Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-11
THEATRE TO. Be
PLACE OF MANY
new FEATURES
Rest and Most Up.to.Dats Ideas Of
Architects and Theatre Men En-.
bodied In Fort Armstrong.

The most important announce
! ment In many years concerning
loop improvements in the city of
Rock Island IL that made today by
Rosenfeld, Hopp 4 Co., that con-,
tract has been let and construction
started on the Fort Armstrong mo-
ton picture theatre to be erected
at an approximate cost Of $500. 900
on the southwest. corner of Nine
2 teenth street and Third avenue. the
site of the old Y. M. C. A. building
and the Smith photograph studio.
General contract has been awarded
to Briseman 4 Co., Of Moline, and
they have at work force Of men
who are rapidly clearing the
ground to make way for the build
ers.
The erection Of the Fort ARM
strong theatre. according to the an
nouncement made. means that
1Etck Island Is to have the best in
motion picture houses. It will en-
nance the architectural beauty Of
the city and open up another vital
channel for the development Of the
business district
The architects. Cervin 4 Horn Of
this city. and their associate. Will
liam T. Braun of hCicago. with the
owners have expended much time
and great care in planning the
structure. Every modern picture
house in the middle west was Wis
tied by them and the best features
found in any Of them have been in
icorporated in the Fort Armstrong.
To Seat 1000.
The theatre will have frontage
OF 30 feet on Third avenue and q
!. depth of $50 feet on Nineteenth
ttreet, while it, height will be 50
feet There will be seating SUI
Fficient for 1000 people, the seats
to be large and comfortably up
holstered, with plenty Of roomtb be-
tween the rows 80 that it will not
be necessary for those seated to
rise to allow others to reach seats
beyond them. Floor lights will be
installed 80 that patrons shall be
able to see their way to seats,
while the house il darkened. At
the same time. these hidden lights
will not interfere with the screen
vision.
4 Contract has been let to the Ben
nett Organ company Of this city for
the installation Of q $4,000 pipe or
gan. The organ will have all the
latest features and stops found in
any such instruments used in a
theatre in. the United States. An
artist will be engaged to provide
music during the time when films
are being shown. Another must
cal feature will be a large orches-
ira which will render instrumental
music during the intervals between
pictures,
Provision has been made for
btAnA. ample in size to accomm0-
date the largest of road shows, and
II at any time there is demand on
the part Of the patrons for enter
tainment other than motion pic
lures, the Fort Armstrong will be
able to care for the demand. The
stage will be equipped with beau
tiful curtains and scenery. and the
latest effects in lighting will be in
stalled. The entire theatre will
have the last word in electrical
shipment. the contract for which
has been let to Leithner & Weis-
har.
Plenty Of Air.
In all structures which house q
large body Of people at one time,
the big problem is for proper venti-
lation. The system to be installed
in the Fort Armstrong will pro-
vide for the comfort of patrons at
all seasons. In the summer when
It is too hot out-of-doors for COM
, fort, the theatre will be cooled to
/ . comfortable temperature. and
during the cold winter months,
heat will be circulated through
these same ducts. At all times.
fresh air currents will be carried
into the theatre and the atmos-
phere will be free at all times from
the heavy uncomfortable air.
Not only has every effort been
made to provide comfort for all
patrons, but the welfare of those
Who are employed in the theatre
hAs been cared for There will be
special dressing rooms for en-
ployes and these will be equipped
with shower baths and comforta-
BILE resting places to be used while
they are OF duty.
Absolutely the only advertising
to be displayed in the Fort Arm
strong will be that pertaining to
coming attractions at the theatre
itself.
Old Associates Head Company.
The personnel Of the theatre cor
poration is as follows:
President-Walter A. Rosenfield
Vice President and General Man
ager-Joseph Hopp.
Secretary-George Schneider.
Treasurer-Charles d. Rosen.
field.
House Manager - Joseph N
Quinn.
For many years. those who are
to direct the new amusement house
have hAen asa0ciatod with aarh ofh