San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-01-28
HUGE OPEN-A|R
. THEATER SITE
FOUND At PARK
Singer Claims Small Expense
Would Provide Bowl
to Seat $4,000.
ACOUSTICS is GOOD
Henri Scott Discovers Pos
sibilities Through
Accident.

San Antonio could have a huge open.
air theater, unrivalled in beauty, with
!perfect acoustics and an almost unlim'
tied seating capacity at a very small ex-
3pense. This assertion was made Sat
lurday by Henri Scott, of Philadelphia,
fmember of the Metropolitan and Chica-
Lgo Grand Opera Company, appearing on
.~.i1 Majestic bill last week. The dis
Icovery was made accidentally by. Mr..
EScott and David Griffin, of San An
tonic, on visit to Breckenridge Park.
| The big bowl just below the Alpine
kDriye, Mr.. Scott believes, could be
converted into an open-air theater
(which would rival those at Hollywood,
tCaL, and st. Louis, Mo.
The possibility of building such a
}theater had been mentioned to Commits
5sioner Ray Lambert a year or so ago,
tbut owing to the lack of funds he mas
been unable to carry out the plan. 1t
is hoped, however, that the park COM
missioner, at some future time, will
have the available funds and that this
Important project can be carried out.
Voice Carries Clearly.
4 Mr.. SCOTS and Mr.. Griffin's discOv-
Eery was made in an unusual manner.
II While looking over Breckenridge
Park in company with Mr.. Griffin, Mr..
Scott stopped on the top of the cliff on
kAlpine Drive that overlooks the flower
bed made in the shape of a star. Down
below, a distance of possibly 200 feet,
there was a man walking around and
n normal voice Mr.. Griffin called to
him, asking the time. The answer came
lEIp just as clear as if the speaker had
been close together. Mr.. Scott was en-
khusiastic and Immediately declared,
III This is natures gift of an ideal loca-
ion for an open-air theater.
III After this test, Mr.. Scott suggested
That Mr.. Griffin remain on the top Of
he cliff while he would descend INTO
he garden and sing few selections TO
further test the acoustics of the place.
|saccording to Mr.. Scott. after singing a
lew numbers, Mr.. Griffin said every
word was plainly audible, at distance
hat was fully 80 or 200 feet.
Construction Cost Small.
Mr.. Scott has Travelled extensively in
fhe United States and Canada and he
Mates that the location here is one Of
The best he has ever seen. IT is report
I'll that in st. Louis. with just the use
M an open park. $4,000 was made
irop; concerts and operas given. In
hollywood, Cal. there is an Open-air
heater, the Hollywood Bowl, that seats
Ia, 900 people and Mr.. Scott states that
he place in Breckenridge Park could
he made to correspond with the Holly
vood Bowl. seating, however, only
bout 10000.
A brief description of the way in
khich an attractive theater could be
CONSTRUCTED, as outlined by Mr.. Scott
lollows: At the smallest neck of the
Excavation, the stage could be set. either
Elevated slightly or lowered, with huge
Columns extending upward on either
hide. The background could be natur-
h wherever permissible and where nee
ssary, scene could. be dropped. The
eats would be constructed in the shape
f a circle with a slight elevation, as
bund in every theater.
Suggest Aida as Opening Number.
Because of the simplicity of the seen
ry and the numerous street scenes, Mr..
cott suggests the Opera Aida as IN
pening number. He states that the
ast could either be selected from home
hlent or that the services of some opera
pmpany. located elsewhere. could be So
bred. He further stated that he would
glad to make the initial presentation,
electing cast from all over the cOun-
ry.
It is hoped that Mr.. Lambert, who is
hut of the city, will give this matter
is careful consideration when he re-
lrns and that in the near future San
ntonio may have an open-air theatcr
hat will attract the country by its
atural beauty.