The Birmingham News from Birmingham, Alabama • 55

THE BIRMINGHAM A A I in Tk SaufA'i CimImI Nwpmpr A Birmingham (jets $1,500,000 Christmas Qift In Alabama Theater iMany Parts Of World Have Contributed Te Making Building Beautiful QOUV 04 tuN 14 iM THREE Important Factors attention to business, and his navsr-failing his lar(e clientele. Ire le of -friends which 4s rinse or creed. In Birmingham tre ability hss t.een ae built up the bust trend end the Malax portions end one of eete hee beeu end le raMl4wll')H km mtili fcnowa no boun bl nsw homo-SIr DunnS tested for he t. Mm for the to tmnier.se greatest ns bis WoOdrrf. No matter he Do matter host Sidney CwllllSi amlie atvl a kl.n WHEN- iilder of the hand some new Alabama Thea- ter got ready to buy lumber, three important (actors were taken into consideration.

The first one was that the lumber should be of proper size and quality GOOD LUMBER; the second was PRICE which with our facilities always gives us an advantage; and the third factor was SERVICE an ideal upon which we have built our business. Birmingham is to be congratulated upon this handsome new structure, and we are glad that Barnetts service has been used in the construction program. Mr Pollock ssit directly from Sat. franc Is to Nw Orleans when the It, ktbh SOS Hsenger Theater was opened there, on of the handsomest end most modern of the public Theaters or ton playhouses, hsvfng folio e.1 Paul Ash in Hen Fra near. when that delectable artist was sent to the oriental Theater In Chicago another of the outstanding Publix Theater Corporation playhouaee Mr Pollock.

Mr. Barutio and Mr Cowen snare Mr. Ziannenberg's enthusiasm regarding the splendid Christinas gift which the Pubtlx Theaters Corporation has presented to Birmingham this happy Christ-mastld of 1127. and ith this group of clever huetlere at the helm. The Alabama" wilt ride safely on to rtc- Fortral Opening The formal parting of "The Alabama' will taka pises Monday afternoon.

tqc 2. ttrilllant programs hav-, tg been arranged, while elaborate ceremonies will be among the features. ami all of Birmingham that can get Inside the doors will throng the eplendld new building, for Blr- tr ghum hives Its own Is proud of its ow The Alabama" seats approximately I.OOf people and the seats are so arranged that every seat Is a good sent, it is said. The double Vo office for the convenience of the patrons is situat'd In the front lobby, there will be no waiting in tin, as the automatic ticket seller machines and double box office service WfU take care any umount. spacious lobbies Inside lending Into the main floor are devised to eliminate any drafts on those enjoying the Another feature Is the system to eliminate any crowding of patrons going in and coming out.

There ore several spillways and Up-tw-o will never meet. These sptiiwavs have been applauded by the officials of the city. The Stage equipment of this twentieth century wonder theater has been shipped 6.000 miles, and is the largest shipment of such materials ever landed in the South. The most modern system of counter weights for the drawing of curtains and drapes has been Installed. "Meet me at The Alabama will soon be the slogan of the people of Birmingham, as the many lounge rooms on every floor will be an Ideal rendezvous for those who wish to meet their friends.

One of these Is very large and on the main floor, Telephone service and booths are situated In all these rooms. The ladles' dressing rooms nnd lounges with boudoir tables for the convenience of all ar fully equipped with all of "My Lady's" needs. The decorations in these different lounges are of the most modern appointments, and are charming and a delight to I the eye! Magnificient Organ The magnificent organ is a wonder of Its kind, according to reports. It Is the perfect Interpretation of the human voire, and of all musical Instruments. Thousands of miles of wire and cable hove been used in connecting this giant Instrument.

