Page 49 - Galveston Waves - January 2019

GRAND FIRST NIGHT parquette floor and the aisles are Her Companions,” there being five Grand is not only absolutely safe, exposed, but giving those occupying
The New Oprea House Opening a Great sufficiently wide to be unusually female figures in all. The painting so far as the flames are concerned, them a splendid view of the stage.
Social Function. convenient. The seats are arranged is draped with a representation of but it is one of the prettiest, moist The tints and decorations are
STANDING ROOM ONLY in the shape of a quadrant and all plush drapery on either side. The modern and most artistic pieces delicate and give the impression of
Beautiful Women and Gallant Men afford the spectator an excellent theater is furnished for lighting by of architecture that ever adorned a bright day in spring time, With
Occupied the Boxes and Prominent view of the stage. The backs of both gas and electricity. Electric- a southern city, and Mr. Frank blue skies, flowers, birds and soft
Places in the Theater. the seats are ventilated through ity alone is used on the stage, Cox will be kept busy for the sweet songs. The entrances to the
ENCOMIUMS OF PRAISE. grillwork and the frames are made thus avoiding any danger from next month accepting the hearty boxes are hung with tapestries of
The Star Was Marie Wainwright in from oak. There are four boxes fire where theater fires usually congratulations of those who have shades as delicate as the tints of
“Daughters of Eve”— Description of on either side, two upper and two originate. Heat is secured from two seen the Grand, only to admire it. the Avails and ceilings. And before
the Most Beautiful Theater in the lower, and they command a good hot air furnaces in the basement, Comprising the beauty, chivalry and all this beauty of architecture and
Southwest. view of both the stage and the one of which supplies the stage intelligence of the leading city of the decorator’s art was repre-
The most important dramatic event auditorium. The banisters environing with warmth and the other the Texas. And the Grand was packed, sented the beauty and gallantry
in the history of this city took the fronts of the boxes are finished auditorium. Protection from fire is too. The word is used advisedly, of Galveston. In box A, the one
place last evening when that new with white and gold, the top being ample and the exits are numerous because every seat upstairs and nearest the stage on the right, was
and magnificent Thespian temple, covered with crimson and plush and easy of access. At the rear of down was taken. Galvestonians Colonel L. J. Polk of the Santa Fe
the Grand opera house, was formal- and surmounted by silver railing. the parquette are two fire plugs, are always proud of a magnificent railroad company, Mrs. Polk, Miss
ly thrown open to the public. That The boxes are draped with satin fitted with hose. Besides the large enterprise and they were glad of Shelby Williams of Nashville, Tenn.,
it presented a gala appearance damask of fine texture, elegant entrances and the fact that the an opportunity to do homage to a niece of Colonel Polk, and Mr. W.
when the youth, beauty and intel- designs and delicate shades fringed gallery patrons do not come in such an edifice as the one which A. Cantrell, brother of Mrs. Polk. The
ligence of Galveston had assembled with silk. The tops of the boxes are contact with those of the lower has just been completed and which ladies were elegantly attired and
within its portals goes without the in Moorish canopy style, decorated floor, separate entrances being will stand as a monument to the were the cynosure of all eyes. In
saying. Much has been said and in white and gold and In delicate provided for them, each floor is enterprise and thrift of Galveston’s box B, next to the Polk party, were
written about this playhouse and tones of blue and pink. The supplied with a number of extra citizenship. Mr. Henry Greenwall was Mr. Jens Moller, Mrs. Moller, Miss
consequently much was expected of wainscoting throughout the building exits distributed about the walls on hand to welcome his guests. So Kate B. Heflin of New Orleans and
it, but notwithstanding this fact the is of yellow grain pine, finished in some eighteen feet apart. These were Mr. Albert Weis and Manager Mr. L. F. Cowan. These charming
surprise was general and unfeigned hard oil, while the body painting each lead by iron stairways to Dave Weis and Mr. Phil Greenwall ladies were attired in rich costumes
when the audience witnessed the is of the same shade as that In the ground. Ventilation is secured of the Fort Worth opera house. and were the admired of the
interior of the beautiful building, the lobby and foyers. Over the big through the large ventilator in the They were diked out in dress suits many who filled the opera house.
Its magnificent appointments, Its stage the decoration of the frieze ceiling and the large number of and broad smiles. But they had a A bright party of young people
artistic design and its elegant finish. is very elaborate, including lovers’ windows. The fact that there is not right to smile. They had a laugh filled box C, at the left of the stage.
