Article on construction of Pike’s Opera House

The construction of Pike’s opera house at 8^th Avenue and 23^rd/24^th street has begun. The estimated costs will be $500,000, and it is planned to be finished mid October. The front on 8^th Avenue measures 113 feet, between 23^rd and 24^th 98 feet. The building will be 80 feet high with a basement and 4 levels above. The basement will be used for the heating equipment and as pantry and storage. The first floor (ground level) will be used for stores and restaurants. The entrance of the theater will be 21 feet wide, and it will lead through a 80 foot long corridor into the foyer, which will measure 45 by 72 feet. A 12 foot wide staircase will lead to the so-called “dress-circle”. The entrance to the higher floors called “family circle” and “amphi theater” (gallery) is located on 24^th street and it measures 12 feet and 6 inches wide.

The staircases are built with wood and have half-landings. The parterre and orchestra are on the ground level. The parterre level is raked as usual; it measures 32 by 76 feet, while the large orchestra is 53 by 48 feet.

There will be seats for 2500 people. The stage will be 72 by 76 feet, with a depth of 84 feet including the proscenium box. There will be 3 proscenium boxes on each side, with tasteful white and golden ornamentation and precious ruby-red curtains.

The building will have perfect air-conditioning. There will also be several windows directly in the theater [auditorium], which is unusual. The style of the building is Italian. On the gable of the roof a group of statues are gathered that depict Apollo and the muse Erato (muse of lyrical, erotic poetry). Underneath on each side of the window, medallions of the heads of Mozart and Shakespeare will be postioned, and underneath these, the larger bodies of “Tragödie” and “Komödie”. On each side of the main entrance, the national and the state herald appear.

The stage design allows fast and easy scene changes, and the emergency exits are easily accessable.

The front of the theater on 8^th Avenue is supposed to consist of marble [the article cuts off here]