Indiana daily times. [volume], February 14, 1921, Last Home Edition, Page 3, Image 3

About Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922

Image provided by: Indiana State Library

                
LOEW'S STATE THEATER OPENS TODAY
Marcus Loew
as Seen by the
Interviewer
The city editor scowled. Seemingly,
he possessed the uncanny faculty of
knowing at a glance when his men had
fallen down on their assignments, and on
this particular occasion I Judged that
he must have known my failure before I
even reached the editorial room. At any
rate his countenance gave mute evidence
that I was soon to be the only guest at
a huge feast of most uncomplimentary
remarks. Even the copy boys scattered,
presumably to "give us room'’ for the
"old man" (a title employed outside the
building exclusively) was generally billed
as a "bad boy” when riled. For once In
my cubbish existence I summoned enough
courage to give scowl for scowl anu was
fully prepared to throw in a few heated
words now and then, chance permitting.
Twice before, this very day, I had been
before him to report my failures.
Pity was plainly written over the faces
of the copy-readers and the minds of ell
the staff present were working overtime
figuring out my next alibi. The “o:d
man” was evidently doing some figuring
himself for he continued to stare —and to
the uninitiated, let me explain that only
city editors are proficient in the art of
"soul-searching staring.” Then it came.
"Did you get that interview 1 sent you
after?”
“Well, I saw that tr.an.” s
“What did you say?”
" *Slr, I am a reporter.’ ”
"What did he say?”
•“ ‘lndeed, I might have died and not
known that.’ ”
"Well?”
“That’s all, he left me Immediately, and
continued talking with several men.’
"Didn’t you have horse sense enough
not to interrupt him while he was busy .
A faint chuckls from a group of copy
boys and I swallowed my answer to his
last remark and slunk away to mj disk.
Many left for dinner. I couldn't eat.
Burled in my thoughts, T did not hear
the "old man” calling me. In fact, the
entire universe was ns a blank to me un- ,
til I became conscious of a tugging
my coat and the voice of a copy boy in
my ear.
“Step lively—the old man is beginning
to bellow,” he whispered and scampered
away.
All I could recall on gaining the street
were the city editor’s orders.
“Marcus Loew Is opening anew theater
here today. See him.” I nodded when
he asked if I know him, lying at the
earn® time.
"Get what he has to say—right suc
cessful man—lst me have about three
quarters.”
No, I did not know Marcus Loew; few
do until they have really talked with
him; but I was prepared to do or say
anything Just at that time.
it was to be an interview I did not
care for especially. Showmen I had met
seemingly possessed only a flowery vo
cabulary and I was not in a mood on
this particular day to be "bulled.”
Rather than walk Into the assignment
blind, I hunted up a publicity man friend
of mine and asked a few questions re
garding Mr. Marcus Loew.
“You mean to say you don’t know who
Loew Is?” responded the genuinely as
tonished publicity man. I confessed my
Ignorance and waited patiently while he
waded through a stream of adjectives,
finally coming back to our or'.ctvral topic.
"Some showman, boy—barrels of money,
some showman- has caused a revolution
In the show world.” I cut him. It was
enough. Barre’s of money, some show
man—his phrasing all coinciding with
my imaginary impression of "big" show
man.
I continued my errand, prepared to find
Mr. Loew the type of man I pictured
him in my mind's eye—that of a large,
blustery, well-fed human being, hia fin
gers bedecked with genuine though gross
ly Improper diamond rings, possibly a
flaring red necktie adorned also with a
huge diamond. I had remembered of
once having seen a manager of a zoo
who had two front teeth studded with
the rarest gems. All these impressions
I carried with me.
Xow, finding Marcus Loew was the
easiest part of the task. Everybody
knew when he was to reach Indianapolis
with his party of picture stars, so I went
to the Union Station to see the arrival.
Did you ever get a bard, short jolt
of the variety one gets when the trolley
running along smoothly apples the
emergency brakes when a child runs
across the tracks? I received the worst
one of my life when Marcus Loew, sur
rounded by Klwnninns picture stars,
mayors, reception committees and such
things was p iutd out to me.
Ho was a man exactly opposite to all
of my Imaginative Impressions. He was
as unlike the clown picture I had in toy
uiind as the ex-kaiser is to the symbol
of peace. Unconsciously I glanced at
his hand as he offered It In greetings
to members of the various committees.
He wore no rings of any description.
