KO" 'After' "about eighteen months? work, held up for some. time by the "'Sino-Japanese hostilities of ast year, it is now anticipated that a few days will see the final completion, in readiness for the tereening of films, of the new Grand Theatre, described as China's largest and' most up-to-date The owners, formerly the Greater Theatres Syndicate, now Unit Theatres, originally "had the Intention of erecting a. simple and comparatively inexpensive building which would remain standing for about, five years before being replaced by a more pretentious struc ture. Under the influence of expert advice, however, this plan under went alteration, and it was decided to embark. onthe erection of theatre on a really large scale, and the theatre in its present form offers seating accommodation " for total of acting the Racecourse on Bub-dung Well Road, and bounded on other sides by Park Road and Bur-Wall Road, the theatre occupies an important. situation in the centre ofa well "known. entertainment centre, and in his designs the architect for the new building, Mr. L. E, Hudee, B.A,, has been guided by modernist, principles and. the desirability of renting a striking impression upon patrons approach ing by, the busy' artery of" motor trafic from the Central District.
'The building is of strong ferr0- conerete construction, and. the first problem which' had to be borne in mind, in view of the trapezoid "form "of the site, was that the new theatre must stand absolutely detached and apart. Another difficulty, was compliance with the city building regulations that for every 260 seats a five-foot street must be provided.
This matter has. been solved, however, in way eminent building which nema ts to be concerts. outstanding joint concerning the structural se sine, under the direction of Engineer J. Lindskog, that the greatest of the cross girders has a span of no less than ninety' feet—by far the biggest In the Orient, and comparable to the Jangeat in Germany or America, 1, At ite broadest point the auditorium is ninety "fect. across, and at its narrowest about fifty." fect. The "length from the back of the auditorium to the screen is approxi mately 140° feet, Two weighty considerations governed. arrangements, that patrons should be able {ov see and hear well from every seat, and that. ventilation should be adequate. All walls have been fitted with neoustic. panels, and special stream lines "successfully devised for. the operation of the air cooling and conditioning pla which uses 500 "Imperial gall pure. water, from. a spec artesian well, every. minute, Mlluinated "foundations which—are being installed "are, incidentally, similar design to' those. seen the Barcelona World's Fair. fore of unusual interest. To avoid Indirect lighting, is another fea; that "heavy?" feeling. sometimes experienced: by the Tayout under theatre' balconies, this. part, of the round. "floor is illuminated "by feries. of concentric oval. recasees inthe under side of the Mr, W. S.-Never, assist and superintendent under' Mr. Hades has had' practical charge of the Duilding oper from the beginning, the plans. being. carried tut by the Royer Construction Ca.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.