The Standard, Bijou
Life Span: 1883-TBD
Location: SW corner Halsted and Jackson
Architect: NA
- Lakeside Annual Directory of the City of Chicago, 1884
Standard Theatre, Whitney & Dyer, managers S. Halsted, sw. cor, Jackson,
A. N. Marquis & Co.’s Business Directory of Chicago, 1886-1887
Standard Theatre, Whitney & Dyer, props. S. Halsted, sw. cor, W. Jackson, T. 4164
Chicago Tribune, November 12, 1883
STANDARD THEATRE.
The New and Handsome Structure on the West Side.
The new opera-house at the corner of South Halsted and West Jackson streets is rapidly approaching completion and is beginning to assume a definite shape-both inside and out. This new temple of the art dramatic is to be distinguished as the standard Theatre The tendency of the auditorium is upward rather than elongated, so that the whole audience will be close to the stage. The front elevation is so far advanced that a tolerably accurate conception of its general appearance may be determined. It is composed of Zanesville pressed brick, with black joints, and is trimmed with handsomely relieved cut stone work, the first story being constructed entirely of iron. The upper story will be surmounted with a beautifully relieved pedimental feature, ornamented with balustrades, centre reliefs, etc. The architectural character of the face of the building is a combination of the Medieval, Queen Anne, and Eastlake styles, the result being very effective. A special feature of this front is a projecting porch from the second story covering the entire space over the sidewalk in front of the grand entrance. With this porch will be connected a jutting boot, or canvass cover, extending over the distance of the carriage-way as a protection to visitors in inclement weather. The upper portion of the porch will be illuminated inside by electricity, thus giving prominence to the name of the theatre and the surrounding panels, all of which will be filled with prismatic glass of various brilliant colors. The front columns of the porch will be utilized for lamp-posts. Beneath the porch is the circular-front band-balcony.
The entire auditorium will be heated by steam and ventilated by the use of what by is known as the Blackburn ventilating fans. By these means an entire change of atmosphere can be produced in the space of five or ten minutes. The stage is provided with mammoth smoke-ventilator for the rapid escape of all heated foul air created by the use of gun- powder, chemical light effects, etc., in spectacular plays and special stage illusions. One of the beauties of this system of heating and ventilating is that all possibilities of drafts or countercurrents will, it is conceived, be avoided.
This being the only theatre in this city located at the junction of two streets, considerably more than the usual number of exits have been provided. The stairways lead directly from square landings to square landings, so that all steps in a circular form are avoided. There will be no gallery. so called. The third floor will consist of one grand family circle. The first six rows of seats will be composed of opera chairs, the tickets for which will be sold at an advance of 5 or 10 cents, thus giving families of limited means the opportunity of special reserved seats at enjoying a very trilling extra cost. The rest of the family circle will be provided with the new patent folding seats upholstered backs, thus with affording unusual facilities for cleansing the floors.
The management are contemplating the use in the orchestra circle, the parquet circle, and dress circles, of the Keene chair, which folds in two ways. by which means the whole of these portions of the auditorium can be transformed in a moment almost into one vast series of aisles and exits, similar the seating of the auditorium in the Casino Theatre, New York. The balcony circle and balcony will be furnished with easy folding upholstered seats, provided with hat-racks. shawl-racks, foot-rests, etc.
The furniture of the auditorium, including carpets, upholstery, curtains, lambrequins, portières, etc., will be of the finest description in the market. The entire surface of the first floor will be laid with Wilton carpet and relieved with rugs of Turkish pattern. The second story will be carpeted with body Brussels, and the third, or family circle, will be covered with linoleum, using rubber on the steps.
One of the special features of ine auditorium will be the decorations, which are to be in the very latest style of the art. Light and dark shades of olive will be the predominating colors, abundantly relieved around the proscenium, the front treatment of the boxes, etc., with gold gilding, frosted bronzes. and other enriched imitations of metals; while in the background the work will be treated in a more subdued and modest line of colors. The under ceiling of the balcony, the entire outline of the foyer, and the grand entrance will be splendidly decorated and relieved with enrichments, panels, and reliefs. The effects sought to be arrived at are refinement in taste, harmony in color, and novelty in design.
The walls and ceiling oi the grand entrance will be covered with Lincrusta-Walton, a newly imported material from Europe which presents a carved surface similar to ancient Egyptian panel-work. The rails around the orchestra and the divisions of the first floor are to be of heavy silver-plated work, with beautifully ornamented posts. The spaces between the rails and the woodwork will be filled in with panels of basket-pattern brasswork. The rails of the boxes. balcony circle, etc., will be ornamented with banging drapery. There will also be a line of silver treatment on the face of the balcony and family circle, relieved with other gilded work to convey the idea of strength.
The panels of the celling will be relieved with broad figures in nicely tinted colors. The ribs, cornice, cove, brackets, and pendants will be adorned with stencil-work tigures and reliefs harmonizing with the general treatment of the auditorium.
The stage will be furnished with all the modern appliances and improvements for scenic effects, including four sets of the new adjustable grooves. There will be twenty-six sets of newly-painted scenery with set pieces, set houses. set rocks, raking-pieces, fly-drops, and all the usual accessories. Provision bas been made for the storing of scenery and properties on either the south of the west side of the stage. and the addition of extra dressing-rooms, if necessary.
The floor of the grand entrance will be laid with caustic tiles of a rich pattern, blue and white predominating, which will produce a very brilliant effect. The foyer stairs and landings will be covered with Wilton carpet.
According to present arrangements this place of amusement, which bids fair to be one of the handsomest in the city, will be opened under the management of Mr. C. J. Whitney, of Detroit, on either Christmas or New-Year’s Day.
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