New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-29
Society Attends
First Night Of
Rivoli Theatre
Little Brother of Rialto
Has Opening Rivalling
Those Of Drama Houses

.r,- invitation only," Thus Did tell
,.-,,rci,c gentleman IN an elaborate uni
fcrm turn away all who sought adm;'-
s,o- to the new Rivoli Theatre last
eight Il had been expressly stated
ror .tc last month that the opening
..irtt AZ thc new theatre would be for
,ry.tc8 guests only, and still the
.trorcs OF optimistic would-bc first
-irrtc-s gathered In the vicinity Of
broadway and Forty-ninth Street until
, was al but impossible for those
-ort1nato ones who really had invita-
,ions 90 get near enough 10 present
.hcir credentials.
Hals IA dozen energetic attendants
.trcve 10 separate the wheat from tho
rtar. but all Of those who had 10
tickets seemed to believe that those
who lad tickets were simply standing
IN line awaiting their turn az the boz
Office.
Inside the white marble building the
-hroug was nearly as great as IL was
n the street. and il was difficult TO
realize that one was actually only going
20 the movies. 1t was triumph
wonderful, sweeping triumph, both for
S. J.. ROthapfel and for the motion
picture as well.
Every one Was there-nOt quite lit
orally. perhaps, but almost; the per
Torrance, which was scheduled FOR $3.50,
was nearly half an hour late. which
was a very good idea, as the night
really belonged 20 the theatre rather
han 20 the entertainment. Il was the
debut Of the Rivoli, the baby brother
Of the RisltO," as Hy Mayer so aptly
expressed IL in his cartoon, showing a
-tork bringing the new theatre 20 play
second Street.
The theatre itself seems Ike q calm.
beautiful, restful pictures. done IN dull
gold, ivory and black. Everything is
luxurious, but unobtrusivo. and the
feeling is Of space. vast space. Moth
ing is crowded. Even the seats seem
bit aloof and detached. and those
who seem TO find their chief pleasure
in crowding back and forth over their
ueighbO during performance are
ro.rg 20 have their evenings spoiled,
for in the new theatre there Is plenty
OF room for them 70 pass without dis
,urbinr their neighbors.
The lighting effects are very won
icrful, and so is the music. Dir. Roth
apfc! pressed g exactly when he
aid that what ne had done at the
Rialto was iu @ measure experimental.
The Riyoli is the finished product, the
result OF those experiments.
The orchestra consists Of more than
rfty musicians. unGer the direction q
hugo Resented.
The stage setting s. called "the con-
-cryatory Of jewels which explains
itself. almost. j. is q dome within n
dome. studded with huge crystal gems.
after the manner % the celebrated
Tower of Jewels 40 the Panama-Pacihc
Exposition.
30 one. with the exception Of SIR.
Eothapfel, thought much about what
he entertainment would be. The peo-
1le came GO see the new theatre
opened; bE. viewed in retrospectIon
The Performance. was @ notable one.
"The Victory Of Democracy opened
the programme. This was IN number
of episodes. and introduced Mary Law
ton as "History." Forrest Robinson as
ne lkNaNfA anu AA|4hA +''t-A-+e -
"Ttc Voice" There was q final tab
isau. with the Rivoli chorus much IN
evidence.
Then came A World o. Dreams" an
unusually beautiful scenic picture, and
the animated pictorial.
Eugene Cowles sang my Little
Gypsy Sweetheart" and it was 80 ar
ranged that the audience could not only
D. I...F .lrfHl tho liff Ig
nomad as well.
Alberto Bachman, the French violin
Isl. PLAYED Air Naric.' The Petit Bal
let introduced q oansa classique, by
The Brook" and "a m.nuet, showing
Comedy and Tragedy The comedy il
"Iler First Love. with Nh. and Mrs.
sidney Drew.
The feature picture is q new Aircraft
with Douglas Fairbanks. il Is called
"a Modern Musketeer.'
Among those who helped 20 open the
theatre last night were: Mayor John
purroy Mitchell, Richard Delaiicld.
oliver Hartman, Cyrus Townsend
Brady. Herbert BreEou, John Nc
Cormack. Walter Damrosch. Irwin Cobb,
e.. j. Dryden. Andreas Dippel, Ir. and
Mrs. j. Stuart BlaCkt0u. z. II. Coch-
rsuc, James Montgomery Flagg, Cap
tain Rupert Hughes, Mr.. and Mrs.
Sidney Drew, Charles Dana Gibson,
Gail Kane, Arthur HGmmerstein, Max
inc Elicit, Edna Ferber. John Hege-
man, Victor Herbert, Carl Laemmle,
Rita Jolivct. Nr. and Mrs. Florenz
Kegfeld, Marcus VI. Marks, George
lean Nathan, Nine. Olga Petrova,
r. j.. Proctor. Lee Shubert, A. II.
Woods. Lewis Selznick, William sherry,
William Fox and {. a. ". De Saulles.