New Britain herald., 1926-11-10

something of an innovation in thea ter equipment. The lighting of the stage should be exceptionally bril- liant since it has 1000 lights averag- ing 60 watts each, giving an illum- 1 ination of about 60.000 watts. h. cidentally there are approximately coco lights in the entire theater. There will De close to 100 attaches of the house and care has been ex- ercised in selecting the personnel. 1 The ushers alone were chosen after personal consultation with about 200 applicants. The ushers' uniforms are 1 of the formal Tuxedo cut. made of dark suitiug with tapestry vests and standing colcrs and similarly designed lapel There will be three cashiers in the ticket booth when necessary and there will be II musicians In the orchestra as well as an organist.
 The Strand grand orchestra will be under the direction of Hons Wagner of New York. an experienced violin player and orchestra leader. The orchestra piano Is a Steinwav Super Grand while that on the stage is the same as used In the leading theaters. a Sohmer Grand. The or gan is an Austin Grand organ with % sets Of pipes, the longest of which Is IS feet The instrument contains 1,Soo pipes in all and it has three manual console.
 On either side Of the stage Is an electric sign board Of special design l to he used in announcing the names Of the various acts. Unlike other 1 similar signs. all acts will not be flashed simultaneously Instead. the names Of the acts are on a roller device so that as 1t revolves tho names Of the current act alone is visible to the audierce,
 Is Fire Proof Throughout
 This theater is entirely of fire proof construction but it also is equipped throughout with the auto- matic sprinkler system. There are four emergency exits from the bal cony and five from the main audi torium. not including the regular exits. These were approved by the state police in the working plans be- fore the building was started.
 The heating system is of the very latest. It is the so- called indirect heating system. By this 1t is meant that the air Is heated before being thrown into the house. Huge blow CTS suck in fresh air from 20 feet above the ground. This is to have 1t free from dust. It is drawn down Into the heating room where it Is warmed against heating pipes. and then Is sent back into the house. Manual control oil burners furnish the heat. The heating plant itself is an integral part of the theater. yet is absolutely removed from it.
 Located In the basement, on the Chestnut street side. the boiler and heating equipment is in that section of the building not under the stage. It is enclosed in a heavy fire proof, cement vaulted chamber and Is en- tirely isolated from the main build ing in every way.
 The ventilating system is the same as that at the Capitol except that it Is larger and heavier. Known as the typhon cooling and ventilating plan. this equipment is capable of changing the entire air contents of the theater In two minutes were it worked at full capacity. Two 12-foot fans are located over the proscenium arch. Two six-fcot fans are located near the picture booth and others are advantageously placed about the house.
 No Lost Steps in Entering
 With view toward making en- trance easy for the public, the archi- tccts in designing the Strand took special pains with the balcony en- trance and so cleverly was the idea worked out that just 19 steps take a person from the street level to the balcony level. Those 19 steps are the ones leading up the lobby stair case. Once at the top however. a person may cross directly from the promenade. through the messanine and thence up the slightly inclined