The Pittsburgh Press from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 20

TWENT? Want Ad Headquarters, Court 4900 Other Press Departments, Court 7200 THURSDAY, AUGUST 30. 1934 THE PITTSBURGH PRESS I NEW HARRIS-ALVIN THEATRE SPECIAL SECTION Vice President Widow Unveils Showman's Portrait General Contractor H. PETER VAN DUYL Cedar Mt. Lebanon Fur Fashion Show Carded Models to Display New Styles at Alvin Tonight Vh 8 If LEhish 0415 Alvin Entertainment To Be American Idea Pittsburgh Amusement Seekers Will Sense Atmosphere Upon Entering Renewed Theater Design, Construction Is Consistent With Modernistic Theme If you are one of the many who Good Wishes and Success to the HARRIS-ALVIN THEATER -V- A i 1 When Pittsburgh amusement seekers enter the renewed Alvin Theater for the first time they will sense an atmosphere dedicated to the American idea of genuine entertainment. Every detail of design and construction is consistent with the modernistic theme and the general impression has the Exhibitors Service Company Aicu AiiUiiJK Ul liliU ttilU LU1UI Uidt, 1212 Forbes Street Phone AT.

4071 will be present at the grand opening of the new Harris-Alvin tonight, you are likely to think that the new 1934 Baby Wampus Stars are being lined up for your approavL Because you're going to see plenty of pretty girls being glorified by glorious furs. The occasion a Rosenbaum Fur Fashion Revue being held in conjunction with the Harris-Alvin. You'll see the "cream of the crop" as far as models are concerned and the "cream of the crop" as tar as new 1934 fur coats are concerned. What are the new fur styles? Just look over the models! What are the most preferred furs? Beautiful caraculs in black, kaffa, the new Queene Anne brown and dyed blue fox are far in front, from skillful planning and efficient u-orkmansnip bow effect on the ceiling by includ- mg the entire spectrum from violet btrfctly American to red and bacK again It Is bold, original, colorful and Delightful surprise is the first It is not a copy of some action to this brilliant picture. Then you begin to notice the details, to ancient architectural masterpiece.

It has no flavor of the Rennaissance or any other period of European art. It is strictly American in conception and execution. Better than that, it is strictly a Pittsburgh idea carried out by local artisans. Many of the details are introduced here for the first time. There is nothing theatrical about the scheme.

discriminate and focus attention on individual details of the scene. Marching around the walls, from left to right, in a continuous mural, are figures representing the holidays and seasons of an American calendar, a parade that makes this festive foyer a story in itself. And so into the main auditorium. 1 yet thf whole lone is that of an Here again are the super-imposed Years ago the colors with more Dositive tones and Eugene L. Connelly, vice president of the Harris Amusement Company, former newspaper man, theatrical critic and publicity expert.

Mr. Connelly began his association with the Harris interests as advertising counsel and publicity adviser. He was for years the active manager of the Grand and Davis Theaters. p-musemrnt palace. liovrri Peter Pain Ariams striking angle designs around the look rd at the fa nous Alvin lounge proper.

High overhead, like and exclaimed. -'Fairyland at last!" gigantic spokes radiating from the If she could how the theater center of the proscenium arch are Our Very Best Wishes and a Hearty Welcome to Senator Frank J. Harris and the Harris Amusement Company on their return to the de luxe entertainment field in Pittsburgh. Their enterprise and civic-mindedness in reconstructing (and re-opening to-morrow) the Alvin playhouse, is a healthy sign of Pittsburgh's returning prosperity. MEYER JONASSON'S For 'cars a Leading factor in the World of VTomen't Faibion.

though to hundreds of women lustrous Hudson Seal or Alaska Seal will never be equaled. For the up-and-coming younger generation, swagger coats of kidskin and lapin worn with feather-weight wool frocks or knitted togs are about perfection. The new detail of the sleeves the flattering collars the slenderizing lines the suppleness of the furs that enabled them to be manipulated as beautifully as cloth coats are winning more and more women to wearing fur coats! They're decidedly smart as well as the height of comfort. This Fur Fashion Revue will begin tonight at 8:30 the "line of March" beginning from the top of the new grand stairway that leads into the lobby of the new Harris-Alvin. long troughs concealing lights which reflect from the aluminum ceiling, and give a striking and most unusual flame effect to the entire scheme.

Taken as a whole, the renewed Alvin is a complete rejuvenation. There is nothing to remind a visitor it has had 43 glorious years of theatrical history. Zeilor House Manager William Zeilor. house manager of the Alvin, formerly was assistant manager at the Stanley, and then manager of the Enright Theater. For the past year he has been manager of the beautiful Ambassador Theater, St.

Louis. 1 has been brought up to date by the recent remodeling, she would repeat her description with fresh emphasis. She could stand down stage, center, and see every seat in the auditorium for all posts have been removed. The second balcony has been removed and hundreds of new seats increase the capacity of the first. More than 400 seats also have been added to the main floor and every one has an unobstructed view of the stage and screen.

Sound equipment has been checked, all echo eliminated from every part of the house and reproducers so placed that the voices are clearly audible at all points. Incidentally, the voices seem to come from the screen, not from the wings or other remote source away from the picture. Electric Eye Opens Door All lines lead to the stage, this A life-like portrait of the late Senator John P. Harris, founder of the Harris Amusement Company, hangs in the grand lounge of the new Alvin Theater, which holds its inaugural program tonight. Mrs.