The onipsfi Corporation. It i an 1 his fine ch.r managing direct have gained added prestige in Blr-mingham because of Us policy of recognizing its own talent and reward -Ins the same Mr Dannenberg enter Into the managing directorship of The Alabama." the proudest and most delighted men perhaps In Birmingham on Christmas morn, 1921. proud of his position, proud of the magnificent i structure which he will manage, proud of the organisation he represents and proud that Birmingham 1 -serves such a handsumo Christmas gift and has received It from worthy hands Hat Wide Experience Mr. Izannenbcrg has had 'vide repellent's in the theatrical world previous to coming to Birmingham, having been the of the Criterion Theater In New York for many years and later he war assigned to the de luxe Metropolitan Theater of Boston, the seating capacity of which was 3.000, one of the largest In the World. Associated with Mr.

Dannentierg at The Alabama" as house manager will i be Stephen Barutio. coming here dl-re-tly from the magnificent Paramount Theater. New York city, which Is known as the flagship of the great fleet of 1'uhllx Theaters Cor- poration marvel houses throughout the country. Under Mr Barutio- direction will be a brigade of ushers, page boys, maids, doormen and people In myr- lads of other positions who will al- ways have the comfort of the guests of "The Alabama" at heart. The director of publicity for the Alabama will be Larry Coven, who comes directly from New York City, with years of experience hack of him.

having had charge of five Boston houses belonging to The Publix Theaters Corporation. In addition, Mr. Cowen has had wide experience in the movies where the actual taking of pictures is concerned, having spent much of his life In Hollywood as as- sisiant director of various prominent i California movie lots. Another important personage in the personnel of "The Alabama" will be Ralph Pollock, who. as "master of well as the organ screen possess those, Spanish motifs which are character-; 1 tatic of the old cities of Barcelona, I and Burgos, where many of I the finest examples of baroque anil; platersque architecture are found, The proscenium arch unlike the other features of the auditorium has fa somewhat different type of conventional decoration: a large flowing! floral pattern whose leaves and vines entwitfc themselves about the frame, end in a large decorative blossom at the crown of the opening.

The auditorium ceiling Is composed of a field of coffers divided by large garlands or ribbons which cross the width of the auditorium. The central portion of the ceiling is pierced by; an elliptical dome, the roughly tex- tured surface of which tends to retain i and reflect the rays of the varl- colored lights flooded upon it. The: soffits of the balcony and like the auditorium celling, are ornamented with lace-like plaster orna-j ment, the former having several highly illuminated domes. The various lounges throughout the theater present somewhat of an in-j novation in their architectural treat- ment for each is designed in a dif-j ferent style. Ladies Lounge On the balcony a ladies lounge is; designed after the manner of a I Chinese tea room with low relief Chinese dragons on the walls and heavy wood column and lintel frame' for the doorways.

The mens lounge or college room on the upper level is i executed in Tudor gothic and wood i paneling Is a reproduction of a typical wainscot In a manor hall of the period of about A. D. The wood bat- tons and pegs and the slate floor, surround It. In so doing an effect lend this room an Intimate and in- of richness Is attained which is quite i atmosphere. The lounges on the lower level are impossible when every available space again different from those above.

The is literully "plastered with decora- main lounge or Spanish room has a I tion. The three descending arches large fireplace ith a sparkling I on either side of the auditorium as; Spanish tile hearth. The ladies BARNETT Lumber Company Yard and Mill 35th N. Telephone 4-7897 Views of the one and a half million dollar Alabama Theater which is the Christmas gift of the Publix Theaters Corporation to Birmingham, 1927; also the officials of the new theater here! No. 1, exterior of The Alabama No.

2, Sidney Dannenberg, managing-director; No. 3, the console of the handsome organ; No. 4, the Hall of Mirrors: No. 6, Arthur G. Larson, architect in charge of the work in Birmingham, representing his firm of Graven Mayger, Chicago; No.

