Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-04-15
FINE OPERA HOUSE.
Capital Of Mexico to Have the
Finest Building Of the
Kind in World.
GREAT NATIONAL RESTITUTION
Government Is Furnishing $6,0oo,000
to Build It-Grand Ball Room
One of the Features.

"Mexico is to have the finest opera
600 and will be magnificent architec-
turally. as to it's furnishings and in ey
cry other way
This was the statement recently made
by Will j. Davis, manager of the Hi
nois theater who had just returned
from tour of the. land Of Diaz, says
the Chicago Post. He was the guest
of Arthur Stillwell. president of the
Kansas City, Mexico and Orient rail-
way, and of General Manager Dickin-
son of the same line. Nearly three
weeks were occupied in inspecting the
new railway and visiting the most
important cities and towns on the
route, including stop of several days
In Mexico City.
THE opera house, which is well I'M
der way" continued Mr.. Davis, is a
| national affair. the Mexican govern
ment furnishing the money for the
| purpose. 1t will stand in the center of
q square. facing one of the most beau
tiful plazas in the city. The building
| will be 300 feet wide and $50 feet
i
deep.
/ THE architect is Adamo Boari. He is
| an Italian and was for some time asso-
/ ciated with Burnham & Root of Chi
/ cago when that firm was planning and
i superintending the erection of the
Il Worlds fair buildings in Chicago.
/ Mr. Boari showed me all of his plans
and models and then escorted me
through such parts Of the structure as
1t was possible to inspect.
I'm his working rooms he has two
complete models of the building and
grounds made in plaster of paris. and
he also has a plaster of paris model of
one-half of the opera house, with little
plaster figures of men and women
occupying every seat, giving an idea as
to sight lines and appearance of the
auditorium when filled.
Another model, made of hard wood
represents the other side of the build
Ing, auditorium and stage, also looking
toward the proScenium, which Is OF
magnificent design and capable Of the
highest order of ornamentation. Model.
of the decorations, both in design anG
color, We're shown to me, and they are
Every beautiful
Inclines to the Modern.
"Mr Boari told me that, while hi
was deferring in many respects to tn
wishes of the people in Mexico City
who are mostly in favor of European
models in architectural art, he was in
clined himself to subscribe to the mod
ern style in theatrical building as illus
trated in Leading American theaters.
when tell you that, notwitbstand
ing the great size of the house. he ha
planned for something like 1000 seat
only, you will understand that he
largely complying with modern idea
which are designed to bring an audi
ence as close to the stage as possible.
although the stage will be one o
the largest in the world, the proscen
um opening~will be only forty-two fee
square. Thus 1T will be possible
stage light operas and even comedy a
we'll as the most pretentious produt
tons.
1.-THE auditorium proper consists of
parquet floor which Is truly America
In its proportions. The circles ar
patterned more after the Europea
style and consist first of mezzanin
floor, which is composed of boxes alt,
gether, the presidents being directl
in the center and much larger than til
others. There will be a capacious L