BIG "STOUSH" HOUSE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 190, 28 August 1937, Page 18

BIG "STOUSH" HOUSE

THE LARGEST TN WORLD ' 80,000 SEATS AVAILARLE The. largest exhibition. and enter.tainment eentre. in', the- world,, a. mag- , n'ificentiy designed new building, costing £1,500,000, is -rapidly 'ncaring completi'on at Earl's Court, Loiidpn. - It will be twice -the size of St. -Paul's .Catlicdfal, five times as large as the •Albert .Hall. ... . «. It is a thyee-sided structure, 900ft. long on one side,' 700ft.. .on' the others, circled by a haif-mile long road. It is a remarkable tribute to the architect, Mr. C. Howard Crane, 'that although the building had to be superimposed on six railvvay lines, below and above ground, not a single train was stopped for its construction. 30,000 Soats The main exhibition floor covers 450,000 sq. ft. The building can be divided into three distinct halls, and includes lifts and escalators, which make it possible for; lorries cqntaining exhibits to be driven straight in and raised to the floor required before unloading. For events such as boxing, 25,000 to 30,000 seats can be provided. The storage space previously occupied for these seats is then converted into a garage, with room for 2000 cai\3. Mr. John I-Iardihg, 'mahager of thc National Sporting Club, who is to have charge of the boxing arrangemcnls, is already negotiating for the appearance of Joe Louis, the heavyweight chamoion, at Earl's .Court. in O.ctober..