Advertisements: Silverwood’s for Panama hats;

the L.A. Ice & Cold Storage Co. for Puritas Water

THE NEW THEATER

Admirable Properties, Luxurious Accommodations, Safe Exits

The entrance to the Mason opera house is through a long tiled lobby, into the red-carpeted foyer and then, quite suddenly and through a side door, the interior of the opera house is reached. . . . The orchestra seats are very wide and comfortably upholstered in dark red leather.

 The orchestra [pit] is one of the remarkable features. . . . It is built to accommodate 100 men and is of a construction quite unknown heretofore in the United States. It is said to be copied after the Wagner Festival theater in Baireuth.

Beyond the ordinary seating limit of the orchestra, a sudden drop of about eighteen inches forms the roof of a deep, wide recess, large enough in itself to accommodate a whole band.

This is provided in case of a large orchestra or band which in most theaters cannot be accommodated without the removal of several rows of seats. . . . brass instruments and drums will all be placed in this recess, which, it is said, forms a perfect sounding board . . . .

On either side of the stage the sixteen little white and green boxes hang like oriole’s nests. . . . The crimson hangings are very scanty, which in no wise detracts from their beauty. The walls . . . are delicately frescoed in ivory and pale green, and directly over the orchestra[-level] chairs two large ventilators let in the light from the sunshine and moonshine through opaque glasses.

A unique feature of the lighting is an arch of frosted incandescent bulbs set in the ceiling, which shed a warm glow and are in no way trying to the eyes. . . .

The balcony will be a joy forever to the matinee girl of modest means, who heretofore has eschewed first-class attractions because she had not the courage to face an ill-smelling, unticketed gallery filled with rows and rows of men and boys with hats on and an inclination to spread spiderwise, just because of the lack of dividing lines in the long benches usually in vogue in a gallery.

The new opera house balcony . . . has folding chairs, and each chair has a number which promises comfort and sure possession to the holder of a balcony ticket. [This kind of individual seating is now outlawed by fire codes.] . . .

The stage is the largest in Southern California. . . . Both steam heat and hot air are provided, and for the summer patrons . . . ventilating shafts carry cold air to every part of the house.

The principal mode of exit will, of course, be through the foyer and out into Broadway. . . . The room is immense and gives the theater an impressive and magnificent entrance.

. . . a small door leads to the men’s smoking and check room. It is done in old English style, with hearts cut in the oak settee and chimney piece. . . .

Quite different in appearance is the gay little suite of rooms on the other side of the foyer. The contrast in the two rooms shows at once the sex of their respective occupants.

The room for the ladies is all in white, with frivolous gilt trimmings and an immense mirror which will reflect my lady’s gown and coiffure as well as her neighbor’s, for the glass is wide enough to prevent active strife. . .

WHO WERE THERE

Fashionable Crowd in Brilliant Attire Commemorated Event

John A. Mason [contractor, lived at 3134 S. Figuerora] was present in a box with the following men who supped with him at Levy’s [restaurant at 111-117 W. Third St.] after the performance:

• Messrs. J[ohn].T. Long [general contractor],
• John A. Parkinson [architect who lived at 600 St. Paul Ave.],
• Reese Llewellyn [president of an ironworks company who lived at 226 W. Adams],
• J[ohn]. M. Ellliott [president of the First National Bank of L.A., who lived at 914 W. 28th],
• John W.A. Off [cashier of the State Bank and Trust Co., living at 2625 S. Figueroa] and
• C[alvin].F. Hunter (a real estate and insurance agent].

Mr. Sothern formed one of a supper party at Levy’s given by Mr. and Mrs. Cosmo Morgan [he was a merchandise broker; they lived at 2627 Orchard Ave.], whose party was composed of

• Miss May Ridgeway,
• Miss Bessie Bonsall,
• Dr. Ralph Williams [a physician of 607 W. Fourth St.] and
• Ernest Hamilton of Chino.

Mr. and Mrs. Ferd K. Rule [he was a banker and member of the police commission; they lived at 721 W. Washington], with

• Miss Louise McFarland,
• Messrs. F.K. Rule Jr. [of the International Development Co., still living at the family home],
• Roy Rule and
• Gerald Rule,

occupied a box, as did also

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mesmer [he was proprietor of the Queen Shoe Store; they lived at 3500 Manitou Ave.] with

• Mrs. E.C. Patterson,
• Mrs. Jennie E. Mesmer and
• Miss Josephine Mesmer.

In a box with Colonel and Mrs. R.J. Northam [he was vice president of the Consolidated Pipe Co.; they lived at 142 S. Grand Ave.] were

• Alice Meguire and
• E.C. Bartlett.

Mr. and Mrs. J[ackson].A. Graves [he was an L.A. banker; they lived in Alhambra] had with them

• Misses Alice and Katherine Graves and
• Dr. E[rnest] A. Bryant [physician who roomed at the Angelus Hotel, the southwest corner of Spring and Fourth].

     [A host of other names are listed in smaller type, including]

• Mayor and Mrs. Snyder,
• General and Mrs. H.G. Otis,
• Mr. and Mrs. Harry Chandler . . .

The majority of the Mason first-nighters wended their way after the performance to Levy’s, discussing the new opera house, the play and Sothern’s acting with equal approbation.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MASON OPERA HOUSE?

 

It was a treasure in its time.

Martha Graham saw Ruth St. Denis dance there and determined to become a dancer herself.

The first presentation of Ramona was done on its stage.

 

In 1915 Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle and Mabel Normand played there.

 

But later? Well . . .

Scroll down or click here.

 

Whatever suits you.