Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1919-08-30
|MlDDLETOWNS UP-TO-DATE OPERA HOUSE
Will Open Il. Doors the Public Monday Next With Very
Attractive Program For the Entire Week
THE EQUIPMENT IS THE BEST THAT MONEY COULD BUY


this front exit there are two doors
without bolts or locks. merely closed
with small hook, on the west side and
, one IN the rear of the stage. Above
;; each is small box with opaline glass
sides electrically lighted and marked in
big black letters exit" The left
side of the balcony has been set aside
for colCred patrons
The whole building is wired through
out with armored steel cable and iron
piping-the very latest and safest thing
in electric lighting, the work being done
by the 1'ruax Electric Co.. of Whining
ton, under the supervision of Nr. j..
McGahy. ample ventlating is ar
ranged in the ceiling and the eight
windows on either side of the room
Above make the airing and cooling of
the big room easy and swift.
Besides the main auditorium there
are two good-sized store-rooms on either
side, willie Mr.. Redgraves will occupy
the large store annex on the east, % by
liz feet, which has been fully fitted up
with stalls. shelving, bins. etc., for his
use in the hardware business.
Two big moving picture machines,
the Powers Cameragraph, of the very
best pc tern, costing $1,000 or more,
are installed in the fire-proof booth in
the rear of the balcony. They are so
arranged as to give continuous film.
the one machine taking it up as the
other finishes; there are several new
fire-safety appliances added which
make the machine safer both generally
and for the opera.or Then the booth
itself is absolutely fire-proof. On top
of concrete floor is an asbestos board
covering one-half an inch thick and the
sides and top of the booth itself are
very thick asbestos boards. no wood or
other combustible material in the booth
and the films kept il an iron box,
though for that matter a big fire inside
could not get out in any event. Mr..
Elwood l. Banning. who is an expert
enced expert in the matter, will have
charge of the operating of the film ma
chimes.
A neat ticket booth is at the entrance
on the left as you enter the well-lighted
lobby. The front elevation of the
building is impressive with its three
large windows each divided into three
smaller ones. Above, overhanging the
whole front, is large cornice with two
ball-topped square finals, one at each
corner. Immediately below the cornice
in big gilt letters each one electrically
lighted, are the words MIDDLETO NN
OPERA HOUSE," Set in the center
and surmounting the whole front rises
a fine large A-gable and within its tri-
angle handsome gilt scroll work and
wreath with an electric light in its GEN.
ter. Another ball final rises above the
apex of the gable.
The entrance to the Opera House is
through a shapely curved archway
flanked On either side by futed COL
umns, while above the entrance, sus-
pended by three chains, is wooden
marquis with mouldings and a ,order of
A escutcheon shaped opal glasses each
one lighted from within by electricity.
This beautiful structure, which is the
finest south of Wilmington. is the work
of Mr.. John T. Nelson, of Laurel, as
sisted by Mr.. H. C. Phillips. Mr.. Mel
son says it is reproduction with inn
provements of the Laurel Theatre.
built by himself.
lmpresario Lewis will open his lovely
Thespian shrine to the public next Mon
day night, September /, by presenting
to his patrons the admirable play,
"The Turp of the Road.'
No doubt with this double attraction
of fine play in fine theatre, all the
Middletown world will be there.
On Saturday, September 9th, the
strong play by Guy Empey the famous
war hero 1.-THE Undercurrent.