Ducal Homes as Hotels From Our London Correspondent, If the Ministry of Health, which regulates the housing of the country, would only permit it, London would undergo a rapid transform tion in respect of building changes, but everything except the construction of houses ior residence is regarded as a "luxury," and therefore temporarily prohibited. Otherwise, you would have everybody building theatres, hotels, stores, business offices, cinemas and garages. Even as it is, gigantic schemes are contemplated. The Duke of Devonshire has sold Devonshire House in Piccadilly for £750,000 to a small syndicate, which intends to erect a hotel with 2,000 beds, half the capital being American and half English. Sir Marcus Samuel is the chief mover among the British, and they are working with an American group ich sent over a representative with a quarter of a million stering, to find some outlet for its activities. He has been hustled back to the States. and given four days to find the rest of the two millions, which would be exactly half the cost of the purchase of the land and the erection of the building.
New Srneer To THe Matt, In connexion with this undertaking, Berkeley Street is to widened, though Lansdowne House is still in the way. It seems to be pretty certain, however, that Lansdowne House is doomed to disappear also.
Opposite the end of Berkeley Street it is now suggested by advisers to the Ministry of Transport that a broad road should run from the Mall to Piccadilly to relieve the crush at the corner of St. James's Street There is a broad pathway there now. but the suggested innovation will cause a good deal of opposition.
These traffic improvers are taking in hand the statues in the streets, and they hava suggested the removal of King Charles I ai the ton of Whitehall, but' I fancy he "will remain there for some time to come.
'THeatRes aNp CiNEMAS.
The big American syndicate which has taken the vacant space aij Aldwych is getting to work on the erection of buildings which will have to be of a gigantic na-to give any return on the capital. Theatre sites, despite the building difficulties, are still in d. and there is always a possibility that in the next few years two or three of these struc: sures will appear in Long Acre. Asa cinema, the London Opera but then such is that nothing fails. Theatre ex-do not think it can last. but admit there has been nothing like it on record for many years. Some of the best actors cannot return to London as there is no theatre for them to appear at.
Cinemas are still springing up everywhere though they are nob allowed to displace houses. They all seem to pay, though it is rather a "come down" for the Alhambra, which failed badly with the recent revue "Eastward Ho," to be reduced to giving "Daddy Long Legs." The Alhambra, however, seems to have fallen on evil times, and one cannot understand why. There is no case of any other hall of its nature doing badly. Cinema proprietors, however, are nowadays obliged to give a good deal more for their money. The entertainment often used to last 45 minutes only to an_ hour, but about a minimum of two hours is now expected and even more.
Tu innumerable shops the front are being pulled out and rebuilt on up-to-date lines. The old idea of exclusive establishments with a wealthy clientele which did not mind obscurity in a back street is passing away. Every vendor of goods now shouts his loudest.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.