Indianapolis Times, Volume 38, Number 123, Indianapolis, Marion County, 28 August 1926 — Page 7

AUG. 28, 1926

Lyme SPENDS A FORTUNE FOR BIG IMPROVEMENTS Charles Olson Puts $150,000 in Remodeling His Theater. In remodeling and adding improvements to the Lyric Theater, work of which is now rapidly nearing completion, cognizance has been taken of the fact that women are now entitled to the same privileges heretofore accorded men only, by the addition of a smoking room for their exclusive use. Located on the mezanine floor, the ladies’ smoking room is accessible from all parts of the theater, Is handsomely furnished and provides an admirable retreat for those of the fair sex who court the solace and pleasures of Milady Nicotine. During the past few months more than $150,000 has been expended in enlarging the Lyric, constructing a new main entrance and lobby, one of t-he most beautiful and 1 attractive in the Middle West; enlarging the ballroom, installing an entirely new ven- | tilating system and cooling plant, adding some 300 seats on tlje lower floor, erecting a new' projection machine operating booth, installing a neyi- master switchboard o# t|ie stage and redeecorating the entire house. The new lobby, 120 feet long and twenty feet wide, is exceptionally imposing and commodious. Decorated in old ivory and gold, the walls are wainscoted with Italian marble and lined with handsome French mirrors. The lighting fixtures include six magnificent crystal chandeliers. The floor is rubber-tiled. In the center of the lobby is a large marble stairway leading to the mezzanine floor and balcony. The lobby also contains drinking fountains and a smoking room for men. The Lyric's new ventilating system and cooling plant, known as the humidifier, is the very latest thing in the science of theater ventilating. A gigantic air fan, fourteen feet in height and weighing three and one-half tons, draws fresh air into the building at the rate of 57,000 cubic feet per minute. The air first passes into a “washer,” where water from anew well 120 feet deep, passses through the air at the rate of 500 gallons per minute before the air is forced into the air ducts throughout the building. Good Ventilation The Humidifier is a re-circulating system making it possible to maintain a temperate of from 70 to 75 degrees in the theater when street temptrates range from 90 to 95 degrees. Operated by automatic control, the Humidifier always assures an even temperature, and completely abolishes the unpleasantness of air drafts. The Lyric is -one of but twenty of the new-est theaters throughout the United States equipped with this system. Hailed as the greatest and most remarkable innovation in facilitating stage lighting ever conceived, the major remote control switchboard, which has just been installed completely does away with fire hazard from electricity on the stage. The switchboard proper is located beneath the stage, encased in steel cabinets in a fire proof room. It is operated from an auxiliary board on the stage, and any conceivable lighting effect desired can be obtained by the simple act of .touching a button. The switchboard is so constructed that the light cues for every act on the bill can be “set up” in advance of the perforrriance, making it unnecessary for the operator to visit the switchboard proper at any time during the show. The Lyric is the only theater in Indianapolis equipped with a major remote control switchboard. The special board placed in the Lyric was designed, and its installation supervised by Lynn Parish, house electrician. What is declared to be the largest changeable letter electric sign in the State has been erected above the main entrance on Illinois St. Ten feet in height, the center section of the sign board is fifty feet long and the side sections eighteen feet long. The center section can accommodate 184 letters and the side sections 128 letters each. The n.-illrooiii The Lyric ballroom, enlarged to lOf) feet in length and sixty feet in width, with a dance floor 100x60 feet in size, will be opened in the near future for the fall and winter season. J. Russell Robinson and his orchestra, eight all-star dance musicians, with Eber B. Grubb, entertainer, will furnish music. Robinson, the man who wrote "Margie” and a hundred other popular song hits, is famous as a composer and has appeared in vaudeville as accompanist for Marion Harris., The ballroom, maintained solely for theater patrons, is one of the unique features that distinguishes the Lyric among vaudeville theaters throughout the country. Charles M. Olson Is president and managing director of the Central Amusement Company wh|ch owns and operates the Lyric. A pioneer in the motion picture and popular vaudeville business in Indianapoli.s he is recognized as one of the shrewdest showmen in his chosen field. He also directs the Apollo, Ohio and Isis photoplay theaters, and is interested in other local motion picture houses. Though his interests are many and varied Mr. Olson gives his personal attention to every detail concerning the management of the Lyric which is his special pride. The Lyric was erected in 1912 with an original capacity of not quite 1,000 seats. To keep pace with its over-growing patronage the theater has since been twice Remodelled and enlarged, its original frontage of 72 feet on Illinois street having been increased to 13? feet, the additional property being acquired by 99 years leaseholds. COMPLETES MOVIE SCRIPT Bess Meredyth has just completed the script of “The Third Degree,” and plans are under way for it to go into production soon at the Warner Bros, studio. Michael Curtiz, noted European director, will handle the megaphone.

