The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-11
A BLAZE OF LIGHT
NEW THEATRE WILL BE WE'LL
 LIGHTED.
fn Beauty of Finish and Convenience, ssThe Grand Will Compare Favor
 aby with Any Playhouse in Haf the Soufh.

Montgomery's new theatre. ''The Grand" will be a blaze of light on Thursday evening when 1t is formally opened to the public with presenta- tion of "Divorcens" by Miss Grace George, over 2.000 incandescent lamps being turned on to bring out all the brilliancy of the interior finish of the playhouse.
 Although the decorators have not yet put on the finishing touches god idea of the full effect of the decorations and finish of the house can now be obtained. In point of beauty of finish and convenience of arrangement. the house will compare favorably with any in the South and will have the most perfectly equipped stage south of Washington.
 The decoration scheme is in green. gold and ivory. The proscenium arch, the boxes, balcony and gallery will be finished with decorative art plaster, tnlafd with mosaic art glass which will give a brilliant effect when the lights are turned on. The sounding board will be particularly handsome, being covered with artists canvas, with copy of the famous painting. ssThe Echo" upon it, The frescoing all over the house is done by artists di- rect from New York and is exceeding 1y elaborate.
 The box. orchestra and balcony rails will be handsomely upholstered in plush, and mounted with brass ral- ings of high polish. The lighting scheme is cleverly devised, 2.200 in- candescent lights being used. The main ceiling lights will be 40-lamp chandeliers with handsome brass trimmings, while there will be con- SeaIed lights In the lobby.
 The ventilating scheme is also mod ern in arrangement. Each of the bal comics will be provided with metal ventilators and the Auditorium will have a ventilator opening of five feet in diameter connected with an electric suction fan to draw off the foul air.
 There are nineteen exits to the build ing. and it Is estimated by careful com putation that the house can be emptied when filled to &s capacity, in three minutes. The capacity is about 1,700 persons, and che fact that so many peo- pie can find their way out of the house In tbree minutes, in case of emergency, fs unusual All of the exits leading ko fire escapes are marked with illu- minated signs wlh the word Exit" Eh0wing In red letters.
 The seats in the auditorium will be upholstered in plush. There will not be a seat in she house that does not afford uninterrupted view of the stage There will be two aisles down to the ieSt and right, and ail of the seats will face directly front Every seat in both balconies win also afford a perfect view of the stage.
 The front of the building and the lobby are temporary. The main lobby will be finished in oak with mosaic tiifng on the floor. Marble stairs lead ing from both sides of the lobby to the gallery and marble base boards VIII lend a handsome appearance to the en- trance. On either side of the lobby there will be ladies' rooms, finished in the most up to date manner, and having direct connection with the foyer and auditortum The lobby is lighted with invisible lights, several hundred of which are concealed behind the cor nfceg In addition to the lobby the en- tire foyer floor will be covered with mosaic tile.
 AIl radiators for heating the build ing will be set in metal pockets re- cessed in the wall. and an even tenn perature is always assured by the per- feet system of heating that has been installed. The boiler room will be un- derneath the stage.
 The stage has received the most care ful attention of Architect Okle, and is guaranteed to accommodate any show in America, including the heavy Ben IIur and Prince of India shows The stage measures forty-one feet six inches from the footlights to the back wall and seventy-one| feet clear in width. It has height or isiXty-one feet to the rigging loft and the pros- cenfumN opening is standard size of thirty-hNe feet wide and twenty eight feet high.
 The dressing rooms, scene duct and property rooms are located in a sep arate building from the stage. giving a total floor space for the stage and adiuncts of 5000 feet. Each dressing room is provided with robe and make .,v. ahalves All of these rooms cell ing. floor, walls and stairway are GOV cred with stamped metal to prevent fire.