PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1569, 12 October 1912, Page 6

PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE

TO BE OPENED ABOUT NOVEMBER J. The latest addition to tho list of picturetheatres in Wellington is the People's Picture Palace, in Manners Street (next to Bcggs's music warehouse). This hand-ily-situated hall is. to seat 500.people in comfortably-upholstered chairs (to be arranged in rows Sit. Gin. apart). The floor is so constructed that every scut-holder will obtain a full view of the screen. To do this tho floor, has been laid on a "rake at such ail angle that no one's view can possibly be obsourcd by those in front, and ns there is no gallery, no posts oppose the lino of vision. Furthermore, the absence of a gallery permits of tho picture being thrown on to a perpendicular screen. The distance the picture will be 1 thrown is flCft., and the screen will be 22ft. by 18ft.—which is in. tho nicest proportion to the size of the hall (06ft. by 38ft.). Mr. Percy Petherick, who has had considerable experience in connection with picture shows in Wellington, and is a mechanical engineer by trade, will have the management of the new Picture Palace. He has arranged a device in connection with the machine which will, he states, prove valuable should the film at ainy time take lire. This is on arrangement whereby tho firing of a piece of film suspended over the danger spot will automatically close tho shutter of the "bio box" (a solid concrete room built outside the main back wall of tho theatre), and at the same time switch on the house lights. Ho argues that there can bo no panic where the people can see what is going on—theatre panics always occur when the place is in darkness, hence his ingenious invention. There will be a 15ft. entrance from Manners Street, divided half-way down by biff swing doors to shut out the clamour of the street. In addition to the- entrance, there are two exits into a sft.- right-of-way, and one into Old Customhouse Quay. The building contains a retiring , room for ladies and children, an orchestra room, board room,-film room, and two.offices, which are to bo let. Tho Palace- has been pronounced to be acoustically ideal, and has already been - let for Sunday evening services. The management hope to bo in a position to open tho doors to Hie public on November 1. ■ .