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Show .; [':') West 200 South Orpheum/Gapitol -Theatre AU ARCHITECTURE (continued): street level. Undisturbed, however, is the ornate facade from thefirst rrtory cornice up. The Palladian windows display round columns with composit< capitals, and classically molded entablatures or lintels complete with cartouches, foliated bands,, cherubs and stereotyped, classicist heads, all done in terra, cotta. The frieze is also a repetitious band of cherubs and musical instruments. The bracketed, cornice is crowned, v/ith a band of drama masks* Much of the theatre 1 s interior is intact. The building is rectangular in shape and features the main lobby, ticket rooms, offices, a set of grand staircases, elevators, men's and women's parlors and restroorns, a large balcony, theatre, orchestra pit, stage control and mechanical rooms. Much of the original intsrior decor is intact although some changes were made as a. result of the remodeling in 1927. The restoration in progress intends to restore as many of the original features as possible. 5. HISTORY (continued): ant buildings which he designed were the Orpheums in San Francisco and Los Angeles, the Manx Hotel, Newman and Levism Building, Concordia Club, Sacks Building, E. and M. A. Gunst Buildings, and Lamberman's Buildings. Lansbur^ "ias also involved with restoration architecture, having done the restoration of the Temple Emami el in San Francisco. Lansburgh's training in classicism was brought to bear in the design of the Orpheum Theatre in. Salt Lake City. Designed in what described at the time as the "Italian Renaissance Style," the building displays a profusion of classical revival detailing. The exquisite terra cotta. figurines, moldings and brackets \vere_unkno\vn in the city, with the exception of the Hotel Utah which was built at the same time and used, terra cotta decoration from the same California manufacturer. The theatre housed from 1,800 to 2,000 and was built at a cost of $250,000. Capitalization for the project came from the Walker Estate in Salt Lake City as well as M. Meyerfeld of the Orpheum circuit. Amenities inc3.uded were a. mezzanine floor lounge for female patrons, marble floors and staircases, removable seats in the front of the auditoriu ..to allow for enlargement of theorchestra pit, 26 box seats, among them a central "royal" box. No posts hindered the view of spectators. Perhaps the most impressive features, however, were those intended to bring extra confort and safety. The Orpheum Theatre was considered architecturally advanced during its time* Constructed, of concrete, steel and. brick, this fireproof constructic was aided by a "Water Curtain" which was a series of sprays in front of an asbestos curtain which automatically activated when the temperature reachec a designated height. According to one report, "Water spouts from the side; and descends from above, forming acornplete screen of. water through which fire or smoke could not penetrate." A mechanical ventilation system known as the "Plenum system" was also provided. Precurssor to present forced air conditioning systems, it worke thusly: "Automatically the air is expelled through gratings beneath the seats at a rate of three feet per second. It rises to be drawn out throug the ventilators in the ceiling and. dome without any perceptible draught." It was claimed, that "on the hottest day in summer it is possible to keep the atmosphere at 60 degrees while, when the mercury is below zero in winter, patrons can be warm and snug . . . and breathe absolutely pure air- |
