PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2297, 3 November 1914, Page 3

PEOPLE'S PICTURE PALACE

AN UP-TO-DATE THEATRE. . Alterations to the People's Picture Palace in Manners, Street are being completed to-day, and tlie theatre will open to the public again, to-morrow evening' an,improved and thoroughly up-to-date picture house. The alterations are apparent as soon as one. steps into the main entrance. Here a new feature is a grand staircase (entrance to' dress circle), opening to-a handsome lounge, the walls of which are pierced, by leadlights of a beautiful design. The dress circle has been erected to give increased accommodation, and it is fitted with tip-up seats, upholstered in ! plush.' Plenty of room exists between the rows and eacli seat has a clear view of the screen. Downstairs, the whole of tho seats have. been, renewed,' and in this ,part of' the house 600 people can be accommodated in leather tip-up chairs. The screen has been enlarged, and is vertical, thus, .obviating the distorted view wnicli is unavoidable on a tilted screen. Tho orchestra is accommodated in a neat'.court just at tliofoot of the screen, and while the "movies" are being reeled off tho machine musical accompaniments will always bo played. With a view to eliminating all risk of fire, the operating box has been given special, attention, and at the same time it has been' so constructed as to onsure the projection of ,a perfect picture; Improvements to the ventilation include the erection of no fewer than eight large revolving cowls, and this should make it easy to keep the place cool and healthy in the . summer .months. The exits provided will allow of tho theatre being emptied in two minutes should the necessity arise. The method of lighting during the time the pictures, are showing is unique, and one result Will be that the theatre will never be in total darkness. Lights, are being fitted on all stops in. the dress circle so' that ! . patrons will # have no difficulty, in finding thoir way. to seats, and downstairs the lighting will be adequate without interfering with the pictures. The whole of the corridors ore being rearranged with mirrors and decorative work in keeping with the rest of the house. Carpets will be laid down throughout and should materially add to comfort. The interior has been beautifully decorated by Mr. Haukinson, and is a credit to his artistic workmanship. Between sessions patrons will find that the theatre presents a very bright appearance indeed. For. the re-opening night (to-morrow) a feature will be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous picture dramatisation of "Tho House of Temperley," .as produced by the) London Film Company, and played by a very strong cast. - The film is one. that should increase the popularity of the People's Picture Palace, '