The evening world., 1903-10-14
THE NEW EMPIRE
THEATRE OPEN.
1t Is One of the Most Beautiful
PIayhouses in the World, and
Charles Frohman May Well
Be Proud of 1t.

Charles Frohman has every reason
to be proud OF the playhouse beautiful
which he opened to the public last
night. His New Empire Theatre-new
In every sense except ms to the stone
walls-is certainly an enchanting Gre
alton Gold and red II IRA are the
dominant colors In Its decorative
scheme. which Is of the Louis XIV.
period, INC artistic panellings. shining
pillars md brilliant light clusters unite
with graceful lines to mae a combination
that daZzles the eye n uffuse the
other senses with its opulent splendors,
From the door-sill at the Broadway
entrance clear through to M back OF
the stage everything Is new and every
thing liz marvellously beautiful. The
entrance Is in Caen stone, the spacious
lobby Is In white marble: the foyer,
where the auditorium decorations be-
gin with soft brocaded reds and slender
gold. to gradually swell into the be-
~wtldering n lavish aureous embelish-
ment OF the stage-boxes and pro-
soenium, Is separated from the lobby by
two massive golden pillars and a balns-
trade balcony Of gold. Large art pieces,
displaying a~llegorical scenes and over
1owing with graceful female ngures.
are set under and in the calling OF the
lobby, and In the ceiling of the theatre
itself, as well MS in the proscenium arch.
These mural paintings are the work oil
the famous artist William De il.
Dodge.
Everything in the house narmonizes,
and all phases OF the work indicate that
Charles Frohman has spent we'll the
300, 900 which the New Empire Is said
to have cost him. The draperies and
curtains are IN tones or red relieved
by gold embroideries, and the chair
are OF red with tapestry subjects. Inc
chairs nave round backs, and are
the fret OF their kind ever used IN a
playhouse. II there is u more beautiful
theatre in any part OF the world 1t Is
yet to be heard from; indeed. It may
most beautiful playhouse in existence
anywhere at the present time.
Mr.. Frohman opened the new house
with John Drew, who was the hrst o.
his engagements of the past ten yeart
at the Empire, and he was to nave
! opened It in September. but the laboi
troubles made 4 Impossible to inanSu'
| Idlt lllt w" H<hApt'N So
AS II was, the workmen were busy In
ali parts OF the theatre until about {
half hour before the doors were opened
Ali was in readiness, however, at $50
and the curtain went up on 'CaptalT
Dieope1 al exactly $50, only q few
minutes after the advertised time. i
was like witnessing a new play to Sc
John Drew In Captain Dleppe' ami
MS new surroundings. He had alread,
won favor for the comedy during a nv,
weeks / at the Herald Square The
. atre. but in his old home-or rather tn
new one-with the Anthony Hope TO
nance framed by the gorgeous glis
tening proscenium Of the New Empire
the performance took on Il flavor o
absolute novelty and achieved a fires
absolute novelty and achieved
fresh success. There was an on
3 tnusiastic call for Mr.. Drew at tn
/ end of the second act, when he made
a epeech thanking the audience In al
: own behalf and In that OF Mr.. FrohmaI
. who, he explained, was at that me
ment In SYRACUSE directing the final re
hearsai OF Miss Maude Adams's ne'
piece. Miss Adams. by the way. W.
follow Mr.. Drew at the New Empir
q in a few weeks, Mr.. Drew and Capital
, Dieppe," as well as the splendors I
: the new house. will meanwhile kee
|. Aha 1CnnDire crowded..