6, Stephen L. Barutio, house manager; No. 7, Larry Cowen, advertising manager; No. 8, Ralph Pollock, master of ceremonies for the stage, and No. 9, a glimpse of the interior of the auditorium which seats approximately 3,000 people.

have a green room or club room for to the modern adaptation of the their friends and themselves. style. The Infusion of numerous The perfect ventilation system Is (Moorish details is apparent through -the tiling to be proud of. Good clean out the entire house. The multifoil air.

heullh.v and Invigorating always, arches, the richly modeled geometric No matter how hot or muggy It is plaster decoratlqn. and the carpet like console itself is placed on a moving elevator, and ascends and descends at the will of the organist. This elimi- nates any interference hetween the organ and the stage, or screen, as the console Is electrically sent below the sight lines while the performance is on. The projection booth is entirely out of the way at the rear of the bul- cony, there will be no noise heard from the booth and no glaring lights to interfere and distract the atten- tion of the patrons. The electrical seating system willi pattern so characteristic of the blind windows of the Alhambra are everywhere In evidence.

Upon entering the ticket lobby from Third Avenue, North, you pass through the Hall of Mirrors, a high two-story, marble walled room the sides and ceilings of which are composed of a series of paneled mirrors. At the far end i of the room a stairway leads to a spacious balcony the rail of which supports two large elaborately wrought candelabra. Below this balcony a passage gives in to the grand lobby. I The Grand lobby is a high rec-Paul tangular hall the long sides of wdiich are divided by pilasters of rose I v.hcre he studied the methods of the tavernelle marble with verde antique; Follies Bergere nnd other famous dies and bases. A grand stairway Follies Bergere and other famous grand stairway Congratulations show just how many seats are vacant at all times, and the ushers will be able to read from the seating box in the lower foyer how many seats are i vacated both on the main floor and 1 ter Garden Shows." will be presented and changed weekly.

These will come directly from the I Paramount Theater, New York, to the balcony. This system of buttons Birmingham. Other producers are and lights, though it may seem plicated to the casual observer. Is very simple and can be read by any Jack Partington, producer of the Ash Shows, and Frank Cambria. who has Just returned from Paris, CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ALABAMA Jefferson Brick-Supply Co.

Phone 4-0733 1701 Avenue A We are proud of our part in the erection of Birminghams finest theater THE ALABAMA. All rooting and sheet metal work furnished and erected by us. leads up to the mezzanine and balcony foyers which form a passage way between the frames made by the marble piers. The iace-like ornament which resulted front the building activities of site Spanish i silversmiths is seen in the pierced frieze which crowns the walls. It is interesting to note that the iron gates which separate the lobby from European stage shows.

The stage band, entirely different from the symphony orchestra in the "Pit." will be under the great personality conductor. Ralph Pollock. He has been brought here from New Orleans, where he has charmed the audiences of the Saenger Theater for many moons. Architecture And Design usher. It will enable the patrons of "The Alabama" to have a seat without any of the usual discomforts.

Description of the system is easy. The usher at the seating board will know-just where the seats are vacant. The patron will be directed to this section by an usher and then taken to his seat w-ithout any waiting. The perfect lighting of the theater will enable the patrons to see any object in the theater without the usual discomforts of darkness. Many experts have determined this condition until now "The Alabama" will be perfect as to light detail.

For the many performers, careful consideration for their comfort has been arranged. Satisfied artists mean a good show. They have the best appointed dressing rooms, wlin adjoining shower baths. They also The Alabama" is designed in the the auditorium proper nnd appear to CO. HANN ROOFING HEATING and be conventional geometric grilles are In reality the initial letters of the theater combined in such a way as to form ns effective pattern.

Passing through these gates one enters upon the auditorium foyer. In the auditorium the ornhment isi Spanish style, the special charm of which lies in the fusing of the Western European or Christian art with Aslaetic, African or Moorish art. No attempt has been made to confine the design to anyone particular period of Spanish architecture but 4-0195 Phone 1905 -7 Avenue rather to select the most pleasing distributed in such a manner as to motifs as well as those that would form the greatest possible contrast lend themselves most satisfactorily with the undecorated surfaces which.