Curiosity took my eyes to his necktie.
Which I discovered was no whit more
noticeable or “loud” than those worn by
the Kiwanians.
There was nothing to suggest Immense
wealth, but there wr.s a general expres
sion to suggest a kten observer, a shrewd
business sense, and "a man among men ”
Cut Just looking wouldn’t get me what
the “old man” sent me after. Xow get
ting a word or even near enough for one
Was no easy matter, believe me, but
spurred by recollections of my two
previous failures, I accomplished the Im
possible. Mr. Loew, hlm-elf helped me,
for presumably noticing the agonized ap
peal ta my eyes, he said during a brief
lull!
“Wan, my boy, what can I do for
you?" and a smile played over his
countenance. Interviewing prominent
figures of the business and political
world had always been rather easy for
mo. Generally I found them rather
talkative. Fortunately, I had always
had an Inkling of what they were striv
ing for and frequent publicity had af
forded me the angle from which they
Udawed any question.
f #cw, the proportion was entirely dif
(.Ceartnaea. on Fag* Xln#.)
New Playhouse Cost Near Million
. —— —. ■.. .. *
Representing an outlay of approximate,
ly s].(M>,ooj and at the same time bring
ing Indianapolis in as a link in the
largest chain of theaters in the world,
Loews State Theater, Pennsylvania
street, between Market and V.'ashlngten
streets, opened Its doors at 1 o’clock
this afternoon.
From the very start the new play
house embarks on its regular policy of
continuous shows from 1 to 11 p. m.
daily, with no reserved and offer
ing a combination show, that of vaude
ville and feature photoplays.
Realizing that the presence of a num
ber of moving picture stars wou and bring
forth an unusual number of theatergoers,
Mr. Loew instructed that the theater be
launched on Its intended policy ar.d de
parted from the usual custom of reserv
ing seats for the opening day, In order
to give every one a chance.
The opening of the State not only
marks the addition of another theater
tG t'ue I.oew chain, but is the result of
the untiring efforts of I. Fieblemann, G.
and M. l.frcymson and other local busi
ness heads, local representatives and as
sociates of Mr. Loew. The first connec
tion made with the local business men
and the Loew organization came with
Loew’s Valentine theater in Toledo, Ohio,
when the lease to that property was
turned over to Loew’s operation. Then
came Loew's Dayton theater In Dayton,
Ohio, and the success of both prompted
a survey for an Indianapolis site.
The plot on which the theater stands,
110 f*et wide and lfib feet deep. Is one
of the few I/oew properties which was
not Inspected by Mr. Loew before the
deal was sonsummated. Ground had been
broke-, nml the foundation laid before the
vaudeville and movie magnate had even
seen the site.
. ■ a i capacity of the new theater
is approximately 3.000. and two cashier
booths facilitate the handling of large
crowds.
The e'.e trie =ign adorning the front o!
the building is one of the largest In th
State, being forty-four feet iu length and
six feet in width.
Marble and terrazzo floors greet the
visitor in the vestibule and lobby, while
large peer mirrors skirt the side walls.
The feet of the visitor literally sink in
the maze *of soft red carpet on entering
the auditorium. One enters on the or
chestra floor, and to reach the balcony
passes through the mezzanine section.
The Adam period was closely followed
In the decorations, with delicate touches
of gold, Ivory and blue. Black was used
Infrequently to bring out forcibly the
ornamental design. Draperies and cov
erings in the side wall panels were se
lected to harmonize with the general
scheme of coloring.
A high mahogany wainscoting skirts
the mezzanine, while the furniture In
that section Is of Georgian mahogany
upholstered In bright patterned wool
Stemert Grand Pianos
(MADE IN BOSTON)
Used Exclusively by MARY GARDEN
and Other Artists of World Fame
Have Been Selected by
Loew s State Theatre
for their exceptional quality of tone and durability, for
use in this new, beautiful theatre.
The Steinert is an exclusive piano and perfectly re
sponds to every musical demand.
The highest ideals of manufacture are maintained in
these Steinert grand pianos, appealing to exacting
artists and music lovers. You are cordially invited to
inspect these instruments at our store.
E. L. Lennox Piano Cos.
16 North Meridian Street, Indianapolis
%
Interior of New Pennsylvania Street Playhouse.
tapestry. The two restrooms, also in that
section, were treated with American Em
pire wall paper and furnished with co
lonial and heavy upholstered furniture of
brown and olive shade.
