Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 27, 1910, Page 17

THE OMAHA SUNDAY BEE: FEBRUARY o “iy 1910. its doors to admit its first audi- ence. on ,Thursday evening. Omaha will have the mos beautiful theater in the west- @ ern part of the United States, if Dot in the entire country, and one of tho most beautiful in the world. This is not & mere figure of speech, but a sober state- ment. No theater in all the west, from Chi- &0 t0 San Franclsco, unless it be the new lumbla but recently opened at San Fran- cisco, can approach, much less compare, with the Brandeis in point of simple ele- gance. Its beauty is of the sort that will appeal to the esthetic soul; it has nothing that Is garish or obtrusive. Everything hnbhncn done on that scale of lavish trea¥ment which recognizes the “art that conceals artifice,” and provides for the appeal to the soul of man through his senses, assailing them by the most sublle and dellcate of methods. At no point does the interior of the new theater present @ direct attack on any of the senses; nothing in its ensemble challenges attentlon. or commands observance, but its every aspect appeals In the most alluring way to the artistic side of man’s nature, and without his being aware of how or why, the obe server finds himself quietly but surely slip- PIng into the mood suggested by the sur- roundings, and drifting away from the sordid things of life and into a sense: of luxurfous' satisfaction from which ‘he will heslitate to depart. Tirst of all, the Brandels theater is tha last word In theater construction from the stafidpoint of comfort for the patron. Not a tRng Nas been left undone that would 2dd "tven In the slighitest degree to'the comfort or convenlence 6f those who ase semble there to take their pleasure in watching the plays. Not only has the are tist developed his best In the decorations of the theater, but he has united his ef- forts to those of the artisan, and they nave ~completed the circle by proe viding the necessities of such kind as will glve the highest of usefulness with the most pleasing of the merely beau- fitul, From the very beginning it was set down that when the Brandels opened its doors to the public, it ‘would be to wel- come Omaha folks to a theater of which they would be proud. This purpose has always been kept in mind, and the builders, the architects, and the lessees have been trom time to time surprised by the awners, who have suggested additions here and al- terations there, all designed to give to the theater more of genulne beauty, of real comfort and the general tone of sumptuous elegance that makes for the roal sensuous delight of the modern theater. A single instance may serve to lllustrate this polnt: One afternoon, several weeks ago, the Messrs, Brandels, withi Mr. Burgess, Mr, (Weston; Mr. Latenser and some of the “bubcontractors were standing on main floor of the theater, discus talls of the work. One of the Messrs. Brandels turned aside for & moment, and then asked, “‘Wouldn't a properly designed mantel, with lighting fixtures, fit In here nicely?" and followed up his suggestion by asking that a drawing be made for the purpose. The drawing was made and sub- mf§led the next day, along with the esti- miled cost of §1,600. Mr. Brandels studled it a moment, regarding the effect, and then ordered one on each side of the theater—an extra cost of $3,000, just to fill a vacant place on the wall, but it will be found that these mantels will greatly en- hance the general effect. In this way the theater has been buiit. Its loveliness of white and gold, of marble and silken whlls, of delicate water colors and dull gold light fixtures, of the rich curtalns and exquisitely modeled sculp- tures, are all the outgrowth of a deter- mination that Omaha should have a theater worthy of the name. From the siduwalk in front to the big blank wall at the rear of the stage, everything has been provided on this one plan. Not a detall that will conduce to the comfort of the patron has been omitted everything that will please him in all his senses has been lavishly provided, and he will find the Brandels truly “the theater beautiful.” And the actor will think It heaven after he has made a Yound of the ordinary theaters and then comes to the wonderfully complete and perfectly appoibted world be- hind the curtain in the new Brandels. A mlild, conservative richness of beauty pervades the interior of the Brandeis theater. There is charm in color and form without extravagance. It s rich, warm, tangible, yet mellowed as the gleaming of autumnal . colors of the woodland ‘glow- ing through the haze of Indian summer. In the wealth ‘of 'line and tint that so satisfies the eye & conservatism just shoit of puritapic prevents the cloying, over- whelming shower of color that the first Mupse suggests. A wonderous intermin Of the best attalnments of mural art of all time has been brought to bear in the production of the artistic interlor of the new theater. It I8 as though the jewels of conception had been fused in one alem- bie to produce the plgment with which tbe Playhouse has been painted. ‘The intricats tracing of Gothic stone vine leaves, they rioting radiance of the early Greek and " unrestrained " Egypt'sn, the of the Tonfc, & Bit of the Iater Italian, the softness of the Byzautine, all these have been thrown into the melting pot to be cast by the hand of skilled work manship into the pleasing fabric thi clothes the Interior of the theater. Deli- cate, reserved almost to the fading point, but still direct and positive in powers is the range of rich colors employed. The broad planes of clear wall space are broken by panels of simple design, but peculiarly effective In the relief of the expanse. Bits of bead work and the ac thus leaf have been employed In the decor- PRINCIPALS IN “ARSENE LUPIN TO OPEN THE NEW BRANDE atioh of detall, each preserved in reserved and unostentatious relation to the whole. The backgrounds are the Ivory colored stretches of plaster. The pancls are in rich galoon brocaded silks of tapestry de- slgn. Hero and there is a suggestion of the mauve that finds Its fullest expression in the rich drop curtain of silk plush. The bullion tint of the galoon Is carried into the draperies of the boxes and even to the tinting of the marble pillars which end In cornices of dull creamy gold. The de- slgn can not be sald to be either conven- tlonal or floral, but a type that embodles the grace of both. The carpets are of the golden color of the tapestry hangings, bearing alike the same design in the woven plle as that of the embossed brocades. The few bits of woodwork dellcately grained oak of finish, through which the mering planes of the wood a subdued elegance. The has Leun glven the chalrs where expansive and " comfortable forms of support upholstered leather. In walnscoting and balustrades, Vermont marble of very light hue, al ost white, but hardly grey, has been used. It is In keeping with the gen eral scheme In that there is nowhere the slightest suggestion of glare daring The toft whitey stone gives an impression of solldity that well represents all of the bold strength that lies concealed beneath the finery of the outer dress of the wally of concrete and stoel. In its Imes the theater designed to give an air of comfortable roominess without chill grandeur There is a suggestion of coziness enhanced b many a detall that is hard to conceive In proportion alone. Angles are decisive and curves are sweeping, yet both are employed with ease and facllity in conjunction in the rendering of the mural effects. Broad lines mark the alsles: there are no crammed places, yet every foot Is full. The vaulted circles of celling and curving stuccoed surface are so deslgned that they catech the diffused illumination from the frosted incandescent globgs to spread it out with @ tender clear light over all the space allke. The points of extreme brilliance are few. The general illumination is ample to show each pleasing and accurate detall ¥From the entrance and roomy vestibule to the tsrmination of the design at the proscenlum arch the effect is homogeneous and uniform in its variations. Nothing has beea slighted and as much care has been spent In the lobby and vestibule as in the decoration of the suditorium it- self, The foyer of the Brandels theater is de- are of velvety soft lines and shim gleam with same treatment oak or has within been THE 8 THEATER. slened with a new idea in view. Tt is ex- pected that In this house, “the theater beautitul,” the audience will not choose to remain seated between acts. In the big comfortable space afforded by the foyers there will be room for the easy circulation of the big crowds in between-act promen- ades. In other houses to leave one's seat means a serles of at least slight incon- venlences and probably a crushing hurry to the seats just before the curtain rises at the end of the Intermission. The Brandels has been designed with the expectation that the greater part of the a will leave wm COURTENAY the seats between acts. The restful ptroll habit will be encouraged and in its architec- tural aspects invitation is tended, The #f bead chaste in the the ex- decoration work’ and panelling vestibule at the entrance gives a forecast in a decorous qulet way of the beautles which the interlor of the house proper will reveal. From the box office to the lattermost row of seats an open lobby space of seventy feet in depth and nearly half so wide is extended. It is carpeted in the deep golden galoon, soft &and silent as moss under foot. The ceiling of the foyer space is divided Into panels of gracetul dimension. Circling reliefs that bear the suggestion of a Gothic design grafted on the Roman are centered with PLAY SELECT! gay clusters of the bright but softly radia- ting electric globes. Each little bulb is heavily frosted to reduce the illumination to less than the garish glare of perfectly transparent glase. In wonderfully formed bits of plaster the lights are enclosed In the acanthus leaf designs, gflded with pure gold leaf, vet so treated as not to glisten too brightly. The little rows of beading and tiny intervening niches are alike coated with the golden color “which contrasts so handsomely with the ivory white planes of the plaster about. & Beginning with the panels in the lobby eater Béautiful Soon to Be d pened about the theater. All else fs softened. thus the effect may