Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 71, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1911 — RENSSELAER TO HAVE AERDOME [ARTICLE]

RENSSELAER TO HAVE AERDOME

Fred Phillips Leases Vacant Lot East ot Public Square BE OPEN TO THE CHURCHES On Sunday Evenings If They Desire It—Week Days Will Run Vaudeville and Moving Picture Entertainments. Rensselaer is to have an open air theatre next summer. Fred Phillips, the genial and progressive proprietor of the Princess theatre, has leased as a site for that purpose, the vacant lot .on the east side of the court house, next to the American Express Co. offices, and expects to commence building operations early in the spring. The dimensions of the aerdome, as now proposed, are 45x 150 feet, with a seating capacity of from 600 to 700.* The idea, at present, is to have a covered stage at the east end, affording ample protection for the piano ■ and other essential properties in case of bad weather. The side walls are to be 12| feet high and will be used by; the Ellis Bill Posting Co. as boards for advertising purposes, utilizing the walls for a double purpose. The entrance is to be from the corner of Cullen and Washington streets. The seats are to be high backed benches built = facing the east, and will run' parallel with Cullen street, in- 1 stead of the usual circular form. The seats are -to be”, built regular theatre style, raising gradually to the tear, affording a good view of the stage from any section of the aerdome. The intention is to have firstclass clean vaudeville and moving pictures. And. as at present outlined, will afford open-air entertainment for the entire family. Mr. Phillips has a well-deserved reputation for furnishing this class of entertainment, and iir this open-air theatre intends to carry out the kind of a program, but on a larger scale.

An excellent feature, and one to be much commended, is that the aerdome will be open to church organizations for use on Sunday evenings, if they desire to use it. This, in itself, is a much needed improvement, as it will afford the church organizations ample seating capacity for open-ari worship throughout the hot portion of the year, without the usual annoyance of moving "seats to and from the court house yard, and. in addition, will have the use of the piano, and. could be used for illustrated sermons.