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The Radio.

Opening Night: April 10th.

Special Attractions.

To-night (Saturday, April 10th) the management has made a special effort to procure a programme worthy of the magnificent and up-to-the minute theatre which has been in course of erection for some months at the corner of Oak and Beech streets. Mr. D. Stibbards, who has always been a keen townsman, and has furthered to the best of his ability any progressive effort for the benefit of local activities, has now given a practical example of his faith in the town and district, for he has erected a theatre which will serve for the next generation and is, above all, an acquisition to the town, and which would indeed be an acquisition to any city, for there has been no skimping of material, no unnecessary modification of design and no expense spared to render the fittings decorative and the accommodation comfortable. We will deal with the theatre in our next issue.

The special features of the programme to-night will be "The Spoilers" and "The Man on the Box." "The Spoilers," which has an all star cast, with Milton Sills, Anna Q. Nillson and Barbara Bedford in the principal roles, is Rex Beach's powerful novel of the Alaskan gold rush, is a story of the lawless pioneer days of the far frozen North, and an epic of the conquest of the land of romance and wealth. Noah Beery, the greatest villain of the screen, also features a mighty role and the photo play is considered almost a classic of the silver sheet. The supporting special, "The Man on the Box," is a story of breath-taking fun and romance with the greatest character of the screen, Syd Chaplin, in the stellar role. Adventure beckons alluringly to "Bob" (Syd Chaplin), who pays 50,000 dollars for a share in an invention. Without knowing it he has stepped into an hornet's nest of intrigue which sees him left homeless and pennyless and Jobless in the night. Two Russian spies are bent on stealing the plans of Bob’s invention, but Bob, clad as a maid of flirtatious mein, starts a series misadventures that are irresistibly ridiculous, while romance shows unfettered through the picture.

Transcribed from “The Western Champion”, Saturday Morning, April 10, 1926

The Radio.

Mr. D. Stibbards' New Modern Theatre.

An Up to-Date Building

Although the fine modem theatre erected by Mr. D. Stibbards was officially opened on the 10th April last it was not until a week or so ago that it was completely finished in every detail, and although we have in the past made brief references to this handsome and up-to date building we have reserved our “write-up" until the building was fully completed and equipped.

The new theatre, which is situated in Beech-street has an all-over measurement of 140ft x 66ft, and is 40ft high. It is constructed of wood, iron, reinforced concrete, fibro-cement, Adamo, and art metal sheeting. The auditorium, which comfortably holds five hundred canvas chairs and numerous wooden garden seats, has accommodation for at least 1000 persons. There are seven double patent swinging doors leading from the auditorium, which, when pushed open, remain so. The floor of the auditorium is of fine red gravel, perfectly "set,", and is sloped one foot in twenty feet, to enable those in the back seats to see over the heads of those in front, while that of the vestibule is of red compo. The stage has a proscenium 35ft in width, and on each side of the stage there are two dressing rooms, each replete with electric light. Access to the stage can be obtained by two sets of steps, mounted on concrete pillars, leading to a door each side of the orchestra, and also by a side door leading from Beech-street into the dressing-rooms. The orchestral pit-the very latest thing of its kind-is sunk about 2ft. 6in. below the surface of the floor, and at the same time causes no obstruction to a full view of the floor of the stage.

The entrance to the theatre is gained through the vestibule-21ft frontage-opening on to Beech-street, and immediately in front of the entrance is the ticket office. Behind and above this spacious room are the engine-room and the operating box.

The construction of the building is very strong, and combines appearance and utility with economy and quality. The roof Is supported by eight principals, which are firmly tressed and are semi-circular in form, the under-arches being a series of laminated boards which are attached to eight reinforced rough cast concrete buttresses on each side of the outer walls. Between the buttresses the in-filling on the outside is Wunderich imitation bonded brick while the interiors of the external walls are lined throughout with galvanised iron. In each panel there is a large patent vertical metal louvre, which can be opened or closed as desired.

The stage has been constructed with a double purpose-to use as a suitable medium for the projection of moving pictures, and also with a view to convenient use for the legitimate drama, etc. To ensure complete satisfaction the stage has been ceiled and lined throughout, four dressing rooms have been provided, with doors, and the acoustic propery has been carefully considered. The stage drapery has been chosen, regardless of expense, and certainly is better than anything similar in the West, and at the same time is equal to the screenings on Metropolitan stages. The stage is also adaptable to any kind of setting, and leaves nothing to be desired by travelling or local shows who desire to avail themselves of the Radio. The whole of the stage is painted, and the proscenium is in itself decorative and attractive to the eye, the freehand work being most artistic and a credit to Mr H. Slade who did the work. Particular care has been taken with the stage lighting effects. Nine dozen invisibly-placed footlights, in three colors are in position, and colored and spot lights are projected on to the stage from the operating box, at the rear of the theatre, making it possible for the audience not only to see every inch of the stage, but also to produce effects not possible outside metropolitan areas.

