Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-05-11

on this street. th0re will be gap 100
feet wide. extending to tho next street
OF the nSrth side of that block.
Upon this spacious site there is to
be erected hvc-story structure. not
beings. nor of what can generally be
termed merchandise. This entire
building is TO be used for the stor-
duction OF Grand Opera in New York.
Think of it! a structure 100 feet
wide. zoo feet deep: and taller than
many of the smaller cities of the United
States. needed to hold when not in
use. the painted halls: palaces, forests.
balconies. bridges. temples. grottoes.
eathedrals. banquet chambers. prisons1
dungeons. ships. chariots. lakes. mea/
dows, fortresses, dragons. rock bound
coasts, watch towers. Egyptian tombs.
IiinSo gods. Turkish mosques, funeral
nyres. village greens. Spanish arenas.
Venetian lagoons. Chinese junks. jap
anese tea-houses. Arctic wastes, trop.
cai junglcs and other cNternals that
seek 10 make the music-drama real
istic and convincing.
Is it any wonder that only city OF
such colossal wealth as this. can an.
nually support long season of Grand
realized the enormous tax put upon a
managerial purse. by the "wage-rate"
of those rare beings upon whom nature
conferred the wondrous gift OF Il
VOICE.
i'm city realty. and building material
should become necessary fIr the lodge
ment of the cages in YhiCE they sing.
has. | confess. struck me as remark
able.
Il you, however. imagine that the
investment is an cStravagant one, you
will be making mistake. II rs ~
further payment of huge rentals
which. ii seems. the opera company
has sccn paying for the storasG Of
Opera HOUSE and ctpacious as are the
regions beneath the stage. !, can no
more hold The prOnS n Sssen,,a 10 iia
set OF golf balls.
The major part of vast carharn
belonging TO a line now less promn-
ent than il once was. has been but one
of the places rented at high figure
by the opera directors. and, in me
cost OF insurance has been very high.
The new structure is. OF course, TO
be as nearly hrepIoof as IT can ne
it will be divided into sections with
exceedingly thick walls. SO that II hre:
for G S, happsns TO SET hold or
ment. it will not be able 10. rase amid
the forests Of Arden. next door.
An eminent firm OF architects has
designed the structure and 1 am told
that the work of preparing the site
will begin on June l.
\ great advantage Will be secured
by having a storehouse extending en-
tirely through city block. because
it will do away with the necessity OF
unloading the scenery trucks, out on
public thoroughfare. as is now re-
quired TO the great dcliGh: of the city
urchin. Tho scenery-conveyinE We
hicles will drive in from one street
and emerge upon another.
The main elevator Is TO be thirty
feet wide to accommodate rolled scenic
pieces Of the largest dimensions. and
there will be smaller lifts" for less
cumbersome "props"
Rolled scenes arc hung upon racks.
and there are ensuSh Of these scenes
awaiting storage TO iili four floors OF
this mammoth building. The fifth. or
top story is TO he fitted with skylights
for use Of the scenic artists in retouch-
inE or creative work.
When you are reminded that the |
Metropolitan Opera House is in tho
very hear; of the city, and that the |
site for the new building is within |
four blocks or less than ten minutes
drive from IL. you will appreciate what |
an immense outlay for the city realty !
the project necessitated.