New-York tribune., 1920-01-18
Every Fighter
To Be Enrolled
In Victory Hall
Walls of Great Auditorium
To Be Emblazoned With
Band Bearing Names in
Bronze or Gold Letters
Building Plans Disclosed
$15,OOO,OOO Structure Will
Be Built With Funds
from Private Subscription

Victory Hall, the proposed monument
to Americas dead and living heroes Of
the Great War, is to be ono Of tho
nations greatest public buildings.-
This much became evident yesterday
with the publication for the first time
of details Of the plans now under con-
sideration by the Victory Hall Associa-
tion. It will consist Of numerous halls
and suites that may be used by the
sistent with the object of It's being.
The site selected for the hall is the
block lying south Of Grand Central Sta
ton, between Forty-frst and Forty
second streets, and Park and Lexington
avenues. The west half Of this block
now belongs to the city and Is being
used for subway purposes, but in no
way will interfere with the erection Of
tho big structure.
Great AmphitheateY
Most important Of the numerous de-
tails Of the building, pictured In the as
sociation's booklet, Is the description
Of the auditorium and amphitheater
Concerning this phase Of tho work the
report sayss
ION the level Of the Fourth Avenue
esplanade will be q great auditorium
and convention hall into which process
through the main portal Of the edifce,
which is triumphal arch incorporated
into the Fourth Avenue front. 1t may
also be reached from the Forty second
Street level by elevators and numerous
stairways.
ut will be In tho form of a lofty
amphitheater. A majestic monumental
colonnade will surround 1t upon the ex-
terror. Tho roof will be an uninter-
rupted span, with a ceiling carefully
devised to secure tho best acoustic ef-
fects. In the center will be an oval
arena 120 feet wide and 270 feet long,
which will admit Of . running track,
ten laps to the mile.
"It will accommodate tournaments,
great musical festivals, pageants, ath-
letic games, great civic gatherings and
public assemblages, including those Of
a dramatic nature, and will afford, as
we'll, to the children Of the public
schools an athletic practice arena for
which great II eed exists.
"The hall will seat ordinarily 5000
people. IT the arena be occupied by
chairs, as will be the case for conven-
tions, 10000 people may be seated, thus
providing one Of the largest conven-
States.
Names Of Every Fighter
"Around the walls Of this great audi
torium will be broad continuous band
bearing in bronze or gold letters the
name and unit Of each soldier, sailor
and marine, as we'll as of each man and
woman, from the City Of New York
belonging to the Red Cross, Salvation
Army, Y. M. c. A., Y. W. G. A., Jewish
Welfare Workers, K. Of c., and Army
Nurse Corps, and Of all others who died
in the service"
Since the American Legion Is made
up OF the mon who made = Victor
Hall possible, 1t is planned to give
special consideration to this organiza-
tion. Concerning tho giving Of an en-
tire floor to the Legion, rent free. the
report says:
@The roof Of tho auditorium will be
sustained by horizontal girders twenty
to thirty feet deep The space between
these will be available for rooms.
"Inasmuch as the American Legion
is made up entirely Of the men in
whose honor Victory Hall is planned
the Association feels that they have a
prior right TO consideration. 1t Is,
therefore. proposed to give them the
use Of this entire floor, which will b.
approximately 400 feet by 200 feet
giving 10000 square feet. The repre-
sentatives Of the American Legion will
be consulted in its layout and ever
attempt will be made to comply with
their wishes in the matter.
ut is intended that the Legion he
given the use Of this space as nefrly
Of management and perhaps the
furnishings"
Rooms for Organizations
The great American Legion hall vii
be surrounded by other rooms to be
given over to auxiliary and patriotic
| bodies. Provisions for these quarters
are described as follows:
"For this purpose Ito which It was
originally intended to assign space or
the fourth hoor) fifth floor has been
provided.
"The central part Of this floor viii
be some 235 feet long by 112 feet wide
and will form a hall for the meeting
dances and entertainments Of tn
American Legion and Of the other so
cieties, as we'll as Of the school chill
dren.
"surrounding this central hall. whict
will be Of great dignity and lit by
large clerestory windows, will be e
balcony looking down upon the hall
Beneath this balcony will be q corri
dor giving access to number Of rooms
which will be assigned to the G. A. r..
Loyal Legion and the auxiliary socie
ties patriotic groups and other organ
:ations which carried on war activitio
and which may require a central meet
lnwroom or q memorial chamber whicl,
VIII contain. their war records or serve
other purposes which may develop an
cannot at this moment be exactly fore
seen.
"As Victory Hill will be fireproof snd