The San Francisco call., 1909-12-12
ARMY OF WORKERS
COMPLETE THEATER
John COrt's New Playhouse TO
Be Opened Tonight With
King DOdO"
Remarkable Speed Made in Pre-
pairing the Savoy for the
First Performance

I've mad some close finishes in get
ting theaters ready 10 open, but this
beats them all People have taken a
look in here within the last few days
and called me crazy-and worse-but
come around tomorrow night. The
doors VIII be open at 7.S0 o'clock and
mere won't be detail or a finishing
Iouch lacking
John Cort stood al O'Clock yester-
day afternoon on the plaster Uttered
nooring of what tonight is TO be the
orchestra circle Of the Savoy theater
and smiled at the skepticism of his
callers. Around him arose forest of
scafoIdfng, the wind came sweeping
through yawning holes where doors are
10 be. artisans Of 4 score Of trades Ia
bored furiously on every side, great
hare spaces OF rough. ugly plaster
loon7ed on The vast walls electric light
wires dangled in CONFUSION, the stage
was an almost impenetrable jungle of
building materials-it was all barnllke
and unfinished.
THEATFcR OPENS TONIGHT
receive its first audience tonight, with
not a single detail lacking in compile
rion and with not single square foot
Of unfinished wall or floor space hidden
under a makeshift- John Cort plaster
hespattered and confident said so at
= o'clock yesterday afternoon, and ne
said il with confidence that defled
contradiction. Even as he spoke, a
row Of orchestra chairs that had not
been there 10 minutes before spread
across the auditorium. a corner became
suddenly cleared Of trash, a door swung
shut in one Of the yawning, cavities,
permanent light fixtures covered GER
Tain dangling wires, rolls OF nnoleun
spread across bare steps of cement A
transformation was in progress such as
Cort himself never produced in any
stage spectacle.
When I came here week ago last
Thursday and met the contractors they
told me the best they could do would
be 10 have the theater ready by jan
uary 15," continued Cort. We'll, we
had TO have it open December u, and
omen il is to be. 1t was only possible
70 finish IL. however. by getting a spe-
siaI dispensstion from the building
trades council and all the unions en-
"a Sed in the work and that unusual
concession TO permit five hours extra
work Saturday afternoon was given.
Three shifts working "a hours a day
for a week have made it possible. and
at o'clock tomorrow night the last
men viii De out Of the building and it
viii be finished. The doors VIII open
At 7-50 and the curtain will go up on
king Dodo~ at 8:15."
The completion of every detail Of
work was planned 70 the minute me
plasterers were allowed until a GER
tain hour TO finish. the decorators had
another limit. the scaffolding was to
come down at o'clock this morning,
the entire lighting system was TO be
ready Tor a test At a slightly earlier
hour and the heating plant was TO be
gin operation in time TO dry out the
last taint OF damp plaster and fresh
paint.
ARMY OF MECHANICS
Seventy-eight skilled mechanics
composed the working force all day
yesterday and all last night, and viii
be on today IN fresh shifts until p.
m. There were masons, ornamental
plaster workers painters, gold leaf
decorators. steam filters, plumbers,
carpenters, fixture men. freproofers,
electricians. carpet layers, glaciers,
fheater chair men, marble workers,
tapestry hangers and others. In addf-
ffon the permanent stage crew was on
the Job. IA laborers were engaged in
cleaning out the building and at s
o'clock this morning the latter will be
replaced by 10 scrUbwomen and dust
ers.
only the smoking room. the ladies'
retiring room and the Offices Of the
building viii remain closed TO the pub
lie tonight. There the interior finish
ing has not been attempted, but the
2 auditorium and the stage itself are to
be finished TO the last tack. Even the
dressing rooms in the annex west of
The main building viii be finished, but
viii not be used for several days until
the plaster has become thoroughly
dried For q few days the actors will
be given makeshift quarters in the
scenic gallery above the permanent
dressing rooms.
The Savoy wss given it's final inspec-
tion yesterday afternoon by the fire
depa rtment authorities. The building
As class A IN every detail and will be
one Of the cosiest andllandsomest the
Rters IN the city. The seating capacity
81 about 1.50O and the first II rows of
the orchestra are to be furnifhed with
divans instead Of the single opera
chairs. The stage IS 40 feet deep by
70 feet wide and provided with one of
the finest electrical switchbosrds in
the CiIE. II viii all be done tonight