The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-08-31
NEW EMPIRE
 WILL OPEN
 SEPTEMBER 1
Is Connected With Keeney Cir
 cult and Will Give Three Vaudeville Performances Daily
House is MOnolith Concrete, Built Without Posts and Beau tifully Decorated Designed by Late J. A. O'Brien

Oy AHtO xAs " OtlCH
 The Empire, spoken of as one o1 the prettiest and most artistic of fire proof theatres in New England, is nearing completion and will be open ed to the public, with vaudeville, on Labor Day. The theatre stands or the East side of Main street, between Union Square and Gilbert street, and was designed for the owners, Nathan & Spftz, by the late Joseph A. OBrien
 Theatre is to be conducted in con- nection with the Keeney circuit, head ed by Frank A. Keeney of Brooklyn. The program will be changed twice weekly, the bill alternating with that of the Third avenue theatre in New York city. The Keeney circuit now comprises six theatres located in New York, Brooklyn, Binghampton, Scran- ton, Bridgeport and New Britain. This circuit is chained with six others which gives performers bookings for an entire year and which includes many of the most noted popular price theatres in the country.
 Three performances day will be given at the Empire. The matinee prices will be ten cents to every part of the house and the evening prices will be 20 cents in the orchestra and 10 cents in the balcony. The matinee performance will commence at 2:30 Two performances wilk be given at night, commencing at 7:15 o'clock in the evening and continuing through to Il o'clock in the evening.
 Frank A. Keeney, who is at the head of the circuit. took the Corse Payton theatre in Brooklyn, now known as the Fulton theatre and con ducted it with great success. Since that time he has branched out with great success.
 The manager of the local house will be B. R. Dobbs who has been connect ed with the circuit for the past two years. MT. Dobbs Is we'll known in this city and is the father of Bert Melrose of the famous acrobatic team of Melrose and Kennedy, now playing upon Orpheum circuit time.
 Mr. Dobbs said yesterday that the circuit is booking nothing but high class acts and that there would be no program inferior to these in the big New York and Brooklyn theatres.
 The new Empire will seat 1,10o peo- pie. The pitch of the flooring in both the orchestra and balcony is such that each seat in the house is as good as another. What is more. the theatre is being talked of by the atrical managers who have seen 1t as the house without post or pillar. It Is built of solid reinforced concrete and is the same as though it was hewn from solid rock.
 The interior decorations are blended In mauve, green and gold and trim med in gold and white. The proscen- Ium arch is of white in heavy relief art work, offsetting a sky blue cen ter depicting a number of frolicing cupids. On either side of the pros ,enium center are two soulptured fig %ivo fL1 fcrI Night
 s. There are four fine boxes and the balcony rail and tapestries are of a rich maroon red.
 The balcony is reached by two lights of solid concrete stairs and he side aisles of the balcony are ex- .ended to the rear of the house mak- ng four fire exits.
 The interior lights are so arrang- d that not single light is visible the illumination upon enter ng the theatre will be splendid. There are 1,200 electric lights In the house. From a sanitary standpoint the play house is without an equal as the open ng of the ventilation dome will cause he house to be filled with fresh air m a very few minutes.
 The orchestra pit is so constructed hat the musicians will be out of sight of the audience when seated. on the stage the fly gallery is eighty ,eet high and all of the scenery will De operated from over head.
 For the comfort of the spectators adies retiring room has been install sd off the gallery and just over the finished in Peacock blue and trimmed with gold. The carpet is to match and the furniture will be of gold. A smoking and retiring room for men will be located beneath the lobby. :.
 The office will be on the second ,loor above the lobby. Handsome brass rails with two eight foot corin- ,hian columns as newel posts are up- ,n the stairs leading to the gallery. in stucco work after the period of Louis Xv. The lobby out tide of the vestibule Is finished in ,ld ivory and the designs are of the Renaissance period.
 The front of the theatre is cathe- iral design in white with two mas i've American eagles surmounting he top. Two large columns support . cornice of elaborate design. The 'ront of the theatre is white and studded with many electric lights.
 The floors of the lobby and vestt- ,ule are of mosaic work, while those if the interior are of solid concrete md carpeted.
 In the lobby there are two boxes 10 that a throng of people can be luickly accommodated.
 The entire front of the theatre is practically open when the doors are brown back, making it possible to mpty the entire building in minute IT two.
 Both Nathan & Spitz and the lessee, Ar. Keeney are much pleased with the ,layhouse and expect that it is to ,ecome a very popular amusement pot.