Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-09-05
PRETTY COLONIAL THEATRE
Ready For The Seasons Perform
ances Handsome Decora-
tions And Electrical
Effects.

Effects.
Could the shade of General Wash.
| ington step out of Room No. of old
Mann's Inn later the old City Hotel
and now the Colonial Theatre and
view the surroundings, it might be
interesting TO hear the opinion of the
Father of His Country ON the
great changes that have been wrought
| in this particularly historic building.
The old hotel has been transformed
into an up to- date playhouse and will,
doubtless win for Annapolis the fame
that was once hers along histrioniC
+! lines, when companies passed by Balti.
more to give performance in this city,
which has the honor of being the seat
of the first theatre in America.
The Colonial Theatre by recent. i'm
provements has been made "a thing
of beauty and joy forever. .
Everything is in readiness for tile
opening of the beautiful little theatre
tomorrow night at the initial perfor.
nance of the season, The Sign of the
Gross. Great changes have been
made at the local playhouse since last
season, and the painters brush and
decorators art are everywhere in evil
dence Indeed the people of Annapolis
have every reason TO be proud of the
Colonial Theatre, which is one of the
most attractive in the country. Mr.
A. @. Mayne, the decorator. finished
his work on Saturday and the touch
of the skilled artist in this line has
made wonderful improvement to the
theatre. The ceiling is painted in al
legorical design. There are wood
nymphs and water nymphs, cupids,
fairies and sprites in delicate color
ing, gauzy robes floating about amid
azure clouds. The side walls of the
theatre proper are in delicate green
and gold and the effect is very pleas
ing.
The mahogany effect is carried out
in all the woodwork, except the boxes,
which are enameled in white. The
work of painting and decorating has
been in progress since July /, and in
two months much creditable work has
been accomplished. The new entrance
to the theatre is on Conduit street
Here a new arc light has been placed
and large double doors open into a
beautiful lobby decorated in light and
dark shades of colonial, the outer
lobby being in turkey red with a
dado of orange design-a Spanish
color scheme. The box office is to the
right of the Conduit street entrance.
Each attraction will be heralded in
electric lights in front of the theatre
and the entire electrical effect will be
most pleasing. The seating capacity
of the theatre is /, 140 and every
one can see the entire performance
from any part of the house, the seats
being at an elevation both in orches-
ira entire first floor, balcony and gal
lery. The boxes, aisles and lobby
are carpeted with beautiful design
of brussels carpet of Turkish pattern.
The wood work in the boxes is enam-
eled in white and the drapery will be
rich green. the walls back of the
boxes are painted with palms and
ferns, whith pleasing effect.
The little theatre is the finest house
in the country to empty. There are
five exits from the main floor, each
marked with red light. The upper
gallery has two exits, and there are
three stairways, all safe and commo-
dious. Since last season q new exit
has been placed in the balcony, and
there is an eixt to the street from. one
of the boxes, direct In painting the
was experienced, the walls being very
old and in bad condition. The result
is remarkable. The electrical effects
are the latest improved. The back
of the stage is fitted out with up-to
date improvements. The fitting out
of the theatre this summer has not
included the stage as well. The dress
- Ill k<1 -.
water colors and carpeted with brussels
carpet and new enameled sinks have
been placed in each. There is no ques-
tion that the Colonial Theatre is one
of the incest little theatres in the
country. 1t is under the able and
efficient management of Mr.. w. A.
Hollebaugh, with Mr.. John X. Strange,
who is fully competent for the re-
sponsible position, of treasurer and
press agent. Mr.. Strange is also in
charge of the box Office. The door
keeper for the orchestra is Mr.. w.
Martin Brady, and for the gallery Mr..
Paul Holley. The ushers are Messrs.
Charles Lamb, William Blackburn,
Harry w. Wood, Tunis Strange and
Edward b. Cassidy.
Mr.. J. Boyd Dexter is stage manager
and electrician, with Mr.. James Carr
assistant. Joseph Thomas is fiyman
with a dozen other workmen on the
force. With this force and the ex-
pense of electric lighting, ETC., 1T is no
wonder that the cost for opening the
theatre at any performance is not less
than $50. The theatre is owned by a
company of which Mr.. Charles Ford,
of Baltimore, is the president. The
directors are Messrs. John p. Horsey
and Neff Thompson, of Norfolk. The
following are the plays booked for the
season, which opens tomorrow night !:
sSign of The Cross "The Ped
dler,'' "Miss Bob White, - 1.-The Mac
beth, - For Her Children's Sake, =
'sStories of The Mines" Around
The Town, T" Dolly Warden. -" Babes
In Toyland, . "Her Lord And Mas
ter, - "A Circus Day, - 1.-THE Mes
sage From Mars "Vogels Min
strels,' Sherlock Holmes, - 1.-THE
Chinese Honeymoon, Bobert Mantell,
Quincy Adams Sawyer, Chauncey OIL
ooff nawolf HoDnar ttWav Down