Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-07-08
Augusta Has Theatre Sec
ond to None in Size.
viii Seat 1900 Persons and Is
Planned for Safety.
On Site Of Old "comique"..ls Wei.
come Addition to North End.

Augustus new theatre is SO rapidly
nearing completion that it viii be
opened to patrons, on next Wednesday
evening A large force of Wcrkmen
was busily engaged, Monday afternoon,
to insure the first performance as
scheduled
From the handsome steel ceiling to
the very modern boiler room and from
the doors to the picture cloth the Co
lonial" and its equipment is worthy of
the city's pride. The plans were ac-
ceptea with the primary object the
publies safety, with the comfort of
patrons secondary but extremity we'll
cared for consideration.
Three sets CT double doors ard three
single doors open from the orcht stra
floor while from the ba leony descend
two wide stairWays to the spacious and
artistic foyer. And the 800 seats on
the lower floor are pleasantly uphol-
stored electric fans Will be III opera
ton at each of the three daily eXhibi-
tons and the impure air Will give place
to pure through one Of the best ven
tllating systems in any Of our public
buildings
Manager "BfI' Cray # Portsmouth,
Lewiston Island Park and other fame
is experimenting operations ana HIS
wide experience in the entertainment
line assures success from the start. lie
will Put on three exhibitions of moving
pictures each week day-dns in he All
ernoon, at go and two IN the. evening,
starting the first at I.00-acconpanled
by what he terms the best theatre or
chestra of six pieces in this part Of the
country
Replaces the Comique.
The building measures IS feet by 70
and is most substantially constructed
of brick. It's site is that of the OLD
Theatre Comique which was burned
more than a year ago at the North
End
The three sets of doors open direct
" upon the street. These, with their
plate glass, are in accord With the
simple yet artistic design throughout
the scheme of construction and flttilts.
over each of these pairs of doors Will
he n large incandescent globe. FROM
the foyer. thus reached, swinging
doors. covered with Spanish leather To
match the upholstered chairs, open 10
the orchestra floor and TO the stairs
leading to the balcony. The aoor oil
the foyer is of TerraZio, like that OF
the new Maine Central railroad station
once upon the lower floor the quick
slope for the seating arrangement IS
the most noticeable feature. inns liz
urcs two and one-aaf lnehes TO the
foot AID makes possible ciedi Vie"
for every patron. About 500 rlehiy UP
holstered seats are here placed, coiii-
fortably reached by four alsles. from
the aisle on the South size three doors
one from each end and one IN Tue
rniddle-open to a walk ON the outslde
OF the building.
The orchestra pit extends along the
front Of the stage and is OF SIZE To az
commodate dozen or 10 musicians
The picture curtain VIII De at .iie
hack of the stage-more than ~ leet
from the nearest spectator, ehniiiia'n's
tho eve strain attendant upon a closer
view. ,;4
,rhe electric lighting is the indirect
etvle from artistic chandeliers. The
walls are painted a subdueo TONE vi
yellow with dark brown base.
More than tie usual number of VIM
a,.,ye are utilized i'll the NentilatnS
evstem. the river end of the bnlidlls
hoino designed with a view to taxing
as. much advantage as possible OF the
cool river freezes. Several larSe
I,.ors are placed in the root
me balcony will comfortably seat
ohout 400 persons. The picture machine
has been installed in this part
Resides the three globe lights over
tho street doors, there will be TWO sets
s,e fonr divided on poles at each OF the
street corners of the building.
A large perpendicular eiectrieai sign
aColoniaV,-has been hung Al the
southwest corner.