be heightened by the Introduction of the sparking ot light. The 1,700 spacious seats of the mellowed brownish golden oak are ranged in sections divided by wide roomy alsles. Not a sup- porting pillar stands te Interrupt the view of the stage from any seat in the house. The upholstering Is rich and soft, yet firmly comfortable In luxuriousness. Joy ot all joys—there as speclaily big seats for the fat man, These were just made for him, too—on purpose—twenty-two inches wide. Under each seat Is a ventilating register, 80 fitted that In winter it delivers warm air and in the warmer end of the season the cooled breeze of big fans slaving In the basement air chambers below A rare touch of cozy comfortableness is added In an afterthought of the architect, two fireplacek on opposite sides of the big lobby, the promenade, Just the very last word in beauty of de- sign. Set deep In the splendor of the golden walls, they radiate a cheery glow that speaks cherriness and welcome. The fireplaces represent a famliiar touch that seems quits unexpected in places of public gathering. A number of mural paintings of excep- tional beauty grace the theater. On the proscenfum arch are three groups of alle- gorical design of lovely grace, They are cameo ovals as oft and airy as the sub- dued tones of the walls about. Thelr color- ing s rich and powerful, but it shines forth with only a dewy sort of clearness, Perhaps the best of the paintings is that In the foyer where the arched seml-circle is occupled by a can- vas of striking strength despite fts daintiness of expres- slon. The work 1s that of Theodore Behr, a Chicago ar- tist of prominence in decorative fielday dashes Is These fireplaces are and extending forward through the auditorium in front, the bullion galoon heavy and stiff as canvas rich as the roves of a fabric costs considerably yard than most folk would spend for a fine garment enclosure tapestry to the boxes the panels are hung with sllk, and us king. This 1more per care to The pan- els of galoon are edged with strips of yet another fine sliken tiny attachments that hold and to glve finish to the hangings. A aphs, or maybe they are cherubs, clusters of incandescents par These delicately lined sculpture are wonderfully graceful, row 1s. of -most happy little golden ser- support in each of the bits of Their weave to conceal the the tapestry roman gold finish lends itself well to the rendering of the sculptural effect and at the same €ime preserves conformity to the coloring of the walls, About the lighting fixtures above will be ranged clustering serles of bevelled” French plate mirrors, glving the general Impression of some huge jewel. These mirrors can not, however, be put in place for some time after the open- ing of the theater owing to the necessity of allowing the plaster to thoroughly season lest the molsture bedim the splendor of the reflecting surfaces. These mirrors repre- sent the spicing of the design and the only suggestion of flash and striking brilllancy E) YL, DETALL 7\ ~— TAEASVRER The cameo paintings arch are surrounded by executed In the same f The friezes are relleved here and there by the iIntroduction of gargoyles and con ventional bits of ornamentation made more forcible by touches of the golden tint' that pervades the theater. On :the broad ex- pange of the mauve tinted plush drop cur- fain is an embroidered design in gulden on the proscenium sculptured groups ry-like touch, WIts bii'ectors Above mming ten feet the gure as that below. The contrast of pale violet gold 1s exqu the valance, s mighty bit of carries a derlvative on the curtain and dull same 1 exacting care of the decorators strive rfection in this theater beautiful of the asbestos ing for y is well shown in the work fire curtain. The asbestos performs an en- tirely utilitarian function, but it, too, is a share in the attalnment of Colored In its roughly to a soft dusty purple with a broad outline of rich heavy gold. ¥From the aud- it seems as though the heavy fab- ric bore the design In forged bars of the metal itself. made tc the general effect textured surface bordered bear grey, It is desig ftoriun About the exits appear a replica of the design at entrance to the capitol building at Washington, which Incidentally bears a relation to t Grecian conceptions of unity that rried out in the gen- eral d rative scheme. 1t s, Indeed, “the Theater beautitul A remarkably intricate machine lies eon« cealed behind the curtaln of this theater Tho plcture presented to the audience must represent the efforts of more than the scene betrays. The stage and its appur- tenances 1s & vast workshop, where scenio effocts are the results of the craftsman- ship of & force of skilled and experienced workmen. In the Brandeis theater this stage has been brought to & degres of per- fection In completeness unexcelled and probably unequalled in any playhouse that the country boasts. The fruits of many & costly experience otherwhers have beem brought into appreciation in concrets form there. Standing on the stage naked of its hang- ings one gets the impression of standing at the bottom of a huge well, so vast is are o AContinugd on Page Four) $n£1'm L OF PANEL OF PANEL +o 1IN LOBBY"