The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-26
SHOW HOUSE
Topeka Will Have One After
Monday Night.
The Grand viii Then Be Re
opened to Public.
AN EVENTFUL HISTORY
Opera House Was Built by Local
Subscriptions.
Has One Of the Largest Stages
in West.
AN EVENTFUL HISTORY

I'VE have put $4,000 worth Of inn
provements into the Grand Opera
house. There is a long list of good
bookings ready. The theatre is now in
the best of shape. There are plenty
Of exits-the structure is absolutely
safe. That is what the State Journal
has been demanding and it ought to
be satisfied. It has what it wants. -
Statement made by Roy Crawford, the
Topeka manager Of the Crawford the
aires
For a period of fully four years the
State Journal has been necessarily de-
handing safety for Topeka theatre
patronage. The Crawford on Kansas
avenue has long been recognized as a
hre-trap. The State Journal has de-
clared so time and again, and has
pounded away at the theatre trust for
the opening of the Grand Opera house
"a place in which a person might go
to sleep il the house were in flames and
stin escape unframed. This last re-
mark was made by James L. King, now
state librarian, for a number of years
receiver-1nanage of the theatre.
When the Grand Opera house form
ally opens its doors on Monday night
Tor q production of 1.-THE Girl from
kays," the patrons will ind eighteen
good exits IL they should need them.
There are four ways for people to get
out OF the gallery, two down siX-fOot
stairways to the next floor below, and
two directly out or the north and south
sides Of the building, from which wide
stairs are built to the ground. The
balcony has six exits, four down inside
statrWays to the main floor, and two
out through the walls of the building,
from which there are again stairs lead
ing to the ground. The lower floor
has five big exits, three out directly to
Jackson street, and one out of each
side Of the building. Then there are
three more on the lower floor, one
out OF the back OF the stage. and one
out Of each lower stage box. The
chances Of accident in case of a fire
panic are eliminated to almost the
smallest possible extent. The house
could be emptied entirely within a very
few minutes. big asbestos curtain
divides the stage from the house prop
er which can be used in case OF IRE
breaking out in the wings. Topeka
theatre patrons can go to the Grand
and feel safe-a new feeling to the
public especially OF late years.
Another thing-and Old-timers will
view 1t with genuine pleasure-yOu can
go TO the Grand hereafter without
freezing to death. Many and many
a. time has the frigid atmosphere in the
Grand absolutely made it impossible to
enjoy the performances. A new boiler.
an entire new set Of steam fittings.
ana greatly increased amount Of
radiation has been installed. The
plumbers doing the work guarantee
that the new arrangement viii keep
the place warm
Twelve brand-new dressing rooms
good coy boxes they are, too-have
been built at the back of the stage. in
addition to a property room, the cleo
frician's quarters, and the stage-car-
penter's tool-room. Afterwhile two
more dressing rooms viii be built un-
derneath the stage. ma king fourteen
in all There are very few houses
which have more than six or eight
dressing rooms, in fact not one i'm a
hundred.
The stage with this arrangement win
De 90 fest wide and 81 feet deep. and