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JUS! Off 1 BOflRDS
Architectural renderings in early-stage visualization of new
theatre building projects soon to be erected or now under
construction. The completed projects will be pictured and
described in greater detail in forthcoming issues of The
MODERN THEATRE section.
Miracle Mile are also in the making, with
parking facilities a major consideration.
The plan worked out successfully for Lincoln
road, Miami Beach, is being studied for
possible ad:ption. Extensive areas behind
Lincoln road have been turned by the city
into parking areas, landscaped and furnished
with meters. The county, as well as
the business houses along Miracle Mile and
the city of Coral Gables, is taking a keen
interest in this new district, especially now
that the "Miracle" is rapidly Ijecoming a
reality, with its opening scheduled for fall.
Its completion will naturally bring hundreds
of people from all over Greater
Miami, to the benefit of all.
Franklin Maury, now managing the Surf,
Miami Beach, will be the manager of the
Miracle when it opens. He and his family
will occupy one of the two apartments
which the theatre building includes. Plans
call also for a cafeteria.
Nothing Spared
The accent throughout the theatre is on
the comfort and pleasure of the patron.
One of the most original features thought
out for the convenience cf women patrons
is the individual rest room. Each of these
rooms will be furnished with toilet, washbowl,
mirror, shelves, coat hooks, and ample
lighting. The powder ro:m will be
large and commodiously furnished with
comfortable lounging chairs.
By Kitty Harwood
The fact that Wometco Theatres is at
last able to start actual construction of its
new 1.600-seat "Miracle" theatre in Coral
Gables, is not only a source of satisfaction
to the Wolfson-Meyer organization, but it
is being hailed with pleasure by the merchants
already established along the municipality's
new shopping district, the "Miracle
Mile." A new. modern, attractive motion
picture house is expected to give impetus
to the entire district.
Thinking not cnly in terms of their own
theatre's setting. Wometco is taking an active
interest in the development of Coral
Gables' new business section, offering a
half-mile of high-class shopping on each
side of its street. Two years ago Mark
Chartrand. public relations director for
Wometco. became a member of the Miracle
Mile Ass'n. and the Miracle Mile Merchants'
Ass'n. These organizations have been concerned
with a beautification program, with
a number of changes under consideration
such as the widening of the sidewalks ten
feet on each side of the street. This would
still leave an 8-foot roadway. The 21-foot
sidewalk space thus created would greatly
enhance the comfort of the shopper, inviting
him to stroll without danger of jostling
from others. This space would also make
possible a luxuriant planting area for trees
and ornamental bushes. Wlien beautification
plans have been completed, the "Mile"
will be one of the showplaces of this resort.
Plans for the permanent maintenance of
Another interesting feature, also with an
eye to the customer's enjoyment, is the
auditorium which is situated diagonally
on the plot. It will be narrow toward the
stage, fanning out toward the back. Tliis
virtually eliminates poor-vision front seats.
It has another advantage too in improved
acoustics. The auditorium, which might
be called horn-shaped, provides the best
possible shape fcr the transmission of
sound
The very latest in push-back, foam-rubber
upholstered seats will be installed, with
a luxuriously appointed smoking loge.
With the opening of its "Miami," Wometco
was the first to introduce the push-back
seat to Greater Miami.
Plastic Screens
What Wometco terms the newest in "eye
conscious" plastic screens will be installed
in the Miracle. The massive contour stage
drapes will rise and fall in the manner of
the opera drape. Simplex E-7 projection
equipment will be used, with sound system
employing RCA multi-cellular speakers. It
has not yet been decided what type of earphones
are to be available for the hard-ofhearing,
but the most successful from the
customer's viewpoint will be used. The
theatre will be air conditioned throughout.
The 1,600 seating capacity makes this the
third largest movie house in Florida.
Ai-chitect for the Miracle is William H.
Lee, of Philadelj)hia, with Robert Collins,
local representative. Air conditioning,
plumbing, and electrical lighting, have been
planned by Maurice H. Connell and Associates.
Air conditioning equipment, Chrysler
Air-Temp, comes from Winters-Becker
Corp. The Dave Steel Co.. of Asheville,
N. C. is furnishing the structural steel;
Sheffield-Briggs, the reinforcing steel;
Robertson Roof and Decking Steel supplied
through Adams and Henderson, Diegaard
and Preston have the contract.
24 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION