Evening journal., 1903-07-22
IMPROVEMENTS TO
THE OPERA HOUSE
Bright and Attractive by Ar
tistic Use Of Whit, Gold
and Carmine
AMPLE PROTECTION FROM FIRE

AMPLE PROTECTION FROM FIRE
Manager 5sylis Has Large and valu-
able Collection of Autographs, Many
of the Originals Having Appeared
Here-Use and Abuse of Rooms.
Wilmington theatre goers are anxi-
ously awaiting the opening OF the
theatrical season here. This will oc.
cur on August "a and at present the
Opera House is in the hands OF the
decorator. When it is opened to the
public it will be as spic and span as
the proverbial new PIN.
The first thing which will strike one
upon entering will be the bright. cheer
full aspect of the theatre. This is due
to all the woodwork being painted
white instead of a walnut color. as
heretofore. The stage columns are
yellow and the white and gold effect
is decidedly pleasing.
The balcony rail also will come in
for a large share of admiration It is
painted white. with touches OF carr
mine, and lights up brilliantly.
There is to be a new curtain. too.
which now is nearing complexion In the
Lee Lash studios, New. York New
linoleum will be placed on the floor.
the scenery touched up and altogether
the theatre will be more attractive
than for years past.
A noticeable Improvement is the re-
moval- of the great double doors, for
which are substituted small folding
ones, which considerably enlarge the
entrance to the foyer This does away
with a great deal of annoyance. es-
pecially in leaving the theatre after
the performance.
Plenty of Fire Escapes.
Probably not every patron knows
it, but as a matter Of fact there are
ample means of escape iproHided in
case Of fire. Every lower window in
the-theatre opens difectlyhntpg alley
several feet in width. on either side OF
the building. leading out to King street.
These. with the enlarged entrance give
as good means of exit as any theatre
in the country, unless it is the GAR
rick in Philadelphia. -r
Dressing Room Repairs.
The dressing rooms also come in for
their share of improvements. Every
year they ARE newly papered and
painted and about a hundred chairs
bought to replace those broken in the
course Of a season. The thespians ap-
parently have no respect for such a
small thing as wall paper. and scratch
matches and try their grease paint ON
t at will. The rooms with walls OF
whitewash. calsomine or Just plain
boards are quite interesting. The
walls are decorated with sketches.
some done in pencil, others with grease
paint, some good, some bad. but most
ly Indifferent. and names upon names
of those, men and women, who have
used the dressing rooms. In. one place
are "a score of names of chorus girls
with the Bostonians, with the explana-
tory clause, "Of the famous originals"
In all there are nine dressing rooms.
Two of these are for the leading wo-
man and the leading man and there
also are two which are given. over to
the choruses of comic operas. Those of
the stars differ little from the others.
except that they are provided with
more lights, two mirrors and more
hooks.
To the layman the property room is
OF peculiar interest. 1t really re-
minds one of an old junk shop and
one wonders to what use some of the
things are ever put. For instance,
there are string Of tin cans. a cradle,
guns, lanterns, magic lanterns, jaw
bones Of horses, COW barns, baskets
bottles, papier mache palms. poles
lamps, fake weights. pots, kettles, har-
ness. TOOLS oars. invalid chair, spears.
boat hooks, paddles, demijohns, boxes
of all descriptions. clothes horse-in
short. all sorts and conditions Of
things.
Picture Of Celebrities.
Manager Baylis has an interesting
and valuable collection OF Autographs
of famous actors and actresses. Among
them IS a stone cut of several OF the
most notable men and women who ever
trod the boards. All had passed TO
the great beyond by the year 1876 and
of them the following appeared in the
Opera House here.
John Wallack, who opened the house
on Christmas. 1871; +. l.. Davenport
who frequently came here while run
ming the Chestnut Street Theatre, Phil
adelphia; Charlotte Cushman, in Mes
Meriles"; Edwin Forrest, who read
Hamlet; Edwin Adams who played
"Enoch Arden; Susan Denim in "Leaf
the Forsaken" Barney williams anc
the great Lucille Western
The framed picture hangs in th'
box Office and there are few Of th'
81 ba cfnnR nHNlnf
been destroyed in the big New norl
Sun fire in 1880. In the cheek room
Mr.. Baylis has collection OF ola llth"
graphs for which he has been oilere'
500. Among it are those OF helloss
Nelson, Charlotte thompson Rose
Coghlan, Lillian Russell ana Chahirau
Itchjness of the skin, horrible plague