The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
AT THE ACAD ENVY.

Alr.,lt as intricate piece Of stage mech
ailisn rs has over been devised III order
10 pre- duce light effects o., the stage. is
the switchboard used III Kelley & Sham
mons production Of sherlock Holmes
Ths electrical arrangement is enclosed
In n large oak box, five and one half
feet high by two feet. seven inches wide.
and weighs $50 pounds. There are thirty
one switches. to which are attached sos
feet Of copper cable. This cable Is com
posed of series Of strands OF wire.
which, IL placed end to end, would ex
tend over five miles. Three hundred and
twelve thirty-two candle power ard for
ty.elght sixteen candle power incandes-
cent lamps are used. together with Two
arc lights of 5000 candle power Intensity.
in order to create the wonderful light
effects which have astounded theatre
Eoe.s of two continents
4 secret composition known ONLY to
the maker, enters into their construe
ton. In order to illustrate how per.
feet they are. n light can b. trimmed
down so imperceptably that the onooker
does not notice each graduation and only
realizes the fact that the ligls are
ti,,,ned by the general result a woi,-
derful evolution, indeed, from the rush
lights ana candles used in the days Of
Shakes enre. Cibber, Garrick and others
OF ..Ye Olde Time Drama to clectrlctty's
hanIiwork IL the Gillette Doyle drama
Sherlock Holmes"
Herbert Kelley and Effie Shannon and
sircng company. at the Academy, VII
present this theatrical success of the
decade, this afternoon and tonight
Rose Coghlan.
Miss Rose Coghlan and n specially Sc
I.cted company will appear at the Acade-
my Saturday, matinee and night, in''.The
Greatest Thing III the World. ~ II is
the story Of 9! woman In fashionable So
clcty battling against the hereditary
;aint OF drunkenness as it develops IN
the eldest Of her sons. The dramatists
have made the battle well conducted, and
the episodes logical. The theme Is treat
ed with a method of quiet analysis, and
great emotional opportunities are al
forded Miss Coghlan, which are taken
advantage OF with singleness OF pur-
nose that makes the work OF TINS pow
erful actress thing for younger and
less talented stars to strive for, Win NJ
their might. In one act. the third, there
is a tremendous situation when Miss
Cogh)an. who Is at her best as the
hnrassed anG despairing mother calls
uro, the sorry figure of hers5sonf IN
one long impassioned speech TO assert
himself, 30 repay her years OF prayer
anI care-to be. In short. man. MISS
Coghlan wears four stunning COSTUMES
of the richest fabrics in this play, with
an cage, grace and Inconsistencies that
stamp her as a past mistress Of the art
81 acting and the equally difficult art
Of wearing dresses artistically.
Vaudeville Bill.
The Ross and Fenton vaudeville bill at
the Ejou Theatre is delighting apprecia-
tive audiences at each performance There
we're two performances yesterday. both
OF which delighted the pla.y-gohrs. Ihere
will re last matinee Tomorrow, with
performances tonight and tomorrow
hight
Double Bill Next Week.
Next week Manager Mckee will present
double bll-giving two plays during the
week. Beginning Monday and eonelud--
Ing Wednesday night, THE Great white
diamond" melodrama, which Is SAID
10 he one Of the most thrilling and eX-
citing. will be the attraction, -,
Beginning Thursday, "Iearts Adrlit,
a play which has been presented great
many times in other cities, will come Tor
Inc last three days of the week. Ihls,