The Washington herald., 1908-05-17
BUYS THEATER SITE
II Street Property Taken by
w. T. Thomas.
WILL BUILD A BIG HOTEL
Extensive Plans for New Improve
ments on Ground Occupied by Fre-
donia Hotel, Epiphany Home, and
Old ResIdenees-NeW York and
Washington Capitalists Associated.

Washington viii have a new theatsr
and a new hotel. if present plans. formed
by w. +. Thomas, Of this city, are car
ried out as expected.
Yesterday Mr.. Thomas completed the
purchase of property on the north side
of II street, between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets, including the FIRE.
donia Hotel. the Epiphany Church Home.
two brick dwellings, and the open lot
Immediately east Of il. The whole tract
gives Mr.. Thomas a frontage Of about 10
feet on H street, by IA deep. Approx
mately $4,000 was paid for the property
The deal was c0nsummated by Edmund
K. Fox, Of the A. +. Fox Company. who
represented the owners OF the property.
and Mr.. Thomas. who represented himself
and others.
The property purchased includes the
Fredonia Hotel. 50 feet by IA; The Eplp-
hany Home. 42 by 144 feet: an unimproved
LOT owned by John Taylor Armes, . by
IA feet; the three-story house at 1913 II
street. 25 by IA feet, and a similar house
owned by Edmund K. Fox. 3 by III feet.
Plans Hotel and Theater.
Mr.. Thomas. when seen yesterday,
talked quite freely Of the general plans
in view by himself and those associated
with him in the purchase. 1t is the in
teution first to erect teR-story hotel
on the west half of the new site. This
building will be of modern design, and
viii contain about 400 rooms, which will
be furnished 10 guests at popular prices
In the basement will be a large
rathskeller the balance Of the space be-
ing utilized for various purposes in con-
nection with the hotel.
On the remainder OF the lot will be
erected a large, handsome and modern
theater, planned on the general lines of
the Hippodrome. in New York. The
theater VIII seat about 5000 persons. and
it will be devoted TO high-class vaudeville
entertainments, following the general
policy of the better class houses of that
kind throughout the country. 1t is the
intention OF the owners of the theater to
give special attention to the comfort of
those who attend 1t. To this end a bet
ter seating arrangement win be used
than IN most theateTs.
The seats will be separated a little. so
that the audience when seated will not
have quite so much the appearance of
sardlnes in a box. as is the case in many
playhouses. Then special attention Will
be paid to the comfort of the players,
better rooms and larger quarters being
given them than is the case in some of
the older theaters.
For Heat and Ventilation.
Under each chair in the theater will
open a heating pipe, carrying air that has
been clarified in a special chamber pro-
vfded for the purpose, connected with the
outer air.
In the basement Of the theater 1t has
been arranged that a large skating rink
will be installed The rink will be so
| arranged that it can be used for small
theater, and a stage viii be provided, on
which amateur shows can be played In
/ the basement of the theater will also
/ be a banquet hall suitable for clubs, So
cieties, and organizations Of moderate
/ size.
/ The two buildings viii cost. 1t is estl-
mated. about $4,000. Mr.. Thomas would
not state yesterday who was associated
| with him in tho purchase Of the property
on which 20 build the two buildings, but
said they were Washington and New
/ Y 0rk capitalists VINO HtsI CoilAuSiiSS AZ
/ the plans for the new structure.
Associated with Amusements.
Mr.. Thomas has been long associated
with amusement enterprises. having been
for several years manager for P. B.
Chase of the Avenue theater. He was
at one time manager Of the Keith Thea
ter, in Philadelphia, and had shows at
several of the exposltions, including
jamestown. lie is well acquainted with
the kind of entertainment the public
likes and what pays best in the theatri-
cal line. He has great confidence in the
plans he has formed, and he stated yes
terday that those associated with him
were equally confident of success.
Mr.. Thomas went TO New York last
night TO. complete the making out of
legal papers covering the deal for the
property described. He stated yesterday
that several architects were at work
upon sketches Of the proposed buildii .gs,
and that some one of them would be
commissioned in the near future to make
the plans and specifications.