HUGE THEATRE FOR LONDON.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1024, 13 January 1911, Page 4

HUGE THEATRE FOR LONDON.

. ;_ x " ..SEATING; FOR 3500. ■' 'London lV'to'liarc* something new ill, ■theatres, and will owe the. innovation, to American, enterprise. Mr. Earl.'. 'Gandy is making final arrangements.' for the erection of a gigantic summer; jbheatrc.-'at Hammersmith, one of the-, western suburbs and quite near the '.'White City." -The building will cost about £25,000 will present great spectacular "p'a'ys~"th!ft will appear to tho enormous'summer floating population of". London.'.' .-:,■■., :. ."Q.ur,. theatrc,'.'..says Mr. Gandy, "will '. be of'such a capacity that it will be* possible to reproduce two battle scenes, in less than a minute. The stage will:: be like a double-deck lift. One deck will-bo -in .the basement roady, the; other, will .bo on. i he stage level. A. touch.of an electric lover, and tho lower, stage will ascend, bringing into the limelight the ; second'scene. There will';, be seating accommodation for 3500, provided for' 1000 stalls on the ground" - floor-anti-. 2400; scats in the balcony. A.t,..the,.back ir qf the stall there will be', a promenade/ leaving easy room 2000 people/ The stage will have a'v '170-foot opening, and a depth of 100 ; ; feet. There will be a sliding roof, and. some of tho walls will open, so that on' hot 'summer,~evenings..the patron will;.-, feel '.a's'af 'noiw&'e'-'aittfni*'; mx.tTjOpEn ; . air. The stage.- productions will employ 1000 actors' and actresses. The site has not yet. been definitely fixed, liut it is to bc'iin Hammersmith. The theatre will coirfiin a conservatory, tea rooms, retiring 'rooms, buffets, lounges, and kitchens, restaurants, dining, billiard, writing, and reading rcoms. Each tea-room will have its own hand. There will be a circular'earriage drive through beautifully laid-biit grounds,, with flower bods, and' crystal" fountains and similar trimmings. Tlfc'rC will be a .40ft. covered roadway leading to a garage capable of holding - 400 cars, and there will be a special waiting-room for chauffeurs and servants." Mr. Gandy says he hopes that tht theatre may "be open on June 1.