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CENTRAL PICTURE

THEATRE.

THE OPENING PI-RI^R-vTA-VCB.

It is only 14 weeks since the work of erecting the Central Picture Theatre in Wakefield-street began, and the building is one of the most handsome strue-turcs on that important thoroughfare. The ex- terior view suggests that it is a well-ap- pointed building. The design of the front portion of the structure is unconventional

and artistic, provision liaving been made

for the addition of a dress circle. The theatre has a frontage of 70 ft. to Wake neld-street. and the block is 138 ft, deep.

It ia nearly opposite the Metropolitan Fire

Brigade, Station, and it is replete with every modern convenience. The interior of the theatre has- been furniuhed with special conside-ration for the comfort' of patrons. In, the first place, the matter of ventilation has been rightly regarded as one of prime importance. The Wunder- lich ceiling slopes from the eade walls to the centre, causing the warm air to escape through the esrtensivc perforations _ at the top. In the ßummer time a suction fan will draw off the hot air. Seating accom .modation has been provided for 1.400 per- sons. On the main floor there is room for 600. and there are also ade galleries and an extensive rear gallery oí fixed chairs. Everywhere ample room has been left for patrons to pass, in and out, and to move in their seats in comfort. A future of the theatre is the special screen which has been erected for the pictures. It has a huge gilt frame and the clean, dull white color of the screem prevents a glare. The theatre has been built for Messrs. C. A. Moody and J. Lord bv Mr. A. J. G. Asshcton. who has leased the premises for erren years. Mr. Assheton states that the .pictures will be the largest shown in Ade-

laide, measuring 30 ft. bv 27 ft. The architect was Mr. R. R. G. Aoheton, of the Semaphore.

Perhaps the most important feature of all is the bioscope room, and the modern plant it contains. This is outaide the theatre, the pie-tares being projected through a small aperture high above the heads of the occupants of the rear gallery. The bit-scape house is absolutely fireproof. The box containing the films for «xtch per foi-mance is .constructed of ar-bestos. and the film in -use on the ma_?hi*_e is protected by the latest safety devices. It is a Bniske projecting machine with the Assheton im- proved gate. Tlie latter ensures that if a film should take fire the only portion that «sin pofisiblv be burnt is tbe square inch which is actually passing through the ma- chine, so that the risk of ac-cident in the bioscope room is reduced to an absolute rmniminn. The electrician of the theatre is Mr. J. Morley Allen, who has been work . ing at high pressure for some time to have the e__*ctrical plant in thorough work in-rt order for the opening perfonnance. A 16-h,p. electric motor and dynamo axe in- stalled alon^dde the bioscope room. From this place the whole of the lighting ot the theatre is controlled. Two miles of elec- tric wires have been used. The arc b'ght which ia employed in projecting the. pic- tures through tlie machine is of about 2.700 candle-power. As the machine is of the 1912 pattern, and was landed in Adelaide but a few weeks ago. it represents, the bust word in cinematography.

At the initial performance on Thiirseray cw«_ning the theatre was packed by a de- lighted andience. The picturea shown were of a superior e-haracttn-, and the high ex. pe^aticms-of the onlookers were more than -realised. A large number of .people we-re .mabie to obtain seats. The proceeds will be devoted to the McNaxuara benefit fund. The first picture tromprified a series of in- teresting views of the work of erecting the tl-eatre. The principal item gave a vivid idea of cowboy life on an American ranch. It was entitled "The fall round-up on YC ranch-"' The film was 3,000 ft. in length, and about an hour was occupied in screen- ing it. Cowboys and e-owgiris were seen ind"-*ging in their exciting pa**tbnes of horseracinf.. rxragh-riding. ¿c "A trip on Lake Co-stance-' was a e-h__*mtng eeries of

pie-tures, which, like many of the others, stood out with stereoscopic effect. ""Jean of the Jail"' wat* a thrilling dramatic sub joA. in which the characters were most reaiistjcallv poTtrnveeL Other pleasing dramatic pictures were entitle?d "Ones who puffer'* and "Stolen Grey.** The humorous snbj-^cbs were "A mckv mix np." "Bill and the missus." and "Xuttv's game.** Or «.hertral muc-ic was supplied by th» Renard i famDv. __________________________ '

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