The Washington herald., 1917-10-14
CROWDS PACK
new THEATER
Playhouse Opens with Many
Prominent Persons
as Guests.

Harry Crandall. movie king, was
last night fittingly ensconsed in his
royal movie palace, the new Knicker-
booker. Theater. at Eighteenth street
! and Columbia road northwest.
And It was royal gathering. that
drew around the board of the host
! after the performance was over.
when congratulations were in order.
Screen stars of the highest CANDLE
power, legislators. prominent citizens
: and newspaper men were all there.
/ And "a pleasant time was had by
ALL"
The new theater is a symphony of
beauty. comfort and modernity. Mr..
Crandall has evidently foreseen every
wish of patron and producer.
At the opening last night each per-
Torrance was played to the largest
possible business and lines forming
before the doors extended more than
100 yards down Columbia road.
The opening attraction was the
showing of Betsy Ross" with Miss
Alice Brady in the leading role. The
fact that Miss Brady appeared In per-
son and sang several songs enhanced
many fold the showing of the picture.
Stars Are introduced.
After the last performance the
movie stars were introduced to the
audience and each gave a very in
teresting talk on the motion picture
industry. The stars appearing last
night were: Francis X. Bushman,
Beverley Bayne, Rose Tapley, Car
\ lyle Blackell. all Of whom were in
| troduced by Charles ]. Pettijohn of
the American Exhibitors Associa-
| ton.
Commissioner Louis Brownlow fol-
| lowed the movie favorities on the
rostrum and the Commissioner made
an excellent address. urging support
Of the Liberty Loan.
After the last performance the
guests retired to the promenade
lounge where a banquet was served.
Col. Barry Buckley, one Of the di-
rectors of the new theater, acted as
| POSTMASTER and number of the
most prominent guests made speech
es. dwelling principally on the rapid
growth Of the moving picture indus
! try.
Plan of Auditorium.
The auditorium is in the shape OF
an elongated triangle, generally fol-
lowing the shape of the lot which II
entirely occupies. The stage Is sit
\ uated at the apex of the triangle and
the arrangement lends itself admir-
ably to the purpose for which 1t was
designed, as an unobstructed view of
| the stage can be had from every
part of the auditorium. The seating
! capacity Of the house is 100, there
4 helms than he
orchestra floor, 500 in the mezzanine
tier and 20 cosy and exclusive loge
! tier chairs. The interior decoration
| is especially attractive, the dominat-
ing color scheme being old ivory,
pale blue and gold.
The lobby of the theater extends
along the Eighteenth street side of
the building, and along the walls
hang full length pictures of stage
and screen stars done in oil. At the
rear Of the foyer, or lobby, a grand
stairway leads to the mezzanine floor.
while Just to the left is situated the
private stairway leading to the loge
boxes. The auditorium is lighted by
/ a new system of semidirect, self
diffusing type entirely new for thea
\ ter lighting, which will be in har-
mony with the projected pictures, the
effects ranging from full sunlight to
! subdued moonlight and the semi
darkness of dawn.
Built for Comfort.
Particularly in the furnishings of
the theater everything has been done
to enhance the comfort and add to
| the convenience and enjoyment or
the patrons. The color sci.eme of the
I ladies' reception room leading from
the orchestra promenade will be aug
mented by giant typhoon fans and
! blowers of. the latest pattern and the
air in the theater will be changed
every three minutes. In the y inter
\ the air will be warmed to 20 de-
grees and in the summer it Will be
ice cooled.
At the rear of the theater, Just of
| of the mezzanine floor. lie the japanese
tea room, where tea, English muf-
fms and ices will be served. In the
ladies reception room there is a
large open fireplace at the one end
with burning logs and scattered
about are easy chairs, writing desks
and tabourettes
The gentlemen's smoking room is
at the rear OF the orchestra door on
the Columbia road side of the thea
ter. The orchestra of full symphonic
strength will play from the stage
being partially hid by palms and
growing flowers and plants and either
side of the proscenium opening will
be decorative electric water foun-
tains.