Harris is shown hert as she unveiled the painting Harris Company Staff Are Veteran Employees Armstrong Veteran Bernie Armstrong, Alvin featured organist, worked for three years as organist at the old Grand Theater, and for four years as featured organist at the Stanley. I 'J Cannon Taken From Lake BURLINGTON, Aug. 30 A cannon hauled out of Lake Cham-plain is believed to have been part of the armament of a ship which battled on the lake during the American Revolution. It lay under 15 feet of water. Eugene L.

Connelly, vice president, has been associated with the com The Harris Amusement Company and its subsidiaries boasts of nearly 40 years of existence as a definite part of the entertainment world of Pittshlirsrh. and has in itc emnlrvir Finley Is Chief John G. Finley is chief of the service staff at the Alvin. pany in the capacity of publicity dw principle being followed in the deco- many veterans who haye seen and ration the location of the aisles and helped the company grow ith th the placing of the unique lighting passi of th fixtures. An astronomical idea has; nnUi cfo 0 been carried out in the ceiling ot the auditorium and each side wall light emerges from a star, the sym- rector, general manager, treasurer and president for more than 30 years.

Harry Seegal, present manager of the Harris Beechview, is now in his eighteenth year of continuous service, having started as an usher at the downtown Harris Theater. W. L. Peacock of Oil City has been with the company 10 years; John M. Morin, manager of the William Penn, 10 years; Ken Hoel of St.

Marys, eight years; M. M. Wear of Reynoldsville, 10 years. James G. Balmer, who started as the Alvin, has put in almost 40 years with the company, having been associated originally with John Harris, father of John P.

Harris, in the amusement parks prior to opening of the first museum. George Harrison came to the office of John P. Harris as bookkeeper more than 35 years ago. He now is bol of the Alvin. Let's visit the theater with Ed-vard B.

Lee. the architect. In the outer lobby appropriate pictures represent music, dancing, the comedy and tragedy of drama. As you step close to the Electrical Installation by Fort Pitt Electric Company 600 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa. lulei uwl- i treasurer of all th inner door, it swings open mysteriously witnout the aid 0 Hnnl TXrCX- or human hand I uauics ui secretary to ivir.

uavis some years "Science adds a note here. Ap- Pf" now rounding out ago, has worked his way up through nroaching the door, the patron jcti, ana au departments, untu ne now is the Harris P'eseni is manager ot the Family general manager of moves between two posts, thus in- i neater Liberty. Amusement Company. FRANK SEDER occupying the site of the world's first motion picture theatre which was owned and operated by John P. Harris, Gonqralulaiiom to the new HARRIS ALVIN THEATRE IF32 Film (5irpiraftffii EXTENDS HEARTY GREETINGS TO THE tcrrupting a beam of light passing from one to the other.

This interruption is recorded by a photo-electric cell, popularly known as the "electric eye." and sets a scries of relays in action. These cause the door tc swing open and then close after the visitor has had time to pass on tc the inner lobby. Looking ahead another picture introduces the idea of the American fsmilv in a playhouse atmosphere and the effect of the superimposed colors is first noted. Turning to the right into the lounge, one gets the impression of gayety, comfort, pleasure and a most hospitable welcome. Lee explains that the one dominant thought in planning the new amusement center was that it should tell a story an American story the way Americans want it told.

Perhaps the outstanding feature of the whole scheme is found in the lounge where Claude Hurd, artist and free lance designer, has given skillful interpretation to Lee's ideas. Completely Rejuvenated At the far end of the lounge is a new stairway leading to the balcony. In place of cold, friendless wood columns or masonry pilasters, long rose fabric drapes break the wall and add height to the attractive room. Other furnishings are in keeping and concealed lights in long troughs Rive subdued illumination. Colors carry out the rain- HAIL TO PITTSBURGH'S NEWEST SHOW PLACE! ELEABJOR HARRIS AMUSEMENT COMPANY AND THE New HARRIS ALVIN Theatre HA! It IN AUGUR At LmLH PROGRAM 1 A ULKJ 51 GNWR1TER DISPLAY ARTISTS SUPPLIES tVt i 'ID ttt1' DJ3 A.

B. SMITH CO. oC.t idt tlonr 633 Smithfield St. Pgh Pa. Especially Selected We Are Proud to Have Produced The Alvin's Inaugural Attraction Shirley Temple in "BABY TAKE A BOW" and the second attraction Harold Lloyd in "THE CAT'S PAW" Inaugural o4 SCREEN FEATURE f- je.

America's "Crush" -f the to 4r ill tVt stc i fflESE AXD OTHER Gil EAT Fy mo Best wishes to those showmen and square dealers of Harris Amusement Companies whose vision and effort made possible Pittsburgh's magnificent ESairos Theafcsre 9 ltl Star of "Unit Miu Matin" it it ol BABY TAKE A BOW" Fox Romantic Hii, With to tH MtitY bo til GEORGE WHITE'S gic JAKES DUNN CLAIRE TREVOR ti AO ALAN DINEHART Thoit Wrikl tVMthMH i this KISStlLE tlf JANET GAYNOR and LEW AYRES in "Servants' Entrance" KETTI GALLIAN in HER AMERICAN DEBUT Galante" II? laky i yiH jr ttti Scandals tnt tavit tht fait you olot' All stage curtains and settings, together with interior house draperies, furnished and installed by Novclty Scenic Studios, Inc. 61 1 West 43rd Street New York City nan and "CARAVAX." the Year's Most Sensational DDI I.