The Washington times., 1912-08-17
.CHASE'S THEATER
FOR VAUDEVILLE
SETS STANDARD
New Playhouse, Ready for
Opening, Is Along Most
Elaborate Plan,
CONTINUED from First Page,

cult or fetich out OF Chase's and
lapse into maudlin superlatives.
Closely Related.
Everything bears an aristocratic rela-
| ton to each other, and architecturally
Is "in character as the actors say.
The theater itself is beautiful cham
per, richly adorned in the Louis XIV
style, with old gold and maroon the
dominant chords Of color. 1t possesses
the magic illusion Of clever architecture.
While its floor space is not excessive.
| Its seating capacity is 1884, 200 more
than the old Chase's, although the
latter Is much larger in actual number
Of cubic feet inclosec. The orchestra
and parquet shows clear, open field
OF seats without a single column or
house is built on the cantilever prin-
| ciple. The angle of incline presents a
fairly high pitch, but not excessively
so. There are three broad aisles, and
ing contraptions.
The second floor Is officially desig-
mated the mezzanine balcony. The title
is derived from the row OF boxes-or
which fringe the entire railing. The
pitch of the floor Is high, but the
auditor Is ushered onto the floor at Its
lower point, and walks up to his seat,
them. The view from the mezzanine
shows the theater at Its very best, for
the floor circles around the chamber
low and close to the stage, the view Of
Modern Balcony.
The same is true of the second bal
cony. which is an excellent illustration
of the evolution of the old-styie "heav-
en- to its important place in the theater
de luxe of today. The seats, uniform
throughout the house, are OF dark
mahogany frame, with graceful, curving
backs and an upholstering of leather
ecru in color. The soft and mellow
effect of the decorative old gold Is re-
inforced by the ecru in the seats and In
the deep red, consisting of costly panels
of silk, which line the walls. AS con-
tributory effect to the color scheme
must be added the frosted globes of In
candescent lights and chandeliers on
the ceiling. In the center of the latter,
: encircled by globes, Is a painting smy-
t bolic of Thespis, and there is another,
: frieze-like, in the center OF. the pros
cenium arch. The decorative effects
. throughout are mellow. subdued, and oi
excellent taste.
lies not in the playhouse itself, but be.
. low 1t. To the left of the entrance ran
: is a stairway leading DOWNWARD. Turn'
ing an angle, the spectator finds HIM
canine lounge. 1t is finished in stained
. wood in Tudor Gothic style, has big
inviting fireplace as its central feature
y and high wainscote to lend II distinc
= ton. A FEW steps down and one comes
to the larger, or promenade lounge. alst
" Of stained wood, and claiming as It's grea
q feature the $4,000 pipe organ which VII
e give impromptu concerts an hour pc
y | fore the performance ana at inter
= = The keynote Of the new Chase's 4
. found in these two delightful rooms
: The messanine lounge Is netsat meant tof mn, ,n
. he engaged in amid all the comfort
that is beloved of the feminine, lnciud
=, ing a LARGE and excellently equipped re
. firing rom where there Is maid
a tables, mirrors, and telephone Tn
= promenade lounge Ii intended. In
large sense. for the men. Smoking !
!, permitted there. and the club-like at
, J, mosphere of intimacy and comfort !
n established and maintained. 1t Is clu
=. room, concert hall, and rendezvous 10
4 those W! G cultivate the social end o
thester-gcing There Is aaazIrss l6rdry roo, sn
= newspapers await the visitor.
Beneath Auditorium.
It should be understood the lounge
are beneath the auditorium. ira
door from them leads to the 'forbidde
= land"-that Of the stage folks. Thes
u | TnyStlC WIN uiSSShh
rooms. drying rooms. wardrooms. lpch
ers, and what not, have been nick
named "the catacombs." "...
n From the theatrical point of view tn
stage is the most interesting point
the new Chase's. The stage present
improvements which are said to be d.
plicated in no other theater in Americi
II IL built in sections. and can be 'tor
out" piece by piece, allowing for
diving tank or similar contrivance {
,r any size. Then, as real features, al
a the elevator service from the twenty
Eve dressing rooms to the stage ieve
Is the electric switchboard; the Iegistrt
le ton room where tab is kept on a pla,
er from the moment he enters the stae
10 entrance until he leaves 1t, and the h.
y, draulic apparatus for operating tt
= steel curtain. Even the dressing room
a. are luxurious compared to the commo
- or garden variety. Their most nov
~ ~ feature is an electric stove which hea
ia curling irons in a few seconds.
=. The force of attaches required II
~ the new theater makes the old Chase
~ seem small indeed, There are chec
u rooms and toilet rooms on each fioo
The admirable system of exits, whic
must be seen to be appreciated, ALLOW
the theater to be emptied of Its is
spectators in two minutes. Nothing