The Washington times., 1935-12-26


Seventh Street and Pennsylvan
The thirteenth Warner Bros.
theater in Washington. and the
thirty-seventh in the Washington
territory, directed by John j,
Payette, general zone manager,
the Penn stands as the last word
In modern motion picture theater
construction. One of Americas
"streamlined" theaters' it is the
first theater to be built in Wash
ington since the advent of sound
pictures, an achievement with
which the name of Warner Bros.
is so firmly associated through
the Vitaphone, their pioneering
development of talking pictures.
The Penn was designed by John
EberSon, well-known New York
theater architect, to fit all the re-
quirements of perfect sight and
sound entertainment. AcouStical
control was "built-in," and the en-
tire style of architecture was Gre
ated to afford perfect seeing and
hearing from any seat in the the
alter.
The Penn has the most modern
type of projection and sound
equipment, including two complete
simplifying systems, and its 52-foot
preScenium arch permits the use
of one of the largest screens in
the District of Columbia. The
theater itself is 1875 feet long and
81 feet wide, and seats 1900 peo-
pie.
Appointments throughout are
the most modern available, the
theater having been designed as
completely modern without any Of
the harsh lines and gariSh design
Of So-called "modernistic design"
The chairs-of type far removed
from the old style. Anticipated
theater "seatS" have been set at
scientifically designed angles, as
surfing fullest and finest vision.
Throughout the year, winter or
summer, the Penn will maintain
an even temperature, latest type
air conditioning equipment having
been provided for Washington's
hot summer months. ThermoStatic
control gives assurance that ex-
tremeS Of heat or cold never will
be found. =
The Penn embodies the fun ex-
perience and knowledge of John
EberSon, its designer, who has to
his credit more than 500 theaters
in the United States. 1t marks
complete departure from the Gus
tomary idea of a motion picture
theater, yet retains all of the best
features of older houses in CON-
bination with new developments
and improvements.
The Penn is the first theater to
be opened to the public under an
extensive building program plan
ned in Washington by Warner
Bros. Mr.. Payette promised citi-
zenS of the Southeast a new and
beautiful theater just as soon as
conditions would permit its cree
ton, and at the first signs of re-
turning prosperity, pushed it to
completion. 1t was constructed un-
der the direction of A. Julian Bry-
1aWski, manager of the Real Es-
tate Department of Warner Bros.
Washington territory, and under
the geneal supervision of Herman
A. Maier, chief of construction for
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. desire to acknowl-
edge to the following firms their
service in creating this beautiful
theater: The George A. Fuller Co.,
general contractors; Logan Pin
gree, excavation and grading:
David c. Butcher, Inc, masonry;
Fred Drew Co., concrete construc-
ton: United States Gypsum Co !.
gypsum slabs; Murray Bros, plain
and ornamental plastering; Nc.
Leod and Romborg Co., cut stone
work; Washington Woodworking
Co., carpentry and millwork; For
mica Insulation Co., formica doors
and panels; Warren-Ehret Co.,
roofing; Wolfsteiner Co., sheet
metal work; William E. Gambrill
and Co.. metal doors; The Sany-
metal Products Co., metal toilet
partitions; Hugh Reilly Co., glass,
glazing and mirrors; Edward W.
Minte Co., painting and wood fin
iShing; Washington Stair and Or.
nament Works, ornamental iron;
Belmont Iron Works, structural
steel and iron: Maurice A. Hess,