The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-12-19


ium arch is the beautiful mural paint
ing by William De Leftwich Dodge,
entitled The Dance OF Youth" The
painting contains sixteen life size fig
ures in different pastures of dancing.
1t is AZ feet long and seven feet wide.
This painting cost $4,000 alone, TAX
ing Mr.. Dodge over four months to
paint It. Mr.. Dodge's work is we'll
known throughout the United States.
In New York he has decorated the En-
pire and Winter Garden theaters, the
main lobby Of the Aston hotel, and in
the city of Washington has four large
panels in the library of congress. He
has just finished a $25,000 commission
fro mthe directors Of the Panama
Pacific exposition in San Francisco
for two panels ITO feet long to be
placed in the main entrance of the
Tower of Jewels.
The color scheme is French gray
and light blue and gold, with orange
draperies. Touches of burnt orange
are picked out in the ornaments and
high ligted with gold. This schome is
notably handsome in the treatment of
the ceiling and dome and the penetra-
tions back of the boxes. The dame
ter of the dome is forty feet and is
painted to represent a sky with stars.
This portion is especially striking
when lighted by the massive chande-
lier which is suspended from the cen-
ter. Here as in other portion Of the
theater, all the lights are concealed.
The side walls are broken up with
panels of blue, stenciled with gray and
gold. The decorative schemes lend
a soft. and restful toni to the entire
auditorium and is especially atmos-
pheric and original.
One of the charming features of the
e Orpheum is the attention paid to
the comfort of its lady patrons. There
is a large room above the main lobby
with ~balconettes and French windows
looking into Baltimore n Scat
tered about will be the contest of
Longing chairs and divans. Here the
ladies may have any wish granted that
they might make in their own bou-
doris. A writing desk, perfectly APP
pointed, stationery, telephone, dress
ing tables, maids in attendance to sup
ply powder pins and other feminine
necessities. A marble drinking foun-
tain with settee is one of the hand
some appointments of this room. On
this floor are the free check rooms
for ladies and their retiring rooms.
The men have not been neglected
for their wants. Under the lobby and
extending under the sidewalk are club
rooms forty feet square, which are
fitted up with smoking and lounging
rooms. Comfortable chairs, caen-
stone fireplace, telephone and check
rooms are conveniently located.
Great care has been taken in the
lighting scheme, which is indirect, or
concealed. The lobby is lighted by
five alabaster bowls, reflecting and
bringing out the beauties Of the col
ored terra Gotta. In the main audi
forum concealed lights reflect softly
from the cornices and under the main
balcony. Perhaps no stage in the
West is so thoroughly equipped. With
nearly 100 lights, in all colors,
swung in brilliant reflectors from the
flies, borders and footlights and all
under a control system which enables
the operator to produce any lighting
effect from sunrise to sunset. With
this equipment, most wonderfully sat
i~sfactory stage illusions are promised.
The stage will be equipped with
=, n VI nof, 80 onno 49, oApo r1afa IN aTary
detail. Space is provided for rs sets
of lines hung from the rigging loft,
which is SO feet above the level of the
stage floor. Over seven miles of ma
nilla rope and over a mile of steel
cable are necessary to hang the seen
cry and curtains. The stage proper
is 100 feet wide and SO feet deep. The
proscenium opening is SO feet wide,
with a s%even-foot apron.
There are % dressing rooms pro-
vided for the artists. The makeup
stands are of metal and there is moth
ing in any roo mthat could possibly
burn. Plugs are provided for electric
irons in each room. Rooms with
shower baths are convenient, also a
special room for performing animals.
This is placed under the alley level
at the back Of the building. This
room is made perfectly sanitary by
special ventilating equipment. The
property room is also under the alley
level. A travelling hoist is used for
handling heavy trunks and scenery.
The entire stage and all dressing
rooms have automatic sprinkler equip
ment. On the %proscenium arch are
sprinkler heads, ulaced close enough
together to make a water curtain,
through which gas, smoke or fire can
not pass. In case of any alarm the
audience is perfectly protected. There
are two 4~,000-gallon water tanks for
this system-one for pressure; the
other a gravity tank. Under the stage
are the electric shops and other me-
chanical equipment DON The or.
chastra has been given a spacious
room directly under their pit. This
room is equipped with metal lockers
tor each man and a special library
for the storage Of musical scores and
manuscripts.
The ventilating, heating and cool
ing of the house is done with the
plenum system with thermostatic reg