The entrance arch, which faces Beech-street, is of massive reinforced concrete construction. The style is composite, and it has an opening arch of 21 feet. The piles on either side are 21 inches square English bond, and between the piles are panels in rough face and smooth face contrasted. Moulds are placed to vary the scheme, and at the top of each pile is a large concrete sphere, surmounted by powerful electric lights in acorn-shaped globes; these lights are visible for miles. Over the main circular-arched entrance there is a large electric flashing sign, "Radio," which changes continually, catching the eye and enhancing the effect of the entrance. The entrance is closed by a patent collapsible iron grille, one of the, very latest of its kind and very seldom seen outside large metropolitan centres.

The vestibule, about 18ft. x 20ft., is very attractive, and goes back immediately from the entrance. It is raised about four feet from the footway, access being gained by three tiers of steps, which lead from the street. The steps and floor of the vestibule are of red compo, in squares, the depth of the concrete being six inches, and the lined waits are graduated from a dark red at the base to pink at the top. The celling is of flatted art metal and is decorated to complete the scheme of colors, the motif of which is red. In front of the ticket windows, of which there are two, there is a substantial nickel railing, with the orthodox "In" and "Out” entrances. Pretty leadlights and Arctic glass form the front portion of the ticket office, while a pretty art electric lamp, with copper fittings, is suspended from the centre of the vestibule. Above the ticket box is a large pair of polished bullock's horns, obtained from an animal which Mr Stibbards purchased in Aramac. It is a beautiful pair of horns and they measure 3ft. lin. across. On the left hand side of the vestibule are two pairs of swinging escape doors, and then there is the main entrance door. All the doors are nicely finished-off with patterned architraves, while the decorated walls are of Adamo

Adjoining the ticket office is the engine-room, and herein lies the light and power department of the theatre. An Electromotors Ltd. (Manchester) motor convertor (1926 model) supplies the current for the arc lamps. Mr Stibbards especially imported this machinery. The five-letter electric flasher, which has its' own little electric motor attached, was supplied by the Scanlan Electric Co., Sydney. This a very simple contrivance, but is very effective and satisfactory in its working.

Immediately above the engine-room j is the operating box. There is ample room here for the operator and his assistant, and the room, which is entirely constructed of fire-resisting material, is a mass of electric wires and some two dozen switches, for from here the whole of the lighting effects throughout the theatre are controlled. The operating plant embraces two Power 6B (twins) Bio-graphs fitted with Pathe mirror arcs. The projection is 130 feet, the 20ft. x 16ft. pictures being beautifully clear in detail. The operating room is well lighted and ventilated by means of large shutter windows in the wall facing Oak-street.

Special care has been given by Mr. Stibbards to the lighting of the theatre, and no expense has been spared in this respect. In the theatre are eight opal Trojans, about 18in in diameter, fitted with powerful electric lamps, and from these not only brilliant white light is obtained, but the most beautiful tinted lighting effects are produced during the course of the evening's entertainment. These Trojans are suspended equidistant from the roof with a 9ft. drop, copper chains and fittings enhancing the general attractive appearance

The important factor of ventilation has not been lost sight of by Mr. Stibbards, and we have already mentioned the 6ft. square vertical louvres, seven of which are on each side of the building. There are seven shutters in each square, and these swing both ways, so that they can be adjusted to catch the wind whichever way it might be blowing. Then again, the front of the stage is all open-work in square lattice style, while the back portion of the theatre can be left open in the summer months-at present it is walled up with iron. It will thus be seen that there is plenty of provision for ventilation in the large auditorium.

The patent orchestral pit is a great success, and the music carries quite clearly to all parts of the building.

There is a pretty cream poplin draw-curtain on the stage, and the back curtain is a festoon dark purple one, which peculiarly lends itself to varying shades of color. This heavy curtain is manipulated by a winch situated in one of the side rooms. It is a fine piece of stage drapery. On each side of the picture screen are imitation marble columns, the whole making a very pretty and pleasing stage.

The whole of the Interior walls are painted in a light color, and for matinee purposes dark curtains are being provided for the louvres.

The foregoing gives a very true description of this valuable asset Mr. Stibbards has given the town, and he has already received many encomiums from travelling show people on his undoubted enterprise in erecting such a handsome and modern building, which is wholly built on concrete foundations, these tapering from 4ft. down to 1ft. above the surface.

During the recent O'Donnell & Ray pantomime season and the Sunshine Kiddies the Radio stood a splendid test. There was plenty of room on the stage for the ballets, and chorus numbers, while the acoustic properties of the theatre were proved to be all that could be desired-the voices carrying to the bottom end the theatre without any undue effort, on the part of the performers.

In time Mr. Stibbards proposes installing a powerful wireless set, and the aerials are already in position on the roof of the building The front aerial is 30ft high and the back one 20ft. above the roof.

Transcribed from “The Western Champion”, Saturday Morning, July 10, 1926