The Washington herald., 1907-08-11
NEWDRCORATIONS AT CHASE'S
Popular Vaudeville House Is Quite
Regenerated.
Interior Color Scheme Modelled After
Famous Hotel, Drawing-rOom,
and Furnishings Attractive.

Chases STAFF is anxious to reveal the
new charms which have been added to
the theater by the deft hands of decor
ators and artists during the months this
summer that the theater has been closed.
Although the formal opening does not oc-
cur until Monday August 10. the theater
will informally receive its friends at the
advance sale Of reserved seats. opening
tomorrow. when n survey OF the lobby
and drawing-room may be obtained.
During the eight seasons Of its exist
.ence Chases has exhibited as many
changes Of costume as a debutante shows
during her first summer at the seashore.
But the latest beauty bath" Of paint and
plaster, varnish and paper. will reveal
new graces Of architectural form in the
playhouse. To make a radical departure
from the artistic schemes Of seasons
gone. Chase's dispatched its chief OF the
stage and scenic department Mr.. George
T. Thompson, 10 the larger American
cities 10 investigate the works of art
painters and decorators. as exemplifed
in private and public buildings. In the
Waldorf in New York CITY. Mr..
Thompson discovered the color scheme
that appealed TO him as best adapted to
the structural form of Chase's interior.
The principal work by Mr.. Thompson
and his score Of assistants was on the
main lobby and the drawing-room OF the
theater. Here the walls CLINT with a
shade Of green, set off by classic medal
lions and plastic relief festoons, shaded
in gold. The ceiling is tinted with green
ivory, and gold, interrupted by colored
bands, and allegorical panels. bordered
by gold. with occasional stained glass
ovais. letting a soft, cathedral light filter
through the panes.
The smooth, mosaic tile floor. and the
heavily gilded photo frames Of the main
lobby, with the deep, soft Wilton carpet
in the drawing-room. contribute height
ening effect From the front wall back.
throughout the theater, there is dark
antique oak wainscoting that serves as
a relief for the light coIors of the walls
and ceilings. The sitting accommodations
IN the drawing-roOm, contribute height
and those lady patrons who tire Of shop
ping in the daytime, and drop III for
restful stay, or who wait while their es-
corts secure seats, will be loath to re-
linqUish them. Immense velvet plush di-
vans, settees, sofas. and armchairs are
placed along the walls. Chief among
them is an imported japanese chair of
bog oak that is a marvel of the carving
craft
In the ladies' drawing-room Mr..
Thompson has evolved a chamber that is
marked by deIieacy and refinement. 1t
has been lined with French paper, rich
blue in color, with ancient flower design.
and paneled most beautifully.
In the mammoth auditorium, the con-
trast with the lobby and drawing-room is
perceptible. as here ruby red. ivory. and
gold are the color themes in the treat
ment Of the towering arch, walls. and
ceilings. In this way Chase's environ
ment forms an important factor in tfs
success and its bearing, both upon the
bills on the stage and the public in front
has never been overlooked by the man
agement, Nor has sanitation been forgot
ten. for the floors under the seats have
had three coats Of germ-proof paint
deep Wilton carpet wells the tread Of
feet along the aisles. The parlors on all
three floors are most inviting. and fairly
shine from cleanliness. All the windows
ana door openings are tlled with stained
glass and the colored light they admit
softly Hluminates the interior.
On the stage the dressing-roon,s have
been elaborately treated, and the scenic
department has created four new fancy
interiors, street, and an olio. all bright
and snowy, helping to make the scenic
surroundings CHEEKY and pleasing 10 the
eye. The stage has been entirely rewired
IN accordance with the District reguIa-
tions, insuring absolute safety in all parts
OF the theater.
The great entrance arch OF Chase's has
had more light bulbs studding It's surface
and the laying Of leaf gold upon the pro-
truding points gives It an air OF richness.
For the ninth annual OCCASION in it's "a
reer. Chase's submits itself to its Wash
ington friends as worthy of the LOYALTY
that has been its portion during the
past eight seasons.