The Peninsula Times Tribune from Palo Alto, California • 9

NEW STANFORD THEATRE SECTION THIRTYTHIRD YEAR PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA. MONDAY. JUNE 8, 1925 NO. 136 NEW STANFORD THEATRE OPENS TOMORROW $300, 000 Am usement House Is One of Finest in State Palo Altos New Playhouse NEW STANFORD THEATRE on University avenue, which will be opened tomorrow night, is one of peninsula's largest and California's finest. The theatre is equipped for motion picture shows and any kind of stage performance.

FIFTH: LINK PENINSULA HAVE PART Beautiful Structure Embodies Best Approved Features in Building and Equipment IN Palo Altos new $300,000 amusement house, the New Stanford Theater, to open its doors for the first time on the evening of June 9. is one of the largest theaters on the peninsula, and, moreover, is one of the finest in California, in the opinion of experts in theater construction who have wcfrked in or inspected the new house. Of modern reinforced concrete construction, absolutely fireproof, built to accommodate 1,443 patrons, furnished with the best equipment that can lie secured, the theater fs the best that could be erected. A partial list of the building features includes a "mushroom ventilating system, by which an even temperature is maintained the air kept fresh throughout the entire building, stage equipment designed to accommodate any show, a remote control switchboard system, by which the stage lights and curtains are operated from the projection room in the rear of the house, and a whole battery of projection machines representing the finest now available. On the lower floor of the theater there are seats for 994, with 119 of these seats in the loge section.

There are 136 loges in the balcony, bringing the total number of seats in that section to 313. With a full house almost 1,500 people, the theater could he emptied in three minutes. The auditorium of the theater is rectangular in shape, -save in the lower corners, where the organ grills draw in toward the stage. On either side of tile house there are two exits, the double metal doors cunningly painted in imitation of bronze. The lobby leads directly to the rear of the parquet opposite the stage.

On the lower floor at the left of the lobby is the mens washroom. Starts lead from the lobby and from the transverse aisle to the mezzanine floor, which forms a lounging and waiting room. Furniture, rugs and hangings for this room were selected by Mrs. J. Arkush, wife of the owner of the new house, who has been greatly interested in the latest addition to her husband's string of peninsula playhQuses.

the mezzanine fl6or, too, is. the womens retiring room, with ajnaid. in attendance. The thAter offices are also on this Entrance to the balcony is through a ramp from the mezzanine floor, while a small outside 4por leads to outer stairs to the projection room. This room is in the rear of the balcony at the top of the house, is fireproof, and may be cut off utterly from the rest of the theater.

In the basement is the heating plant, and under the stage the series of eight dressing rooms for the benefit of visiting players. There is no storage place for scenery beneath the stage; that which is in use regularly is kept on stage. IS of here, of fifth planned and Arkush theater theater the The foy In new now of civil 1910 As was every time. varsity years, a Twenty-five contracting firms, exclusive of Barrett A Hilp. 8an Francisco contraiHora In general charge of the work, contributed to tile building of the New Stanford Theater, according In lists made up by Ellis J.

Arkush, president of the Palo Alto Theater Company, and AI Gtllfs, manager of the theater. Weeks A Day, architect! of Ban Francisco designers of many of the finest buildings in San Francisco and on the peninsula, drew the plans for the structure and worked with Barrett Hilp in the building. Lumber came through the 8. H. Chase Lumber Company of San Jose, and metal from the United Staten Metal Products Court pany of Sun Francisco.

Other San Francisco firms engaged in the work Include the Guilfny Cornice Works, sheet nietal; W. S. Weten-hsll, reinforcing steel; Pacifio Rolling Mill Company, steel roof trusses; Elsel A Doudero, marble; Michel A Pfeffer, fire escapes; Scott Company, ventilation and heating; llabeulcht A Howlett, glass; P. Crassi A terra xxo Johna-Manvllle Company, roofing; James F. Smith, plaster; Malott A Peterson, tile; William J.

Forster, plumbing; H. 8. Tittle, electrical work; and the Building Supplies Company, theater supplies. In furnishing and equipping the Ihenter the following firms were engaged; Theater Equipment Supply Company, operating room equipment; Armstrona-Power Company, stage equipment; Thomas Day Company, lighting fixtures; W. A J.

Sloane, carpets and hangings; C. F. Weber A Company, chairs; George H. Leathurby A Company, organ; and Federal Electric Company, electric sign work. In addition to these, the Robert E.

Powers Studio, In rharge of the decorations, worked in clone harmony- with the architects and builders In planning the theater. Heating and'Ventilating. of New Theatre Is Important Feature With opening Tuesday night the New Stanford Theater Ellis J. Arkush, president the Palo Alto Theater Company. will have' in operation the of his peninsula playhouses, and promoted by himself his associate, E.

