New Britain herald., 1929-11-20
EMBASSY THEATER
 ID OPEN FRIDAY
Old RuSsWin LyCeum Made Into
 Modern Cinema Palace

More than a year of construction work and ornamentation to trans form the old Lyceum playhouse into the modern Embassy theater. was consummated today, in readiness for formal opening Friday night
 An orchestral concert and a sho~t dedlcatory program in which Mayor Haonessa and others are expected to take part. will precede the first program Of 'talkies' in the recon stlucted thoater. The building IS controlled by Joseph Dciczck and Marshall r. Davenson. officers Of the Dciczck < Dayensou Co. and the theatcr will be operated under the er-manaRement plan. Mr. bavenson, an ornamental plaster ing contractor. is responsible for inc decorative plan carried out and gave personal supervision to the preparations for re-openinE. Henry F. Ludorf, an architect who main tains offices in Hartford and in this city, prepared the structural plans; the heating and ventilating schemes were planned by P. l.. Davis Of New York. affOrding yapor heating, and a ventilatinG system delivering 2j cubic feet per person of warm air in the winter and cold air in the summer. installation being by the Frederick Raff Co, Of Hartford; plumbing work was installed by Otto Epstein Co.,; electrical equip mcnt, including a1lurDg effects in color. was placed by the Perry Flee tric Co; artisans Of the Rambusch Decorating Co. Of New Yorl, city, carried out the decorative scheme; stage rigging is by Peter Clark. Inc, O. New York. and the Novelty Seen ic Studios. also Of New York, made and installed the curtain.
 Motif Taken from ilhambra
 The motif of the interior is talk en from the palaces Of the Moorish kings of the Alhambra in Granada, and in some parts Of the building 2 mixture Of Spanish is injected to simplify and 1one down the over decorative Moorish style.
 The entrance to the building, formerly on West Main street, is now on Main street, through the Leonard building. A lobby widens from a 14-foot arch of French grey marble 10 90 feet in width where it terminates in a rotunda, 32 feet in diameter. The flooring in the en- trance is of Italian travertine mar ble. imported from Italy. Illuminat- ed recesses. treated in golden tints, have been installed for display cab inets. The entrance has been simpli- fled in art Briar Hill sandstone and French limestone, with faint sky blue and cloud effects overhead. The general motif is Spanish, drift ing to Moorish. French art mir rcrs, figured in silvered designs, add 10 the first impression.
 Where the lobby meets the TO- tunda, one comes face to face with ar attractive Spanish pattern. Col umns of onyx rouge marble circle the rotunda and set off color scheme carried out in soft tints.
 The Auditorium
 A travertine marble staircase, pro tected by q railing of wrought iron is at the right, the entrance to the balcony. Through heavy bronze doors directly ahead, one enters the main auditorium. Here one takes in with a sweeping glance an entranc- ing spectacle of Moorish ornamental tion. The ceiling is most pleasing to the eye, with it's interlacing patterns in ivory. reds. brown. orange and gold. picked out in silver. Concealed lighting sends out ulti-colored ef- fleets overhead. At intervals on the wide and back walls have been spaced MoorIsh brackets and lan- terms Of lacqucred brass; at either side Of the stage is d niche, shelter ing huge vases Of cut flowers. The lower portion of the walls is of square tile and roscttes, done in brown, and the upper portion IS treated in peach color. Floor Cov- cring is in continuous design of soit cerise. tan, light green and black. laid over heavy padding completely dcadening the sound of footballs. The seats, numbering 7j0 are of jacquard velour, in red diamond pattern. Overhead. hundreds of lights are concealed to throw a sun- . burst effect from the prosccnium arch. Ten exits, each marked with q recessed light, lend q feeling Of safety and security.
 Passing 10 second staircase lead ing 10 the balcony. one finds him. self in q we'll appointed lounginG room, before q homc-likc fireplace. Lounges, divans and chairs have been conveniently placed, against and facing walls toXtured in brown, with backgroud of sienna.
 The gcntlemcn's rest rooms have a decided leaning to lhe old Eng fish mode. The ceiling effect is ona Of rough hcwu timber. with flooring Of irregular sized tiles of brown and red. The ladies rooms are treated more d"licately. Silver and pearl are used in panel effects. the lcan- ing being toward the Adams style. Here, gold covered furniture has been placed. Inc It&lHFcS are D' orchid tile, with French grey marble.
 Ramps on slight incline lead from the mezzininc floor 10 the balcony which seats G7D, Of which 200 arc lOgc seats.
 Decorative Ceiling
 Into the ceiling over tbn balcony NIr Davensou has worked a mott. taken from the Moorlsh patterns ae found at Palermo, Italy, the point to which cXilcd Moors had fled and evolved q somewhat different type Of ornamentation which. however still feels q decided influence of the -