The Washington times., 1911-07-02
BRADLEYS TO MAKE
PRIVATE THEATERA
GAY SOCIAL MECCA
Charity Only One Of OBJ
jects of Magnificent Home
Playhouse.

While charity is said to have been
the chief motive which prompted the
Edison Bradleys to build the magnificent
private theater now In course of con-
struction In the rear Of their residence,
Dupont circle south, the structure viii
give Mrs. Bradley adequate facilities
for carrying out the elaborate enter
tsinments for which the Bradley home
has become famous.
The proceeds Of public entertainments
Will be devoted to charity. Many prt-
Vate entertainments will be given In the
new theater, which will have a large
banquet hall and conservatory opening
on the auditorium.
No one in Washington entertains more
extensively or deliberately than the
Bradleys. Mrs. Bradley's Sunday night
concerts have become famous and ia
yitations are eagerly sought. Soloists
Of the Metropolitan Grand Opera Com
pany, and other welI-known artists
are engaged weeks ahead for these
entertainments.
Style and Capacity.
The new theater probably will be the =,
largest and handsomest private play !
is being constructed is 166 feet by IS /
feet The auditorium will have seat
ing capacity of more than 500 persons
1t adjoins the Bradley home, and win
cover about the same area. Built along
the same lines of architecture as the
house, striking feature of the play
house from the outside will be long.
sweeping driveway to the main en-
ha inf rzuiII ha mn fof.
nal and unique.
On the main floor will be the stage
and auditorium, which can also be used
as ball room Opening on wiz
be conservatory and banquet
room. The woodwork will be some
thing new. 1t will be cypress.
treated so as to have the appearance
of wood 200 years old, such as Is seen
in the ancient cathedrals. The wood
to builders as the half-beam construc-
ton, in imitation Of the cathedral style
of architecture and decoration:
The stage will be large enough to per-
sized cast. The statues and other orna-
rnents will be from the Bradley private
collection. picked up from all corners
of the globe.
Mr.. Bradley Supervisor.
The building is being done under the
direct supervision of Mr.. Bradley, who
personally ordered much of the mate
rial The plans are by Howard Green
ley. the New York architect, who drew
them for remodeling the Bradley home
about three years ago.
Persons who watched the progress Of
the work of remodeling the big house
wondered why 1t was the owners went
to all the trouble and expense OF haE-
ing the structure rebuilt without tear
ing II down. AS one brick or stone was
removed from the walls another tmns-
diately replaced IT. Apparently no
change whatever was being made. No
signs of demolition were in evidence,
the lines in the walls only indicating Q
change.
It was a slow, tedious, costly job, but
to the Bradleys it meant saving prac-
tically half of their building lot, In q
section of the city where land values
were at the top notch.
The house sets far beyond the build
ing line, and had 1t once been TORN
down .hey would not have been al
lot By simply replacing brick for
brick and stone for stone, they were
enabled to build a new home by taking
out a permit to repair" The work cost
a third or a half again as mucn dS II
the building had been torn down, put
the accomplishment was worth the dif-
ference.
Cost to Be Enormous.
The cost of the new theater is a mat
ter of conjecture. When Mr.. Bradley
took out the permit, the estimated cost
was given as $4,000, but the actual cost
will be several times this amount The
statues and other interior decorations
and works Of art, exclusive Of the wood
work, will probably cost more than
S50,0o0
The theater is not being put up oy
contract, but by day labor, and MT.
Bradley has given his foremen instrue-
ton to spare no expense in obtaining
the best materials and hiring the best
workmen-
1t is expected to be finished early In
September. Mrs. Bradley Is said to be
booking grand opera stars for Sunday
nights next winter. The initial per-
formance, Mrs. Bradley has confided to
one of her friends, will be elaborate.
Several grand opera stars have oeen
engaged. The date has not been de-
cided -
Performances for charity viii be a
| feature. The playhouse will be thrown
omen to the public. The entire base
ment will be divided into dressing
rooms. light and airy, and, like the rest
of the building, will be 1reproof.