The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-06-17

world Of the future is anticipated
Announcement of the completed
plans was made today on behalf
of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and his
colleagues by John r. Todd. head
of the engineering corporation that
will translate the designs of archi-
tects into towering steel and stone.
Except for one or two Struc-
lures" read the announcement,
thus allowing for the few ease
holders who steadfastly have de-
clined to sell their plots to the
Rockefeller agents, 1.-The area from
Forty eighth to Fifty-flrst street
fronting Fifth avenue, and from
Fifth avenue clear across to a SINH
lar frontage of three blocks on
Sixth avenue, will be leveled and
business operations will be begun
this fall"
Ready in 1888
Todd believes the entire develop
ment will be completed by the fall
OF 1888.
The land on which the vast radio
center is to rise was purchased
largely from Columbia university,
to which institution it had been do
mated in the last century. Rookie
feller originally had planned to
frame the development around a
new metropolitan opera house, but
the directors of the latter company
decided last winter to retain the
present location at Fortieth street
and Broadway.
The radio interests, led by David
Sarnof and repeatedly Owen D.
Young, although his name does not
figure in Todd'S announcement, sue
ceeded in convincing Rockefeller Of
the necessity to provide for broad
casting in any plans for an amuse-
ment center.
A building program has been
mapped out for the acreage that
will sacrifice many Fifth avenue
shops, Sixth avenue stores, and
cross-street brownstone houses, now
but vaguely reminiscent Of their
former social glory.
Four Theaters Planned
Four theaters are projected, one
seating 1000 persons for a new con-
ception of vaudeville entertainment;
another seating 5000 and especially
designed for the "talkies"; another
of lesser size constructed especial
" for musical comedies. and the
fourth for dramatic productions of
a selective character"
A vast symphony hall also is UNI
der consideration.
Twenty seven broadcaSting
studios, some three stories in
height
A number of new office buildings
each in architectural harmony with
another
Fronting Fifth avenue and form
ing the central structure on that
street an oval building of moderate
height. Shops on first floor, bank
on second and restaurant with out
side promenade on roof.
Surveying the entire development
a Sixty-story Office building. From
this unit a corridor. three stories
tall, to the other structures.
A garden plaza, set of by foun-
tainS, Statuary and Shrubbery, in
the center Of three square blocks
running parallel to Fifth avenue.
n. B. c. Head Enthusiastic
Huge underground bus terminals
and subterreanean parking arrange
ments. Likewise. a parking tower to
provide other vehicle facilities.
A clew to the ultimate uses of the
proposed radio center was offered
by Merlin Hall Aylesworth. rreSi-
dent Of the National BroadcaSting
Company, who said today tha,
"broadcaSting must look toward the
day when both sight and sound
will be transmitted through the me-
dunn of the air"
1T is true that television still is
largely in the toddling age" he con-
tinued. but the vast possibilities of
sight added to sound can not be
ignored in planning for the future.
With the theatrical and musical
enterprises to be created in this
development. the broadcaSting CEN
ter will be joined in a vast artery
Of communication with the dra-
matte stage, with variety, with talk
ing motion pictures. with the SYM