Los Angeles herald., 1906-11-09

decorations were the seven proscenium
arches. From the stage outward they
grow larger and larger and make the
building one great megaphone, carry
ing the sound to every part OF the
great edifice. The pipe organ, which
Is to be used for church services, is
concealed behind these arches, and to
let out the sound the same stucco lace
work has been used as I'm the hall ro-
settles. BY an ingenious contrivance
the hundreds Of electric lights which
outline each arch are visible only from
the stage. Hidden from the audience
they create the impression that the
arches themselves are Of some phos-
phorescent substance giving off light.
From the stage the scene was scar
cely less beautiful. The globes, which
III up the proscenium arches, were vis-
ible and the successive arches we're
more conspicuous but did not destroy
the general effect The pit rose grace
fully to meet the dress circle and the
balcony, and the rounded dome meet
ing the gallery gave the effect of
huge egg-shaped structure within ev-
cry part Of which a whisper from the
stage could be heard. SO symmetri-
cal is the great building that although
1t will accommodate 5000 people It
seems no larger than a building of
half the seating capacity. The stage
appliance known to modern stage
craft and is an object of interest.
Stage Very Large
The architectural features of the
structure appealed to the audience.
The roof is supported by huge trusses
having clear span of 112 feet and
weighing fifty tons each Another fea-
ture Is the 26-foot cantllever balcony
which stood a test of 400 pounds to the
square foot without detection. The
fact that It is a cantilever balcony
permits every one seated beneath 1t to
have an unobstructed view of the
stage, as no pillars are used
The stage Is fifty feet wide, but as
this was found to be too large for the
opera company's scenery, ten feet were
cut off.
The frame which reduces the size of
the stage has been so constructed that
when it is desirable to enlarge the
stage for conventions this can be done
without difficulty. Thirty dressing
rooms provide for the opera singers
and others for chorus girls and su-
pers.
The ventilation is another feature.
In winter warm air will be circulated
through the building by four large
ventilators above the proscenium
arches, and in the summer cold air
Will De uSeQ. In case OF nTe-anQ Ln1S
supposition is highly improbable in a
building of such fire-proof construction
the fans can be reversed and all
smoke drawn out.
Leading off from the balconies and
gallery promenades, dozens of little
committee rooms suggest the conven-
tions which are to be held In the great
amphitheater. 1t is also of interest
to know that over 100 miles of electric
wires have been used, exclusive of the
fifty more miles in the organ. Forty
miles Of pipe were used to inclose
the wires.
The final feature of the great build
ing, the 22-foot promenade foyer, was
seen to best advantage between acts
This communicates with the main
foyer and reaches uninterruptedly
around the entire main auditorium.
To height of three feet 1t is frescoed
to represent oriental tapestry, and
palms and potted plants were set
along the walls. Comfortable seats
provided resting places for those who
grew weary of promenading, while
smoking rooms and rest parlors lured
treats. Checking rooms for both men
and women lead off from the prom
enade and the many conveniences pro-
vided make this part of the building
one of the most popular spots of the
entire structure. A mezzanine salon
with glass wall facing on the lobby
gave vantage point from which to
view the ever-changing crowd