Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-03-30

ed calls for 1--WE or siN-storN Office
building and theater to cover the
entire site. It has a Main street
frontage of eighty feet and depth,
fronting on Second avenue. OF $50
feet. Such dimensions will make 1t
by far the largest single building in
the business district.
The general plan for the building.
as il Is contemplated. will include
room on the first floor, fronting
Main street. for two store rooms, a
foyer for the theater and hall and
space for elevator shaft.
Theater to be Large.
The theater. which it might be
mentioned IL 10 be designed after the
new Des Moines theater. that is ono
of the finest motion picture houses
in the middle west. will occupy ap-
r-ox!rately sHx!1H &c 20 fee: of t,re
floor space and a height equal to
about four stories. The theater will
be placed in the rear or north po--
ton OF the building. y huilt after
the Des Moines theater plan II will
be sumptuous in every detail in ad-
dition to being very large. The plan
Is expected TO call for seating capa-
city OF about 1900 on the ground
floor and 200 or 300 more in the bal
Cony. which will be built in the up
per portion of the south end of the
space occupied by the theater.
Stage Will Be Large.
Altho il is the purpose OF Mr.
Blank 10 build the theater primarily
for motion pictures. stage is TO be
built in OF sufficient size for gen.
eral purposes. The idea is that with
a seating capacity OF about 1900. the
auditorium can be used for large
public gatherings and public enter
tainments demanding large seating
co paCity-
The foyer Of Main street first floor
of the building will open into A sec
ond foyer al the rear and on the
ground floor of theater. but running
from east to west across the rear of
the auditorium. Opening from this
foyer at the east would be outside
entrances from the theater into Sec
Ond avenue.
q JIG OPiShSiu
The whole general plan for the
building. Mr.. Vawter said, would be
a structure that was modern thru
out. handsome and entirely freproof.
The plan for the ground floor on the
Main street front is only very tenta
tive and just what the arrangement
for storerooms. hall. elevator shaft
and foyer for the theater will be viii
not be determined until the plans are
made.
Above the first floor. and extending
north from the Main street front to
, that part of the building occupied b.
the theater. the upper floors will be
divided into offices. Whether the
heighth will be five or six stories will
not be determined until plans are
completed.
Announcement OF the purchase las,
week. Mr.. Nawter said. already hac
brought inquiries and demands for
office rooms.
Purchase Price $4,000.
Altho the purchase price for tbs
site has not been disclosed by either
buyer or seller, II is understood on
very good authority TO have beer
f50.0 which figures at the rate of
1925 per Main street front foot. The
present buildings on the property are
! of small value.
Before purchasing this site for Mr..
Blank, who was expected TO get title
to the property today and possession
April ], Mr.. Nawter said he had been
trying to buy location for Mr.. BLANK
here for some time. The negotiations
for the buying of the Cumming.
property were quickly closed after
/ they were started.
Mr.. Blank Wealthy Man.
Mr.. Blank. who is very wealthy
! man. probably has becomn more ex.
J fensively interested in motion picture
| theater buildings As owner and in the
business as manager. than any other
Iowa man. He &c controlling c-a,;
Of the new Des Moines theater. which
is said to have cost s750. 900 and ne
owns and manages six motion picture
| houses in that city alone.
| Including the houses he manages
! there he has altogether twenty-five
| theaters that are under his contro
and he controls the First National
| franchise.
| About a year ago he entered into
negotiations with the group of bust
ness men. who own the property a,
! Main and Second street, for the cree
ton OF motion picture theater or
that site in connection with hote
that was projected but these negotia
tons fell thru and the building never
was built.
Mr. Blank is the brother OF Mrs
eah Heller. until recently of this
| city but now Of Dos Motive, ,rbos