Modern and fully up to date, it is knots, tropical flowers, groups of a square corner in any portion coming to them. An opera house Three beautiful young ladies, in rich
one of those imposing structures musical Instruments and groups of the auditorium, furnishing no like the Grand and the audience and elegant costumes, Miss Seeligson,
which is compelled to challenge of masks, play books and other chance of an echo, should prove which was there to dedicate it Miss Hutchings, well known in
admiration. While it is rich and appropriate emblems. The ceiling a guarantee of excellent acoustic were sufficient to make a crusty oil Galveston society, and Miss Tina
gorgeous in every detail, there is decorations are handsome, light properties. In this connection it recluse rub his hands with joy. It Cleveland, a Houston belle, and
no evidence of lavish expenditure and airy. may be stated that one thing Is was a brilliant scene throughout— Messrs. Taylor, Stewart and Lorrimar.
further than what was absolutely The stage is seventy-five feet wide, certain, and that is, there is no one calculated to inspire everyone Manager Weis of the opera house
required to make it just what it sixty-eight feet in width from danger to an audience from the with mirth. Then it must have and his party occupied box D, next
is—the grandest temple of Thespis the footlights, and the height is flames in the Grand. As a prom- been with pardonable pride that to the one just described. In this
to be found in the broad confines sixty-eight feet from the stage floor inent citizen remarked last night: Mr. Henry Greenwall witnessed the box were Mrs. A. Weis, mother of
of Texas or the southwest. to the gridiron. This constitutes not “You may pack it from pit to dome scenes of pomp and splendor about the general manager, Mrs. M. C.
On entering the building at the only the largest stage in the state, with women and children, and in him. On Saturday evening, February Michael, Mr. M. C. Michael and Mr.
southwest corner from Postoffice but is one of the big ones of the case of fire it can be emptied in 25, 1871, or nearly twenty-four Fred Weis. Mrs. J. L. Belbaze and
street one passes under an country. No company travels whose ten or fifteen minutes.” This was years ago, he opened the Tremont Miss M. Belbaze, both beautifully
exquisitely carved stone arch. The people and scenery can not be dis- the universal opinion expressed, and opera house in this city. ‘Then he attired occupied box E, the tipper
lobby is paved with marble tile posed of with the utmost ease on Galveston playgoers can go there was struggling along with but little box at the right of the stage. They
and beautifully decorated. A delicate this stage. The mechanism of the and occupy seats in any section of more than an ambition to climb were accompanied by Mr. J. Belbaze.
shade of brown is the coloring stage is up to date. There are two the building without the slightest up in the histrionic world as a suc- In box F, next to the above, was a
of the walls and the decorations galleries for the handling of scenery. fear of fire. There is another cessful opera house manager. That party of six charming young ladies,
consist of festoons of roses looped House scenery is handled from the thing about the Grand which is was nearly a quarter of a century under the chaperonage of Mrs.
and knotted with bows of ribbon. lower one and road scenery from a new and welcome departure in ago and, while the white flowers of Weaver. The party was composed of
The balcony foyer duplicates that the upper one. Most of the scenery Galveston, and that is the fact that age have begun to cluster about the Misses Durkee, Sherrin, McGrew,
below except that it has no is worked by what is technically desirable reserved seats can be had his brow, he must have been happy Roark, Quill and Guthrie. The ladies
stairway leading up from it, and knows as “straight up,” as prevails in the balcony. The poor man, who last night in the consciousness that were attired in a uniform of black,
that in the south end it has an in nearly all modern houses. The feels unable to spend a dollar per he has not lived in vain—that with white kerchiefs. In the upper
artistically executed scene, which is dressing rooms for the stars are on seat, can take his family into the he has been instrumental in the left box were Dr. S. O. Young and
the handiwork of the architect. The both sides of the stage and behind balcony with the utmost safety, and erection of the greatest Thespian wife and Captain John K. Wiley or
doors of both foyers are paneled the boxes. The other dressing furthermore, he can secure seats temple this state has ever seen. Huntsville. Mrs. Young was beau-
with art and hung with bronze rooms—twelve in all—are under which are in every way desirable He said to a News man that it tifully and tastefully attired. The
double-action hinges. The floors and the stage. The dressing rooms are for 50 cents apiece. In these was the proudest moment of his architect of the building, Mr. Frank
stairways are covered with royal all furnished with hot and cold balcony seats every part of the life, and he said it in a way that Cox, and his party occupied box
Wilton velvet of crimson hue and water stands, the necessary mirrors big stage is in full view. There are showed he meant it.Every box in H. There were in the party Mrs. Cox, Mrs.
of the latest and most fashionable and dressing cases. The drop also reserved seats on one side of the theater was occupied by beau- Eugene Cox, Mr. Eugene Cox and Mr. Frank
pattern. Ladies and gentlemen’s curtain is without doubt one of the the balcony for the colored people, tiful women, elegantly attired, and Ellsworth of Sherman. Altogether it was a
parlors are encountered on each finest in the country. It is a copy which give them the same excellent gallant men, in full dress. The boxes great occasion and one that will linger long
in the pale moonlight of memory.
side when one steps upon the of a famous painting, “Sappho and view of the stage. Altogether, the are after the new style, somewhat -The Galveston News - 01/04/1895
Waves Magazine | January 2019 Issue | 49