Evening journal., 1916-02-16
THRONG At Opening
OF Queen Theatre
City Officials and Well
Known Residents at Pre-
miere in New Playhouse
FLORAL OFFERINGS
ADD TO FIRST NIGHT


With welcome that signihed success,
the new Queen Theatre, on the site of
the Clayton House, Delaware's once Ia
nous hostelry, at Fifth and Market
! streets, was opened last night TO the
public. With every available seat IN the
! immense theatre filled, the owners, the
/ Wilmington Amusement Company. were
obliged 10 post "Sold OUT sign TO the
throngs who stood outside clamorng ior
admission The audience that witness
| ed the initial performance was reprcsen-
! tative Of the official. social. financial and
! industrial interests of the city. city
officials occupied seats in. the theatre as
! guests OF the management,
! Long before the theatre opened. which
was shortly after S o'clock, Market
street before the new playhouse was
blocked with people waiting for the
doors TO Open The crowds surged into
the middle Of the street and it was
some time before trolley service could be
resumed Arrangements had heeu made
with Chief of Police Black and seven
patrolmen we're sent 10 the theatre TO
hold back the crowd.
I
theatre. one Of the finest designed for
the presentation OF photoplays IN the
country. was evident from the eXclama
tions of approval as the beauty Of the
theatre caught their eyes. The pleasing
effect l. enhanced by the interior decofa
tions. which last night were supple
mented by scores OF handsome floral OF
f,rings from friends Of the owners
These had been placed on stands leading
TO the balcony. Among the offerings was
handsome horseshoe OF carnations and
roses from The r. Topkis store. Another
large offering. a wreath. had the word
Success" on it. The Tuesday evening
dancing class sent large spray of car.
/ nations.
The theatre is said to be the only
, one in this country in which Alaska
marble is used. This material is
] used exclusive on the ramps and the
walls of the lobby. One of these
! inclines descends to the main audi
torium and two others extend to the
q balcony. The large balcony and aud
itorium seat 1000.
I The stage was arranged as Japa
. nese garden scene. and on the pro
. scenium arch is a handsome mural
decoration representing Science Or
each of the walls above the balcony
, are three large paintings. represent
ing Painting" Lyrics Sculpture,
} Dancing Beauty" and Music
The color scheme of the entire the
atre is in blush gray and old ivor'
: Of the Louis XIV period. The mail
Z lighting effect is produced by hug
E inverted dome at least thirty feet 4
D Al. f.. A..
u auditorium. The exits are marke
with black letters on white bacl
ground. The theatre can be emptie
in two minutes, there being nine exit
Y. The exits are designated by gree
lights.
While the finishing touches wer
. not placed on the theatre until yes
/. terday. II was but few minutes b'
fore the doors opened that the NJ
holsterers and painters left the builC
ing Many things remain TO be don
e. about the building before 1t is con
pleted.
In addition TO a ten piece Orchestr
which played during the night tn
$40 600 Moeler organ thrilled tn
audience with selections of classica
music.
When the lights in the theatre wer
dimmed. the first Triangle film 20 b
!. shown in this city was flashed on tn
screen. II featured William S. Har
and House Peters, in Between Men,
and the audience thoroughly enjoye
/. this photO-drama. It consisted Q
five reels and during the performanc
e. the audience showed their apprecia
ton of the film by frequent applause
If last night is a criterion of Triangl
artistry and wealth of detail in actin
and staging pictures, Wilmingtonian
evidently will be given the best |
photoplaydom, as represented by IN
Triangle productions, which are to b
an exclusive feature at the Queen
In addition the Universal animate
weekly scenes we're shown and the
included pictures of the capture
English prize steamship Appam,
". charge of the German prize crew as
j. put into Norfolk.
n. Today. Between Men," tog the
with "Dizzy Heights and DARN
" Hearts" a Keystone two-reel pictur
~ will be shown.
The management will open the thei
ire each day at noon and will COZ
W tinue pictures uninterrupted until
o'clock each evening.
The heating and ventilating system
of the theatre we're not working prol
erlv last night. which caused the II
terror TO be cold. The trouble h'
been remedied. however.