The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-01-18
SKATING AUDITORIUM
IS NEARLY FINISHED
It VIII be HandsomeSt in the
Entire South
AMUSEMENT ENTERPRISE
Auditorium Covers an Area of 100000
Feet-lt Is Lighted by More Than
a Thousand lncandeseents.
Polo Skating.

What is regarded as the finest skating
auditorium in the south, and one possibly
not surpassed in the entire United States,
being erected at an approximate cost of
$4,000. is nearing completion at the cor
ner of Avenue F and Twenty-fourth
street, and will be formally opened on the
night of January 30
The new skating auditorium is strictly
q home amusement enterprise j. ]. As
bury, president of the Southern club, is
president of the company. and the fol-
lowing are the directors: T. c. Thomp-
son, W. P. G. Harding, e. B. Rock,
Jr., Erskine Ramsay and L. B. Ghetham,
secretary.
E. B. Rock the only director who Is
not a resident of Birmingham, promoted
the idea and with Wilson r. Brown
formulated the plans for the stock COM
pany that will control it.
A small army of workmen are rushing
the work to completion, in order that
several days before the opening may
be devoted to preparations for that oc-
cason. On the opening night skating
will commence at 8 o'clock and continue
until 10 o'clock, when a polo game will
be played between professional teams
representing Birmingham and Atlanta.
The game will last about one hour.
Elaborate preparations are being made
TO have the auditorium one of the finest
and most up-to-date amusement places
in the south. skating polo league has
been organized with the following teams:
Birmingham, Mobile, Atlanta, Montgom-
cry, Nashville. Macon, Athens and Au-
gusta.
Polo on Skates.
Polo on skates is one of the most ex-
citing games played today, and with
league of we'll matched teams the man.
agement expects to arouse much interest
in the sport in Birmingham. Profess
sional players will be brought down from
the northern cities to play the game un-
til local amateurs are sufficiently trained
to put up an interesting exhibition. A
regular schedule will be arranged be-
tween the cities.
Skilled instructors for both ladies and
gentlemen will be employed, and the rink
will be open for skating morning. after
noon and evening The skating surface is
6bx175 feet and is made of maple wood,
finished off to perfect level. Improved
ball bearing skates will be used.
The auditorium is 100x20O feet, construct
ed with arched ROOT the center of which
is fifty feet from Z lie floor. The building
has a seating capacity of $500 and as
many as 400 people. according to Man
ager whiting, could be held within the
walls Owing to the construction no
posts obstruct the view, and there Is
not a seat that does not command a
clear view of the entire floor.
A steam heating plant has been INSTALL
ed amply sufficient to keep the building
comfortably warm in winter and row
of windows at the top of the seats will
provide ventilation in summer. A stand
pipe will be installed and numerous fire
cxtinguishers placed through the build
ing to prevent the spread Of a blaze
should one start.
Brilliantly Illuminated.
Over 1000 incandesent lights have been
installed with a number of large arc
lights. The building will be decorated
throughout with several hundred palms
ane other ported plants. Flags, colored
lights and other means will be employed
In the decorating scheme.
On the night of the opening brass
band and orchestra Will be engaged TO
furnish music during the evening. The
management also intends to provide mu-
sic for every night.
A ladies' parlor will be handsomely
furnished. as will also a smoking room
for men. A large check room has been
completed, containing $50 boxes for hats,
wraps and parcels. A refreshment booth
has been installed.
Three car lines pass in front of the
building, and the Birmingham Railway,
Light and Power company has made spe-
cial arrangements for handling large
crowds.
In discussing the new rink yesterday
Manager Whiting said:
1.-THE Birmingham auditorium is I'M
doubtedly the finest in the south and can
not be surpassed in the country. The
directors recognized this citys patronage
of high class amusements, and for that
reason were determined to make the audi
forum one of the finest and handsomest
in the country"