The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1910-06-30
MCCAN TO BUILD
THEATER SOON
WILL BE CALLED 1.-THE MELBURN"
New Auditorium, with Modern Stage,
Adapted TO Many Uses, Will
Seat 1000 Persons.

Hood River will in a few short
months, have an auditorium which will
not be eXcelled for general exhibitions
and entertainment in town of this
size anywhere in the country, accord
ing to the plans which are being made
by Architect A. A. Bartlett for the
new building which will be erected
by Capt. Charles p. McCan in the
half block bounded by Third, Column
bia and Fourth streets which is the
site occupied by the box factory until
few weeks ago.
The large auditorium besides being
well appointed theater will be per-
fectly equipped to handle big exhibit
tions or social gatherings such as the
apple show or large balls. The build
ing will cover the entire area, being
200 by 100, and will be of the most
modern brick construction with one
story on Fourth street and two stories
on the Third street side. Two large
store rooms 43 by rs on Fourth street
will be on either side of the entrance
| to the theater and the lower floor on
Third street will be divided into two
rooms 100 by SO we'll adapted for
storage or for feed stores.
The building will cost in the neigh
borhood of $35, 900 and it is the inten-
tion of Capt. McCan to begin con-
struction Just as soon as the plans are
completed, probably within 80 days.
The work will be rushed through as
rapidly as possible and it is expected
to have the building under cover in
time for the apple fair in the fall,
even though it may not be entirely
completed The builder is anxious to
have the construction completed by
the holiday time so that the theater
may be open then.
The eW theater will be named The
Me- burn in honor of Mrs. McCan,
who was few years ago prominent
on the vaudeville stage, and the name
made famous by her clever work will
thus be given permanent and fitting
recognition.
The large scale on which the audi
torium is to be built will be most in
teresting to Hood River as it will have
capacity for holding large crowds and
will be easily adapted to such variety
of uses. The main floor will be 95 by
100 and the seating capacity as a
theater will be 1000. The floor will
be level but raised seats will be put
in extending from about one third OF
the distance back to the rear of the
large room. The seats will be sub
stantial, but may be removed for any
| thing which will require an unobstruct
ed floor. The roof of the building viii
be trussed SO that but four columns
will be necessary in the main auditor.
ium to support the ceiling. When the
floor is cleared for large ball the floor
will be spacious enough for several
hundred couples to dance comfortably
1t is estiamted that with the stage anc
corridor space untitled, ten carloads
of apples may be exhibited at the
apple show when held in The Melburn.
The main entrance to the theatel
will be from the center of the Fourth
street front through Ia foot corridor
rs feet long. The walls of the corri
dor will be of glass giving wonderful
display possibilities to the occupants
of the other store rooms. The box
Offices will be located at the back enc
of the corridor. There will be large
exit from the building in to Colum
bia street and fire escape from the
stage onto Third street. The stage
equipment will be modern in every
way and will not be surpassed by any
thing now in use in the whole state o.
Oregon. The stage will be 30 by g.
feet and there will be six dressing
rooms on either side with the propeI
appointments to suit the most exact
ing temperaments of the operate
stars. A box il the auditorium viii
be on either side of the proscenium
All the equipment necessary in thu
staging of large productions will b'
found "behind the scenes" and al
asbestos curtain will of course be in
stalled.
The Medium will cater to the ver'
best, and Capt. McCan assures HooC
River that if he is given proper sup
port he will bring to this city tn,
best productions which come to th'
coast. When the theatre is opened
in the winter, he is anxious to brinl
for the house warming the very
largest and best musical coined,
which will be playing on the coas
at that time. 1t is expected tina
the new theater will be appreciates
y not only the people of the Hoo
River valley, but Of the neighborini
districts of White Salmon and Under
wood so that the patronage will war
rant the bringing on Of the best show
doing the northwestern circuits. Ever.
thing will be done for the comfort o
the patrons of the institution. Their
will be comfortable retiring rooms 70
both the ladies and gentlemen am
everything will be conducted after tn
same fashion in vogue in the large
cities of the country.