The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-02-03
IMPROVEMENTS AT OPERA HOUSE
Many That Are Needed and Should be
Made.-Newberry Should Have
Up to Date House.

time to time spoken Of certain i'm
proyements that were needed and
that should be made at the opera
house A nice and modern and up
to date opera house, like modern
and up 10 date Glotel is worth a whole
lot to any community. When the
Newberry opera house was built it
was up to date, but there have been
many changes in 80 years. The New
berry opera house was built a little
more than 80 years ago, and at that
time it was as good as any building of
its kind in the State.
There was never sufficient arrange
ment for emptying the building in
case of fire or panic Of any kind. The
Herald and News has called attention
to this many times. Fortunately there
has been no fire or panic to test the
ability of getting large crowd out
of the building with no serious re-
suits, but if anything ever should oc-
cur it would be found impossible to
get the people OUT without serious
loss of life. Some years ago a sepa-
rate exit for the gallery was built,
which helped very much.
There are some other improvements
which should be made and could be
made with very little expense and it
would add greatly to the comfort and
convenience and looks of the building.
Mr., Wells, the lessee has offered to
make some of the Improvements and
pay for the work, Of course, to be re-
inbursed out of the rent Of the build
ing. He should be encouraged in his
efforts to give the people of the town
a high class of entertainment, and in
order to do this to the best advantage
the opera house should be modern
and up to date in its appointments.
There has been some talk Of put
ting the auditorium on the ground
floor and moving the Offices and po-
lice court room up stairs. That would
be great improvement, and then
there would be no danger about ar
ranging to empty the house IN case OF
fire or panic from other cause. That
would also permit the building of a
suitable stage without changing the
roof. 1t would have many other ad-
vantages and would be a great thing
if the city could see its way clear to
make this change Of course this
would cost a considerable sum, but
We would then have a modern and up
ITO date auditorium.
If this is not done the floor in the
present auditorium could be changed
so that the deess circle would be on
the same level with the pit and in this
way the people could get in and out
with a great deal more ease and com
fort. This change could be made
with very little cost and would add
greatly to the comfort of the building
and also make it easier to get out OF
the building. Have the entire floor
of the auditorium on the same level.
Another thing that could and should
OF o
amount, and that is, there should be
a heating plant put in for the entire
building, and the old stoves that mar
the looks of the auditorium should be
taken out. The smoke from them is
uncomfortable and then they do not
give the proper heat and besides they
do net look we'll, and the entire build
ing could be heated at less cost
Then the stage needs changing for
the reason that we cannot get some
of the best attractions in Newberry
because we cannot properly stage
them.
Let Newberry wake up and have
one of the best opera houses in the
State as she had when the present
one was built The manager should
be encouraged to give the people Of
the community high class of enter
tainment. He has spent considerable
himself in making some improvements
to the auditorium. He is now operat-
ing a high class vaudeville in connec-
ton with a moving picture show, but
the building should be made up to date
so that we might have any of the best
attractions that come South.
The Library.