The electrical fixtures also follow the
Adam period closely, the side brackets
being of a candle effect with gold strap
pings while from the celling hangs a
huge piece representing a giant sun
burst, studded with amber glass. The
three-way lighting system was used, be
ing capable of blending five different
I shades through the Installation of the
We Helped in the Beautification of
Loew’s State Theater
Also in Indianapolis the G. & J. Office Building and plant and
the Van Camp Building.
W. P. Nelson Cos.
Established 1856.
Gl4 S. MICHIGAN AVENUE, CHICAGO.
NEW YORK—DETROIT—PITTSBURG
Special Furniture and Draperies Painting
Interior Decorations < Wall Papers
The Pratt Poster Company
Theatrical Printers
To The Theatres of Indianapolis
400 CENTURY BUILDING.
ll\ DIAjN A i)AILi illUAft, ItlODli/rii, X’DDAVGmti 1“*, Aviri.
latest typa of switchboard with dimmer
control. The board Is known technically
as a "dead face’’ or to the layman, one
without fuses on the face of the board.
The chairs on the orchestra and bal
cony floors are of walnut with Spanish
leather seats of brown shade. Ample
room has been allowed between rows
to assure the visitor comfort.
The scenery at Loew's State Is un
usual in that Its design and coloring is
practically new to thecter-goers in this
section. Bright coloring was chosen for
all the stage settings.
he Installation of —
Registers and Sheet Metal Work in Connec
tion With Heating and Ventilating System
For the New
Loew’s State Theater
Was Done By
SINK & EDWARDS
219 North Delaware Street, Indianapolis, Ind.
Attcrncon ly** Evening I
158-250 . 335 - 4 Sc
deludes Tnx ns^-es Tax I
"c 6 MTI NUOUS 1 TO 11 P^.|
Doors Open 12:30
Show Starts IP.M.
Here’s The Show
First Showing Here
The Silver
Lining
Featuring Jewell Carmen
GIVEN IN ADDITION TO
VAUDEVILLE
Including
Fads & Fancies
With
Pat Conway and
6—Beautiful Girls—6
Arthur Sullivan
& Cos.
in "Drawing From Life”
Phil Davis
"A Knight From Dixie"
Koler & Irwin
"From Musical Comedy"
Grace Ayres
& Bras.
"Snappy Skaters”
STABS APPEAR
3:15, 6:15 and 9:15
Automatic Sprinklers
Installed in the new
Loew’s State Theater
BY
Cook Bros*
219 SOUTH PENNSYLVANIA STREET.
The Beautiful Decorations
of the Loew State Theater, which have
called forth so much praise for their won
derful artistic merit, were executed by
Win. G. Andrews Decorative Cos.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.
We Furnished and Installed All Fire Escapes and Ladders for the
Loew’s State Theatre
T. ROCH IRON WORKS, 600 Dorman Street
Movie Stars will appear every
shew today and Tuesday
(Here They Are)
The Guest List
MARCUS LOEW
LIEUT. WALTER HINTON
LIEUT. LOUIS KLOCR
HOPE HAMPTON
LILLIAN WALKER
MONTAGU LOVE
CRAUFORD KENT
CREIGHTON KALE
GLADYS COBURN
WILL MORRISSEY
LADY TEN MEI
KENNETH DOUGLAS
ZEENA KEEFE
RUTH ROLAND
MARGUERITE MARSH
HELENE DAVIS
JULES BRULATGR
EMILY CHICHESTER
LOIS MERIDITH
HELEN FLINT
MABEL PIERSON
MARY GORMLEY
Lieuts. Hinton and Kloor
will not appear Tuesday
All The
Marble and Tile Work
IN
Loew’s State Theater
FURNISHED AND
INSTALLED
BY
F. E. Gates Marble
and Tile Cos.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Gregory & Appel
Incorporated
Have Written
The Insurance
on the
Loew Theater Bldg.
The
Draperies
and
Carpets
throughout the
Loew’s State Theater
were made and installed by
The C. B. Howard Company
Retail and "Wholesale
Manufacturers Shades and Draperies
14-16 East Washington St.
Indianapolis.
Electric Passenger Elevator
In New Loew Theatre Building
INSTALLED BY
Otis Elevator Company
22 SOUTH CAPITOL AVE. INDIANAPOLIS.
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