Los Angeles herald., 1907-01-27
THE announcement in The Herald
last week that Los Angeles is to


THE announcement in The Herald
last week that Los Angeles is to
n have another theater, big
theater, on the order of the New York
Hippodrome, to be devoted to spec
tacular and melodramatic attractions,
should not be classed with the many
mere rumors which have floated about
regarding new playhouses. This is a
fact-rather, 1t will be, inside of year.
The writer has had complete details
of this scheme for several weeks and
intimated as much on this page a
couple of months or less past.
The theater will be a Belasco &,
Mayer enterprise, and they will man
age and control it. The so-called
Panorama" lot will be used, and no
site now thought of holds as happy
possibilities for the sort of house con-
templated. 1t has ample width and
runs through to Los Angeles street. In
the same block, running north and
south, is a twenty-foot alley, but 1t
abuts on this lot and doesn't cross it.
Thus the stage can be erected between
the stub ends of this alley, and free
access can be had to it from either
side. If wished, a tally-ho and four, a
fire truck, or a full rugged locomotive,
to say nothing, of an auto, could be
driven full speed across this stage, en-
tering at one side on dead run, leaV-
ing at the other at the same rate, in
stead of making a mad dash for about
three feet and slackening up before
1t gets a good start.
Also, this stage will, with it's pc
cuilar exits, permit the Introduction of
complete sets Of scenery and of other
material impossible either to land or to
build on any other stage here. The
chance for scenic effects and environ
ment will be wonderful.
Accommodations for the patrons will
not be less complete. The entrance
from Main street will be siXty-fiVe feet
wide, and this immense corridor will
lead directly to the old Panorama
building now on the site. This, of
course, will be torn down, but the
auditorium will be in the same rela-
tive position. The seats will face east
and there will be side exits into private
passages, similar to those at the Be-
lasco, for emergencies. 1t is expected
that the house will seat 5000, and yet
It will be so arranged that the great
width of the auditorium will permit
wide rows, none as far from the stage
as is the case at the Mason, for in
stance. The prices will be fixed with
a maximum of so cents and great
popular shows will be profitable at
these rates on account of the immense
capacity.
AS nearly as may be, the house will
build its production on the lines of the
New York Hippodrome; in other words,
Il will follow no set rule, nor be de-
pendent upon any one booking agency.
1t will be enabled, by reason of its ca
pacity, to pay heavy royalties and Will
put on the biggest things going. A
very fine melodramatic stock company
will be formed and plenty of extra
people will be kept in touch. The open
ing attraction Is already engaged but
of course will not be announced for
some time; not, in fact. till the house
opens.
The exact date of the opening, nat
urally, is not set. Many things must
be considered in an enterprise like this.
Getting steel is one. Leaseholds are
another. But that 1t will be ready for
business by the late fall, If not earlier,
may be asserted with perfect assur-
ance.
That there Is room for such thea
ter, with this special line OF produc-
tions, no we'll informed Snowman
doubts, least of all such experts as
Belasco & Mayer. The Ferris success
at the Auditorium, despite all the sage
croakings of the supposedly wise, as
sures 1t. OF course, some curiosity to
see the "theater beautiful" had some-
thing to do with this, as did the fact
that religious-so-called- was
run, with its appeals to the churchly.
portion OF the general public Graves
huge productions of melodramatic
nature. And the house that supplies
them will get the business Especially
II it's site Is as ideal as this one is.
OF course the present Belasco theater