Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-01-25
THEATRE HERE TO
BE- SECOND BIGGEST
Leschziner Plans Palatial
Structure for Washington
ST. and Maiden Lane.
GROUND WILL BE BROKEN
JAN. %; READY SEPT. 10
Arena to Be Second Only to
N. Y. Hippodrome-cort
/ Gets 15-Year Lease.

Ground will be broken on Wednes-
dav on the southeast corner Of Wash
ington street and Maiden lane for the
largest theatre in the United States
excepting the New York Hippodrome.
The project is the enterprise of ,.
Ieschziner. of 776 Broad street. John
Gort. lessee of the Newark Hippo
drome. owner of the new Cort Theatre
in Forty-eighth street, New York, and
lesses of more than 100 other theatres
in this country. is signing papers TINS
afternoon for a fifteen-year lease OF
the new theatre. The building VIII De
finished about September Is, and MI.
cort will book for it the same pro-
ductions that are staged at the Hip
podrone. 1t will be a popular-prlcea
house. 10. 20 and 80 cent seats, With
box seats at 50 cents.
The action of the Board of Works
in approving the proposed Washing
ton and Mulberry street trolley lines
il directly responsible for Mr.. Lesch-
liners action. He has had the plan
In mind for several months, but not
until two weeks ago. when he re-
eeived assurance that the trolley
lines were to become a realty, did he
definitely decide to put up the play
house.
There will be seating accommoda-
tions for 300 people, more than the
present capacity of any Ameri-
can theatre except the Hippo
drome. One feature about the play
house is a large tank, fifteen feet in
depth, on the stage, the cover of
which will be a hydraulic plunger. An
other is an act curtain which, in
stead of rising will be lowered into
slot just behind the stage apron. The
stage will be 121 feet wide, 90 feet
deep and 9S feet high. The prosceni-
UNI, or outer opening of the stage,
will be IS feet wide, two feet wider
than that of the Metropolitan Opera
House, in New York, and so feet high.
As model of architecture, 1t will
be surpa ssed by no theatre in New
ark. il is declared The plans call for
granite and white marble, for the
lower part of the building, with red
brick laid in wide joints and trim
med in terra Gotta for the upper part.
Under the copper cornice will be a
panel with the word Arena" the
theatres name, in terra Gotta in col
ors a perpendicular electric sign
will bear the same word. Twenty
three exits will lead from the orches-
ira floor
Marble for Floors.
Imported marble in colors will be
used for floors and walls of the lobby.
which will be finished in Marie An
toinette style. Twelve doors will leao
into the lobby and the same number
into the orchestra.
The interior of the theatre will be
work of art. The filigree will fol-
low an Italian Renaissance style. IN
a color scheme of white ard gold.
Concealed lights will shed their brill
lance from the dome. In the prosce-
mum, too, they will show through an
palescent glass. The boxes will be
arranged in receding order. allowing
for an unobstructed view of the stage
for the people seated behind them.
The floors, composed of fire-proof
substance. will be uncarpeted. The
building will be of cantilever steel
construction. unsupported by posts,
and will be strictly fire-proof through
out. The fifty-two dressing-rooms
will be separated from the main build
ing by fire-proof doors.
McMurray & Pulls. of p Clinton
street, are the architects.
The theatre viii have a frontage on
Washington street of 12s feet 10
inches, and will run back $50 feet on
Maiden lane, with an IL" continuing
back 210 feet on the other side for the
dressing -rooms