Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1909-02-20
slxty.hye.
"J.ast cali for the theater carr,

'Tast cali for the theater carr
If scheme, new to the United
States, now under way goes through.
| this win be cry heard In railway
stations at no distant day. Chismore
II. Packard Of New York city IS the
man with the idea. He proposes to
| furnish vaudeville while the train is
whirling along. Packard has taken
| out half dozen patents covering va
rious phases or his scheme.
He has thought out way to con-
vert the dining car into the theater
He may also build new cars A COM
pany Is being organized to take up the
project, which will require about $780,,
900 to start
THE idea came TO me long ago that
people who travel are wholly lacking
D real entertainment" said Packard.
| don't claim that particular idea was
original. ] guess every enc who has
done any travelling has thought the
same thing Reading Is all right. Of
course, but people get tired of that.
They tire OF watching the scenery.
Iney TIRE OF Idiklug,
"The more | thought about it the
more | became Convinced that there
ought to be some way of getting
around the matter. Build theater
car, ] said to myself. | have spent
lots OF sleepless nights pondering over
it and recently hit upon what I con
slider practical scheme.
MY idea Is to build car patterned
along the general lines of the dining
car The kitchen will be the same.
All the room given to the kitchen Is
needed My plan takes in the rest of
the car ! propose to build floors that
will rise in sections above the regular
flooring of the car when they are
needed. They will be regulated by
machinery and when not elevated VIII
lie close to the bottom flooring. 80
there will be level stretch.
"The portions of the floor to be raised
will be in three divisions, one rising
higher than the one before it. That.
Won see. will make three distinct tiers.
and give everybody chance to see the
stage When | say stage | mean JUST
little platform not over foot and
half from the floor and only wide.
enough for two performers. Our the
atrical productions will never take in.
more than two performers.
THE regular seats used in the din
ing ear will be used for the theater-
seats. The tables will be constructed.
so they may be converted into seats by
turning a lever. Thus sixty-five per-
sons may be seated. 1t will cost about
$50, 600 to build the sort of car have
in mind. l think the railroad people
will take to the idea because l will not
charge them anything to use the car
for dining purposes / will supply the
walters. and they viii act as ushers,
ticket takers and property men for the
theater
1T will be my aim to have only weib
known performers appear. a perform
err finishing an engagement in New
| York, we will say, is to go to Chicago.
| there TO ill an engagement, l Will
| book him or her to appear in my thea
| ter car on the trip. | will pay just
a little for the one days appearance or
perhaps merely furnish the actors
| transportation.
| "Wen known actors are always go
! ing and coming There win be a
change of bill each day. Besides these
performers. there viii be moving pic
/ lures. expect to have at least two
performers and then the pictures. l
will have a photograph on hand for
| talking pictures"