The Washington times., 1917-03-23
PALATTAL THEATER
TO Be BUILT HERE
Harry N. CrandaII to Erect Mo-
tion Picture House at
Tenth and F.

That Washington is soon to have a
photoplay theater that will surpass
any similar house in America, not only
in size, but in beauty and equipment
as well, was the announcement made
today by Harry II. Crandall, local mo-
tion picture theater magnate, who al
ready controls five theaters here.
1t is to be built at Tenth and F
streets northwest, extending 120 feet
down Tenth street to the old Ford
Theater, and with frontage of sixty
feet on F street, where the entrance
will be placed.
1t is planned to open the new thea
ter, which will be named Crandalrs s
Metropolitan, on October 1. next, ST.
multaneously with the opening of an
other Crandall house, the Knicker-
booker, at Eighteenth street and Co
lumbia road, already under construc-
tion.
Men Backing Project.
Associated with Mr.. Crandall in the
new enterprise are Barry Buckley, ].
A. Nicholson, Tucker K. Sands. and
Fred A Swindell.
The total cost of the theater, in
cluding land, is estimated at $SOO'OoO'
and may even exceed this sum, max
ing II by far the most ornate and
elaborate building OF its kind in the
National Capital.
The theater will have a seating
capacity of $500 persons, 1,400 on the
main floor, 300 in the balcony, and
200 in the Ioge boxes. Between the
entrance and the auditorium will be
placed an oval shaped foyer, approx
mately thirty feet wide and sixty feet
long.
1t will be surmounted by a gold
dome, a replica of that in the famous
Rialto Theater, New York, generally
conceded to be the most elaborate
motion picture theater in AMERICA
Color Scheme.
Ivory, gold and old rose are the
basis Of the color scheme, while the
decorations will conform to the Adam
period. No pillars or distractions Of
any kind will hinder the view of the
spectator from any part of the house.
Mosaic and terrazzo flooring, marble,
tile, and wainscoting, with marble
lTlInLul0kS, Eli VIII unlNC
in forming a palatial interior effect.
A particular feature of the house
will be the promenade lounge, be-
tween the first and second floors,
This will be 90 feet long and 80 feet
wide. Here tea and other. refresh
ments will be served and dancing
permitted. The two floors will be
connected by a gradual incline, the
most modern arrangement of the
sort, doing away entirely with the
steps.
Twelve loge boxes, each contain
ing four rows of seats with a total
capacity of 200, will be placed just
forward Of the balcony, the most ad
vantageous viewpoint lin the entire
house, giving an exclusive location
for parties who desire reservations
Rest Rooms.
Dressing and rest rooms for WON.
en- and smoking rooms for men Will
be placed at convenient points on all
three floors. These will be provided
with every modern equipment, and
ed attendants.
Another distinctive feature of the
edifice will be the lighting arrange
ment, by the new semi-direct, self
diffusing system, by means of which
any desired light effect can be OBJ
tanned in an instant, varying from
a full sunlight effect to be used at
intermissions, to a subdued moonlight
or the darkness OF dawn.
The fixtures will be especially de-
signed for the building, as well as the
seats, hangings, and other furnish
ings, all OF which will harmonize
with the color scheme. A specially
designed ventilating plant is calcu-
lated to change the air in the theater
at least once every fifteen minutes,
and the fresh air is to be warmed in
winter and ice-cooled in summer.
Emergency Exits.
Emergency exits, twelve in all, will
be placed at convenient points, by
means of which 1t is estimated that
the edifice can be entirely emptied in
less than one minute.
Store buildings will be located on
either side OF the entrance on F
street, while office rooms will occupy
the space to the front OF the building
not occupied by the auditorium.
These rooms will be reached by spe-
cial high-speed elevators.
The screen will be placed on a stage
on Ine IenIn blTeel sue, anu VIII De
made of radium-gold cloth, the most
modern material OF the kind, which
constant experiments have proven TO
be productive OF best results from the
standpoint of projection, and is also
particularly restfuI to the eyes.
Work to Begin Soon.
Work will be commenced as soon as
the bids, plans, and specifications can
be completed, which will be in about
six weeks, leaving five months for the
construction OF the edifice.
The new accession will complete the
chain of photoplay houses controlled