The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-01-18
New Fort Armstrong Theatre
Is Monument To Pioneer and
Symbol of Advancement of Art

legitimate theatre. The spacious,
comfortable balcony, with its cap
acity of TOO seats, il Of SURPRISING
accommodation to any motion pic
ture theatre Of q decade ago. But
the imposing vastness of the inter-
ior is nowise contrary to the func-
ton Of simplified. conventional orn-
alton in which the eye cannot de-
tect the slightest suggestion of
monotony.
Thrones Of Repose.
There are 1900 seats in the the
atre-virtually diminutive thrones
Of repose- without an iota of OBJ
struction-a pillar, post or projec-
tion-to impair a clear view of The
s;lversheet. The purged atmo-
sphere, temperate in winter and
summer alike, is conducive OF COM
fort. Uncarpeted floors of enam.
elled concrete are in keeping with
the general scheme of faultless
sanitation. There will be no OBJ
pressive chills, overheatedness or
dust to mar the thrill of perfect
enjoyment as the patron watches
the trend Of the picture.
The lighting effects comprise a
tribute to the highest genius of
electrical science. 1t is doubtful
that Fairyland with its oft-repeat-
ed pale, delicate hues-the pinks
and puppies. the rare reds, yawn-
ling yellows,> balmy blues and gen.
tile green's Of the most resplendent,
imaginative array-couh be more
adequately illuminated to reveal its
hidden charms.
Light Of the Gods.
An ingenious system Of lighting,
operated by new type Of remote
controlled switchboard and clever
ly adjusted DINNERS, whose levers
may be operated with piano-touch,
is the source of this subtle brill
lance centered in the dome ON the
main ceiling and in reflector, boxes
under the organ screen son both
sides of the proscenilm arch.
! The seven primal c0lors of the
rainbow may be blended and diff
fused by. this artful scheme to suit
the whims Of the picture upon the
screen, with unerring faithfulness
to plot suggestion. There can be
pink dawns. golden Moons and
purple twilights; bleak breeks-o'-
day, cherries noontimps and drab
sunfalls; sombre nights shot with
silver moonlight; yellow hazes sim
mering in the summer sun; noun
tain blues and greys flecked with
snowy whites; the vital greens OF
meadow and hillside; the pinks Of
the rose. and the red CLOVIS of pull
sating life. whichever tho theme OF
the picture suggests.
Eyes Of the Past.
A trio of massive Indian heads
adorned in full racial regalia--
lred. high-cheekboned. Roman-nos-
ed. thin-hpped visages. once men
aces. but now revered memories
will gaze inscrutably' down upon
the audience from the three e.
tremities OF the proscenium arch
Replicas Of tribal blankets. - fam
GUS In the moulding Of destinies a
the togas Of Rome. the soatskini
of the Gauls, the chain armor 81
the Middle Ages. and the khaki foi
today. are inpanelled upon the
walls. They are the ancient robes
OF the BLACK Hawk. Navajo. Nojave
Sioux, Sac and Fox. Iroquois, Del
aware and Seminole.
Taut parchment Of ochfe calf.
skin depicting Indian scenes, have
been shaped into lampshades. sus-
pended in convenient array
throughout the auditorium. High
overhead. larger shades. With long,
hint-tipped arrows and feotAerod