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About The west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1875-1891 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 21, 1889)
WEST SHOKE. GRAND OPERA HOUSE AT SPOKANE FALLS. X the rebuilding of the burned city of Spokane Fulls, much attention is being paid to beauty of architecture, and the progress already made bIiows what a beautiful city, architecturally, the metropolis of the Inland Empire will soon become. One of the greatest needs of western cities has been good theatres, but this is now being supplied everywhere. Portland, Tacoma, Seattlo and Spokane are all building splen did opera houses, such as any city could well take pride in. The finest of these is the magnificent tem ple of Thespis now nearly completed in Spokane Falls. This handsomo structure will cost f')00,0()0, ami is being erected by J. J. Browne and A. M. Can non, two of SjHtkano's oldest and moBt enterprising citizens. The building has a frontage of l"iO feet on Post street ami 1(K) on Muin street. From it a most beau tiful landscape may be seen, including the city, the gorge through which rush the foaming waters of Spo kane river and tho great plain in which the city lies. The opera house is patterned ofter Broadway theater in Xew York, and none in tho Tinted States is more complete in its npM)intments or elegant in its furnish ings. Tho hall, eighty feet long and twenty wide, is entered through a high stone archway. The corri dors are provided with niches in which handsome statues are placed. Tho walls aro hung with beautiful paintings, and tho ceilings frescoed in the highest style of art. This passage leadH to the foyer. On tho opHsite side of the entrance, and a little to tho right, is the ticket ollico. It has a circular front, and a brass railing is placed at a convenient distance there from, insi.lo of which all must pass to reach the ticket window. On tho left of tho foyer is the manager's room, and on the right the ladies' and gentlemen's toilets, while opposite tho ticket ollice a stairway ten feet wide leads up to tho balcony lloor and on up to the gallery. On tho balcony lloor, or properly the smmd story, there is another ollice, where tickets for tho balcony and gallery are purchased, those sold in tho foyer ollice Wing only for tho parquet and dress circle in tho auditorium. On each side of tho main ticket ollice there is a wide entrance to the auditorium, hung with rich tapestry curtains. Tho auditorium is TOxlN) fwt, containing S(K) plush upholstered opera chairs of tho latest design. Theso chairs are provid ed with coat and hat racks. Four handsome prosce nium lxues occupy their proper place. The orchestra is lowered so as not to interfere with tho view from any part of tho panjuet or dress circle. The stage is 10x70 feet in i, with proscenium openings thirty six feet wide and forty-five feet high; there areftur exits off tho stage. Tho stage has all the latest im- provements, such as traps and every mechanical con trivance necessary for mounting any play, spectacular or otherwise, that can be rendered. The scenery ig . what is known as vertical flats, made to disappear above when not needed. The drop curtain s of as bestos, which is absolutely fireproof. Electricity and gas are used for lighting the building, and it is heated with steam. Sixteen dressing rooms are provided; real water effects can be produced. The entrance to the stage is of sufficient size to admit fire engines, wagons and horses, which can be driven on or off the stage if necessary. From floor to ceiling of the thea ter proper is sixty feet, with a cupola of stained glass and sun burner on top. This is also arranged to act as a ventilator. The main auditorium has ten exits to be used in case of fire, while outside iron stairways are provided for fire escapes from tho balcony and gallery. By these means the building can be emptied in two minutes. All around the exterior of the opera house proper is an alley or court twenty-five feet wide, except at the point where the corridor crosses it. This elegant place of amusement will be thrown open to the public about the first of March next, and will be under the management of Harry Hayward, a gentleman of much successful experience in managing first-class theatres. When this house is opened, Spo kane will soon become known to managers of star at tractions as one of tho beet "show towns" in the United States, and will be visited by the best combina tions on the road. OREGON FORESTS AND FOLIAGE. k f EW EXGLAND forests, for variety of folingo beau 1 1 ty especially during the autumn months-have ' generally been conceded to bo without a rival. While this, perhaps, is true, in the main, yet other sections of the Union present claims that cannot be ignored, or even overlooked. For diversity, beauty and brilliancy the forests of the Xew England states aro undoubtedly unsurpassed. Sharp, nipping frosts, the chilly night, and the clear, transparent atmosphere of that famous, historical region of tho American con tinent, have much to do in imparting so many glowing tints to tho foliage, and in investing it with so much of dreamy and romantic charms. In the southern states an almost entirely different type of forest lieauty is met. Spring, summer, autumn and even winter cast each its peculiar influence over, and impart masterly touches of beauty to woods and shrubs. Brilliant hues of nearly every conceivable shade and tint are pnintcd by nature's brush," while the glowing heavens and soft semi-tropical air lend a del icious sense of languor to tho pylvan scenes. Xo less does ono find the peculiar characterictios of