the regular
admittance fee Will entitle all tol
seats in the balcony, which will he
arranged so that good view of the
stage can be gotten from every part
of it. There will be no boxes. The
seating capacity of the house will be
about 800.
MR.. LAMBERT SOLE OWNER.
Mr.. A. f. Lambert will be the sole
proprietor and manager of the build
ing. he having bought the interests of
Thatcher brothers and Geo. D. Lam
bert He has done remarkably we'll
i