A. Karel-sen, New York attorney. Other theaters include the Sequoia 1b Redwood City, where began his career as a owner; the Garden in Burlingame, the- Regent in San Mateo, the Varsity, and the old Stanford in Palo Alto. The last-named is to close its doors with opening of its giant neighbor. Varsity will continue to play, the present at least, under the management of Edward Lqwrle.

addition to these houses, a theater, the Peninsula, is under construction In Burlingame. Arkush drifted into the business running theatres rather by' accident. He -was trained to be a engineer, and after graduating from Columbia University in he followed his profession until 1914. an undergrduate at Columbia with the class of 09, Arkush engaged, as he put it. in known way of wasting He wss captain' of the swimming team for two and he played varsity football, lacrosse and hockey.

He is member of Sigma Nu fraternity, and of several Columbia honor societies. He took his A. B. in 1909 and his degree in. engineering the following In 1914 he bought the old Bell Theater in Redwood' City, and next year promoted the construction of the Sequoia Theater there.

With the erection of this house in 1915 the Bell dosed. Between the completion of the Sequoia and Arkush's next advance in the theatrical world he spent several months in the service during the war, serving with the engineers. During his absence the Sequoia Theater was operated by Arkush, as interested and as esp-able as her husband. -Poliowing his discharge he became associated with E. A.

Kar-elaen. The two bought old Marquee Theater here, changing its name to the Stanfqrd. The Garden Theater In Burlingame was next acquired, and later the two Joined with the late F. A. Le Suer in forming the Palo Alto Theater Company, with Arkush as president, Le Suer as vlce-presidenf, and Karelsen as The Varsity Theater was controlled by this company and soon after the Regent Theater in San Mateo was taken over.

Arkush is interested primarily in providing better entertainment and larger show houses for peninsula residents. It was this aim that led him to take over the old Stanford, then the Marquee, and undertake the promotion of a new house In Palo Alto, culminating in the erection of the New Stanford. He has adopted the same course in Burlingame, where the work on the Peninsula Theater is being caiTied to completion. An effort to limit the number of city houses owned by one person to five, is being made in the Mexican legislature. American machinery and methods of mining will be exhibited at an exposition to be held at La Pas, Bolivia, soon.

OPENING PROGRAM FOR THEATRE ANNOUNCED Musical Numbers and Film Features to Follow Talk by Jassphonlc Allen organ concert and Reginald feature, Town, program Theater Is announced manager of playhouse. represent by which officially appreciation for this downtown business attend the include the club, Womens Special have been When you walk Into the New Stanford Theater you may think youre atepplnf on nice solid floor in the 1 auditorium. Youre not Youre walking on the root of a wind-swept waste, with a floor of concrete and a radiator like a locomotive over in one corner. That la, you're walking on the air pipe of the heating and ventilating system. There's only one airpipe to the lower 'floor, and it ie aa wide and as long as the building itself.

The "muaroom heating and ventilating system Installed in the BIG SATISFACTION EXPRESSED IN ENTERPRISE Vice President of Company Pays Tribute to Designers and Builders new theater by the Scott Company of San Francisco represents the newest wrinkle in house-warming. It works by means of an air chamber under the floor of the hall, through which air is blown. The air enters the hall by means of hundreds of stovepipe placed underneath the seats. Each little stovepipe has squat round cap to break the draft. The cap looks like a mushroom hence the name.

A great boiler generates the steam to heat an enbrmous radl- standing in one corner of basement. A fan, higher than tall mans head, forces air through the radiator to the air pockpt, beneath the auditorium floor, and through the mushrooms" into the hall. A pipe conducts another current up to the balcony. On the roof Is an even larger fan, suckpg the stale air out of the theater. By the use of this system there are no drafty, no hot or cold or stuffy, corners, in the auditorium.

KwrVed tor'IW gronpa The entire hall is heated or cooled evenly, and the temperature can be regulated to a fraction of a degree almost instantly. The New Stanford Is one of the first theaters in California to have this system of ventilating Mayor's An address of welcome Mayor E. A- Cottrell, a program by the famous Whites Colleaians, an by Elmer Vincent, Denny's latest comedy I'll Show You the will make up the dedicatory for the New Stanford tomorrow night, it by A1 Olllis, Palo Alto's new $300,000 Mayor Cottrell will the city In the address the new thester will be opened. As mark of and regard latest asset to Palo Alto's section, various mens organisation will opening night These Klwanis club, the Exchange the Palo Alto Business club and the Rotary club. sections of the balcony White's Collegians, the New Stanford Tuesday for a five-days engagement, here directly from San where they have taken audiences by storm.

The PUBLIC IS ASSURED OF HIGH CLASS PROGRAMS President of Company Says Community Is Given Best Possible Playhouse First Nights Crowd Interested Mainly in Building Itself It is a source of great satisfaction to me, the building of this theater. 1 like fine things, things well made, and In the new building I find Just that. We have taken great palna with this theater. Every detail has been rsre-fully planned and most carefully executed, and every man on the Job has worked to see the building done right. One workman said to me, 'I have been on this Job ever since they started digging the hole, and even the hole was dug right.

