The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1910-10-18
THE NEW
PLAY HOUSE
An Up-To-Date Theatre Equip
ped With Every Modern
Appliance.
coMMoDIoUs AND FIRE-PROoF

p,ise Of an Italian, the race th@6 mas
done much for the improvement OF
Morristown in the last ten years, has
fulfilled the dream of many in the.
town and modern vaudeville theatre
is the result. Some years ago Antonio
Esposito, after engaging in business 10
several European countries, and con-
ducting exhibitions with the Buffalo
and Charleston expositions, and in
other cities, came to Morristown and
opened a, small place on Speedwell
avenue for nickle.in-the-slot machines,
etc. In time he moved his place OF.
business to Is Park place where later
the slot machines were replaced with
motion pictures. Later vaudeville
was added. Meeting with fair
measure of success Mr.. Esposito de,
cided to put up a building OF his own,
in which would be displayed the artis-
tic temperament of Italy. equipped
with every modern conveniences and
give to Morristown a high-class amuse-
ment house at popular prices
A plot Of ground was secured on
Speedwell avenue, plans procured,
contracts awarded, and in spite OF un-
avoidable delays the building is now
practically completed and will be
opened next week.
Mr.. Esp0sito was fortunate in secur-
ing as manager for his new enterprise
Robert Ellis, man with extensive
experience in the business, who has
managed some of the best theatres in
this country and was especially sue
cessful in the building and manage
ment of large theatre in Honolulu.
His wide acquaintance with the bust
ness, conditions and personnel OF
theatrical people gives him especial
facilities for booking acts, adapted to
the Few house affording the oppor-
tunity of seeing talent that could not
be expected to be seen in Morristown
Under ordinary circumstances.
Through the courtesy OF Manager
Ellis representative OF this paper
has Inspected the new play house. AS
will be seen by the accompanying cut
the building is imposing in appearance
and of tasty design enthusiastically,
and holds It's own with dignity COM
pared with the three-story buildings
adjoining. 1t is of brick and concrete,
with steel floor beams, concrete floors
and is absolutely fireproof.
The front doors, on either side OF
the ticket Office, open into a spacious
foyer. To the left is the business Of
fee, equipped with all that goes TO-
ward making it convenient TO do BUSH
ness, and the ladies retiring room.
To the right are the stairs to the bal
cony and to the mems toilet in the
basement.
On entering the main audience room
one is struck with the elegance and
simplicity of the decorations. The
color scheme is old rose, gold and
white, and as.the decorations were by
Valenti, the celebrated decorator of
New York, everything is in perfect
harmony and artistic. The arrange
ments OF the lights In the ceiling is
especially pleasing being placed in
clusters and around the front of the
stage. The front Of the stage has the
effect Of large gilt frame enclosing
the decorated drop curtain. The
second curtain is landscape scene
and the screen for showing pictures is
twelve by fifteen. about twice the
usual size. There are five distinct
sets of scenery for the stage, giving
variety and adaptabilty for any act
that may be presented. While the
stage is not large it is ample for a
company OF half-dozen people and
deep enough to give fine perspective.
Two commodious dressing rooms un-
der the stage, each with running wa
ter and toilet facilities will add to the
comfort and convience Of the per-
formers.
The main floor will accommodate
about five hundred people and the
balcony two hundred more. The seats
are so arranged, and the floor has
such pitch, that every seat is good
one. The first hundred seats are re-
served seats for which small extra
sum will be paid. They are of ma
h0gany with dark green leather trim
mings. The other seats are also of
mahogany with wooden seats and
backs. The aisles are OF mosaietiling.
On either side Of the stage are cleo
trical announcement boards which,
with liberal supply Of twelve page
programs, will keep the audience in
formed as to the progress OF the acts.
Uniformed ushers and uniformed
special officer will look after the com
fort and safety of the audience. A
-four piece orchestra will furnish the
music. Four big vaudeville acts will
be presented each.lweek, and the pict-
ures will be the latest and of charac-
Ter and excellence not heretofore
shown In M0rristown.
The building is heated by steam,
while two large suction fans near the
ceiling in the rear and two blower