For Opera

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Ernst Heberlein

The Bel Canto Club is getting ready to present an opera in full as well as various programs containing scenes from other operas. Ernst Heberlein is manager of the club and Miss Gertrude Conte of the Irvington School of Music is director. CROSS IN VAUDEVILLE Wellington Cross, in his new sketch, "Selfishness," by Edwin Burke, will open a tour of KeithAlbee vaudeville the latter part of September.

! renew* tt.'pledge || ItlvHAlxi/ ten years ago to feature in aw, A Mil gpi | A i >-/./* the future, as it has done j BABXiI ELM ESS In,h6p “^.irTUt AMATEUR . 1 j GENTLEMAN A First National Picture jjjl 1 DICK returns to the field In which he has scored his greatest successes. ' l !l He is seen In a picturesque romance —in an impelling drama of a prizefighter’s son who goes to London to become a gentleman. Already i a gentleman to the core, he doesn't seem to realize that he has fulfilled l p his ambition and that he IS an Amateur Gentleman In high standing. i || THE CIRCLE THEATRE takes great pleasure In l announcing the return of the • 1 CIRCLE SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA [ under the direction of our new conductor I I MIKHAIL STOLAREVSKY ! playing the overture I “William Ten” • I ! KERENOFF and MAREE ’ DESSA BYRD \ I in a presenting I J DANCE REALITY "HAYE A LAUGH" | I “THE CHOICE” CIRCLE COMEDY ! A Twlated Tale ' Animated ! A ( Real Novelty Film Circle News I I “MEET THE CIRCLE FAMILY” in the Movies j

CIRCLETOOBSERVE 10TH ANNIVERSARY (Continued From Page 6) to the town to buy the water power site and when he finds himself up against it he is forced to confess his plight. However, he has done such a remarkable bit of financiering and really saves his town that he is forgiven and wins a fortune and a wife who assists him in his business venture. The cast supporting the star includes Marian Nixon, Ben Hendricks Jr., Ei. J. Ratcliffe, Margaret Seddon, George Nicholls, Alfred Allen, C. El. Thurston, George Marion, Alfred Knott and Aaele Watson. The supplemental screen features will include a comedy “Don’t Bea Dummy,” in which Arthur Lake is starred, an Aesop E’able "Pests” and the International News of pictorial current events. “Dance Dreams,” the stage pre sentation, Is offered by a company of four dancers. •I- -I- -1l PTOWN LISTS FILMS FOR NEXT WEEIv A titanic picture with House Peters in the leading role is “The Storm Breaker,” which is to be shown at the Uptown, College Ave. at Forty-Second St., on Sunday,

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THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

Monday and Tuesday. Peters will be remembered as the star of “The Tornado,” "Raffles,” and other great productions. The story was directed by Edward Sloman and Is based on Charles Guernon’s story, "Titians.” The cast Includes Ruth Clifford, Nina Romano, Ray Hallor, Jere Austin, Lionel Belmore, Gertrude Claire, Mark E’enton, Ed Brown, Lon Poss, "Emmett King and William J. Colvin. “Pals First,” one of the finest stories that has been presented on the screen, will be featured on Wednesday and Thursday. The picture features Lloyd Hughes and Dolores Del Rio, and tells of a marvelous case of double identity. “Buster’s Orphan Party” is the comedy attraction, which is shown in addition to a Kelley Color subject, “TJhe World in Color.” George O'Brien, one of the most popular stars of the screen. Is starred In “The Silver Treasure,” which is the attraction on Friday and Saturday. "THE STILL ALARM” DUE AT THE ISIS “The Still Alarm,” a romantic drama of the life of a fire fighter, will be shown at the Isis the first half of next week. Adapted from Joseph Arthur's famous stage melodrama, “The Still Alarm” is packed with thrills, exciting moments, and tense situations, the picture containing all the big scenes of the original play supplemented by hundreds of others made possible with larger scope of the motion picture campra. The cast is one of stellar calibre. “Jerry the Giant,” will be the comedy feature.