I like that. My father was a Jeweler, and was born to handle precious stones, beautiful things. There Is little of that In law practice, even when one Is aide, as I have been, to accept only those rases In which there Is nothing of the sordid. But one may help to bnlld a fine theater, and find satisfaction in its fineness. I Jiope the people will like the theater- I am convinced that, Introducing the Pride of the population, while the workman-Peninsula," the New Stanford ship, materials and equipment pill ford.

Incidentally, the furnishings of all the lobbies as well as of the women's rest room on the mesianlne floor, wers selected by Mrs. Ellis J. Arkush, wlfs of the owner, who took an active part In designing and furnishing the new theater with particular reference to the comfort of the women patrons. The house staff of the New into it are best that could be obtained. The theater, designed by Weeks A Day of San Francisco, represents a new departure in theatrical architecture and decoration.

It Is based on a skillful blending of the art of Greece and Assyria, with a color scheme daringly conceived and executed. Skilled art- opening at night come Diego, group of music-makers are popular performers on the Orpheum Circuit, while their playing for phonograph records has also brought them renown. As its name im plies, the orchestra is composed entirely of college men. Its type of music, like its program, is distinctly its own, but the group brings to the stage the same freshness and vigor that made for the' of the Pennsylvanians. It is possible that Reginald Denny, star of Ill Show You the Town, that will feature the Initial program of the New Stanford, will appear in person for the opening of the theater.

According to word received here, Denny plans to be in San Francisco during the week, and he has promised to make every effort to be present during the run of his latest film. Declared to be one of the cleverest comedies in which Denny We have built the New Stanford to give the people of Palo Alto and neighboring communities the best passible playhouse. We will endeavor always to provide entertainment of the highest quality, of a type commensurate with the theater. In building the -theater, we have had one idea strongly in mind the comfort of our patrons We will try to make service our watchword, and to meet In every way the desires of our audiences-The nature of our programs will be determined by the public demand. We want to secure, and are in a position to secure, the best entertainment offered.

It is our hope that the people will make known their wishes as to what form this is to take, will express their approval or disapproval of our Judgment I want to thank the business men of Palo Alto for the encouragement and support they have Theater! For one night at least, on Tuesday, June 9, the play is not the thing. Fine as tha initial offering of- the New Stanford screen may be, it will for once take second place to the house In which it Is shown; for the people of Palo Alto are going to.be more interested in their new. theater than in the best entertainment the celluloid world ever turned out. Completed at a cost of $300,000 after months of work, the New Stanford Is declared by experts to be one of the finest theaters in California, the home of splendid motion picture houses. Disinterested inspectors agree with own era and builders in the statement that there may be bigger theaters, but there are no better.

Even in point of else the New Stanford la one of the largest ever built in a city of Palo Alto's given us in this venture. Mr. Lansdale-uf the Bank of Palo Alto has been particularly helpful; he's boosted me through some bad moments of discouragement. We believe in Palo- Alto and In its future, or we wouldn't have put this theater here. You tall 'em that Hey, Joe, that light doesn't belona there!" ELLIS J.

ARKUSH. President, Pslo Alto Theater Company. Only about one-half as many firearms are now being sent by manufactures of this country to Europe 'as last year. -'s American hacksaws, once so popular in Europe, are being replaced by an imitation made by Sheffield, England, concerns. Stanford has been carefully chosen ists planned the work, and experthy Al Glllls, manager, for qiiaii-palnlera and decorators carried It ties of cheerfulness, courtesy, out.

The result Is masterpiece; patience and personality. Unl-of theater decoration, worthy of, formed ushers will be st the Berthe fine building to which It isjvlce of the patrons at all times, applied. while a maid will be In constant. Expense has not been spared attendance in the women's room. Yell them, please, that we built there Is no belter theater anywhere In C'aliforniii limn this one; no theater hotter built and better and iium who know theaters and theater building tell me the same.

I hope the people will like It, will think it beautiful. has appeared, the play deals with the startling adventures of a dry-as-dust professor who finds himself obliged to show three young ladies the sights of the city. The task is further complicated- by the necessity of keeping each of the ladles ignorant of the others' existence. Short subjects, including a news reel end a cartoon, will complete the program of the Cppning night. I'll Show You the Town will play at the New Stanford for three days, to be followed on Friday and Saturday by Richard Dix in The Shock Punch.

(he best theater that anyone knew how In build for them. E. A. KARELSEN. Vire-Fresldent, the Palo Alto Theater Company.

in furnishing and equipping the theater. From the improved heating system to the new projection machines, from the fine material of the stage curtains and drapes to the luxurious furnishings of the mezxanlne lobby, the best of every- Tha casual visitor has been shout as welcome around the theater as a black cat at a wedding, while the work was under way. Visitors will he welcome tomorrow night, and visitors will be there, in throngs and bunches. will- go up Tuesday night la still an open question. thing has gone into the New Stan- Whether or not the R.

O. sign.