The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-10-12
Special to The Globe.

Special to The Globe.
NEW YORK, Oct. 11.-One Of the
most unique playhouses in the world
is David Belasco's new theater recent
ly opened in this city.
1t was announced last spring that
he would build theater; that he
would open it in September; that there
he hoped to make his patron guests
so thoroughly comfortable that they
would share the sentiment of Eat home
ness" common with himself and Mrs.
Leslie Carter. In other words, he as
pired to build a theater that would be
unlike a theater in atmosphere, and
wholly like ones own drawing room.
David Belasco has thus fulfilled the
material parts of his promise. But
what degree of "home atmosphere"
has he built and thought into the new
structure, while the masons, carpen-
tiers and painters have been going
ahead with this ''house of David"
1t is on Forty street, just
west Of Broadway, and as you APP
proach, you observe an entrance that
adds conspicuous beauty to the old
thoroughfare. You mentally note, for
d UeSllLIlS, lIlCtI IlO lAScilSI III 4NSW
York holds open its doors with such
sense of cheer and welcome. The mas
sive iron marquis awning that reaches
out, protectingly, over the sidewalk
from the brownstone portico to the
curb, is one burst of bright lights, to
offer the first warm greeting. You
are glad to pass beneath it, through
the heavy swinging doors of wrought
iz.ny, S,1fn 1O1N1N rrr1Nx Of
say reception hail." since we are sup
posed to be at home And after all, we
find reception half certainly the fit
ter term. To be sure there is a box
office just ahead of you; but who, in
a theater, ever saw a lobby such as
this? Your eye is not attacked the
second you enter, with a string of pro-
fessional portraits, or by faring three
sheets foretelling the greatness of that
which you have come to see. Nor do
q series of garish colors and shining
brasses remind you that you are any
where but in your own house. Indeed,
the quiet, transformations charm of the
surroundings makes you doubt your
senses, and perhaps the first impulse
may be to hunt for your card case and
ask if Mrs. So-and-So is there. If not,
coy inviting reception hall of the Be-
lasco theater you will find an agreeable
resting place on the oakland Leather
settles on either end from which point
you may enjoy the oaken panels and
cornices Of antique finish and design;
the ancient iron candelabra; the fret
ted ceiling, with it's clusters of bright
lights, and the sombre portieres
through which you may enter the next
ROOM"
Scheme of the Interior.
And if Mrs. So-and-S does not hap
pen along presently, it is ten to one
that you will call that young man in
uniform and ask him to fetch you a
book. Otherwise, after leaving your
wraps with the attendant, you NAV
desire to enter the next room at once.
First you come upon the long corridor,
running the width of the structure, and
you note the massive mahogany screen
with its large opalescent discs of light.
its curtained windows and portiered
doors that protect the auditorium
from the noise and draughts of the
street.
But you linger only for a moment:
for being "at home" you may as well
enter the parlorS at once and make
yourself at ease. So you pass under
the portlereS at the center aisle and
then you stop! You are not used to
this sort of thing on entering a the
ater Then again you remember that
this is an amusement 'domicile" for
yourself, Mr.. Belasco and Mrs. Leslie
Carter, and on second thought YOU are
not surprised that the lights are sub
dued and soothing in effect; that the
colors about you are rich and quiet
and war that no one thing strikes
the eye in such a way as to hurt; that
all blend into one harmonious scheme
or decorat1on-not garish or ostenta-
t1ous, but delicately and beautifully
artistic, with richness and simplicity
that appeal to you, that seem to rest
you, and make you glad you are there.
II you seek a key to this unusual
color scheme you will find it in the
tapestried forest on the side and back
walls, running just beneath the first
balcony. These hangings, richly
wrought from original Gobelin designs.
and procured by Mr.. Belasco only aft
ed sending his decorator, Rudolph Al
len, personally to Paris, picture the
varied and changing colors of an au-
tumnal forest. The deep reds, green's,
and the golden browns which make
the October woods such a fairyland of
beauty are there, all of them, in the
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