Pianist at Broad Ripple

James A. Makin, general manager of Broad Ripple Park, has booked for a two-days’ engagement, starting today, M. Snodgrass, who is known the country over as “The King of the Ivories.” * Mr. Snodgrass is known through his interpretations of popular music, which seems to have an appeal that very few radio musicians equal. His music was broadcast from station WOS (Jefferson City, Mo.). He was an instantaneous success. With Snodgrass at Broad Ripple Park will be J. M. Witten, prize radio announcer from the same station and a company of radio stars. They will appear on a special stage in front of the beach grand stand. There will be two performances daily at 4 and 9 p. m. The management announces that children from 5 to 15 years of age, who wish to view the animals in the big\zoo before they return to their winter quarters at Kansas City, Mo., will be given admittance to the park and zoo on their purchase of a ticket and two rides on any of the park’s devices. This will hold good throughout the coming week, as the animals depart after Labor day. An attraction for Labor day that is out of the ordinary is that of “The Mysterious-Aviator." This mysterious person drives a regulation plane at a terriffle rate of speed through two set poles, stripping

Boosts City

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Charles M, Olson

There is one man in this city who doesn't do much talking. He does things. Elis name Is Charles M. Olson, president and managing director of the Central Amusement Company. He has just spent thousands In improvements at the Lyric. Photo is by Dexheimer. off both wings, and then passes through a specially constructed bungalow.

ii . 9lie Son “V Sheik I wi *kVilma Banky You Have Read and Heard So Much About This. Picture It Is Needless To Say More. Tim* Schedule Featured Picture a. m., 1:20,.3:00, 4:40, 6:20, B:oo'and , 9^40 r 'p..ro.. Sunday First Showing, 1:20; Doors Open 12:45^ ; Week Days, First. Showing 10 a. m.;Doors Open 9:45 a. m, v Week-Day Prices* Sunday Prices* Matinees and Mornings, Lower Floor 40c ' V All Seats, 25c Ba-cony -- - - -25 c / Evenings, Lower Floor, ,40*: MACK SBNNETT present* 4 ’ ALICE & > ALICE.,, DAY Pafhegmedy GOOD I

ELSIE JANISIO BE A VITAPHQNE STAR VERY SOON Warner Brothers Place Stage Leader Under Contract for Work. Walter J. Rich and Samuel L. Warner announce the completion of negotiations by the Vitaphone Corporation for the “screening" of Elsie Janis in what thousands of young American doughboys will always hold to be her greatest and most artistic piece of entertainment —her songs, stories and imitations as given just back of the lines during the World War. The Vitanhone appearance of Miss Janis will come as a prelude to Warner Bros, presentation of Syd Chaplin In ‘"Wie Better ’Ole.” The “screening” is to begin immediately at the Manhattan Opera House, the huge stage and auditorium of which has served for several months as a studio for the Vitaphone corporation.

MOTION PICTURES

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It seems to have been & 'happy thought to secure Miss Janis for the picturization of Captain E&irnsfather’s well known and successful dramatic story. At all events, her appearances in connection with this play seem most appropriate and fitting. Miss Janis was approached by Mr, Rich as soon as she arrived from Europe a few weeks ago and was prevailed upon to see Vitaphone at the Warner Theater, where it is being shown in connection with John Barrymore in “Don Juan," and she immediately capitulated. The queen of American mimics is the first of the American musical comedy stars to becoe affiliated with the marvelous new Instrument that so perfectly synchronizes motion and sound. The work of recording for all time the voice, mimicry, art and appearance of Miss Janis will be directed by Herman Heller for Vitaphone. The picture cameras will be under the direction of E. B. Dupont. Miss Janis’ first appearance on Vitaphone will take place early In October at B. S. Moss’ Colony Theater, which Warner Bros. In their pollcy of expansion have leased for an extended period. ENGLISH ARTIST ROUTED Daphne Pollard, eccentric English comedienne begins her American engagement in Keith-Albee vaudeville the first of September,