Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-12-20

latest appurtenances Tor presenting any
sort of a show, is the Christmas gift that
has been tucked into Omaha's little stock
ing.
Messrs. ]. L. Brandeis & Sons and Messrs.
Woodward & Burgess completed the deal
and signed the contracts yesterday after
noon, and the only thing that now remains
is to adopt architects plans and work will
be commenced. 1t is hoped that the the
ater will be open to the public within the
coming year.
Outlines of the Theater.
The theater will be a part of an i'm
mense building covering ground space 1872
feet on Seventeenth street by 1893 feet on
Douglas. On the Douglas street front,
where the main entrance to the theater
will be located. the building will be eight
stories in height. This section of the build
ing will be forty-six feet deep. leaving 152
feet back for the theater section. The audi
torium will be 75x1OO feet, leaving a twenty
five-foot strip on the Douglas street side
for storerooms. and thirty-two feet on the
alley end Of the lots, which has been re-
tained by Mrs. Rosewater. The tentative
plans show magnificent foyer on the Sew
enteenth street side. with ample exits into
a broad corridor, and other exits leading to
the alley and Douglas street. The stage
will be 75x52 feet in the clear, one of the
largest in the country and more than am
pie to care for the largest production ever
sent on the road. An idea of what this
means may be had from the knowledge that
the stage at the Belasco theater in New
York, where so many famous productions
were made, is but 7OxSO feet In the clear
Modern I'm Every Respect.
In the contract between Msssrs Brandeis
and Messrs. Woodward & Burgess it is
provided that the thea.er is to be modern
in every regard, and equipped with all the
latest electric lighting and mechanical ap-
pliances to be furnished in the best and
most artistic manner, and to be in all
ways thoroughly up-to-date. This is some
thing Omaha has needed. for the city is
growing fast and has become an impor-
tant point In the stage world. Kansas City
and Denver each have two first-class
| N''NNtStS eAu OAAidild ndNlDB DuL one mas
initiated against getting all the shows that
would otherwise have played here. Many big
attractions go to Denver and Kansas City
and do not come here, because the town
has had no place to put them. with the
Brandeis theater and the Boyd theater
open next season this condition of affairs
will no longer exist.
Real Estate Deal Involved.
In connection with the theater contract,
real estate transfer of some Importance
was made. Mrs. Edward Rosewater sold TO
Messrs. Brandeis 1872 feet on Douglas street
running back 100 feet at the rate OF $500 a
foot, or $66,OOO. The south or alley ends
OF the lots are retained to be used in con-
nection with the Bee building. the strip
being lOOxS feet in size, jog of thirty
| two feet being left at the west end in order
that access may be had to the stage from
the alley. On this strip will be erected the
dressing rooms and scenery store rooms for
the theater II will also afford access to
the stage for the handling of scenery and
baggage The building will be lighted and
heated from the plant of the present Bran.
deis building.
The section of the building fronting n,
Douglas street win be fitted up for off,c,
suites above the ground floor, which will
be given over to storerooms 1t is the In
tention of Messrs. Brandeis to invest no
less than 10000 in the building. wor,
Will be begun as soon as plans are de
cided on.
Important Amusement Firm.
Messrs Woodward & Burgess leave q,
Monday for Chicago, where they will con
suit with architects as to plans for tn
theater, and are Of the opinion that h,
the first Of the year they can announc
definitely what their new playhouse viii
be like in detail They have a twenty-yea
lease and contract with Messrs. Brandeis
, which insures permanency of occupancy
Much interest will be felt in this partial re
vival OF the old firm of Woodward & Bur
CESS. whcih was dissolved a little NOR
= than year and half ago. after one O
J the most successful Of careers in the sho,
business. Mr.. Burgess at that time retired
having disposed of his holdings in the com
psny. and sold out the BurwoOd theater I
Messrs Sullivan g. Considine. He has ha
several chances to re-enter the field. an
e 1t was thought at one time he would bull
a theater in Washington. but he has prs
ferred 10 remain with Omaha The preser
arrangement covers Omaha only. It wa
prospered as lessees and managers OF II
: Boyd and Creighton theaters. builders {
4 the Burwood and directors OF amusemeI
e enterprises generally. with three thestei
y in Kansas City, one in Sioux City, an
. others at Nebraska City. Sioux Falls. MAJ
!. kato and other points. making Up q mo-
important circait.