Boxoffice-January.03.1953

Contracion were able to carry art the remodelirtg project without closing the theatre because
the auditorium and foyer (below) were walled off. When the new construction work was finished
(aboye), the wall was removed, from the foot of the stairs on, and the new and old parts were
united into one large free area. The photo at the bottom shows the mezzanine lounge.
FAIRBANKS, ALASKA REMODELING
Continued from preceding page
selves frequently present as typical of an
entertainment place in the interior of
Alaska. Polished granite and vitreous tile
were used for the entrance area, along with
aluminum doors and trim. The boxoffice is
located in an inner lobby. This area is
closed off by aluminum doors through
which patrons pass by a large and elaborately
styled concessions to reach the holding
area.
Despite the fact that temperatures get
pretty low in Fairbanks, the operation was
carried on without closing down the theatre.
Fortunately the original interior walls
completely shut the theatre auditorium and
old lobby off from the area which had
housed the travel agency. So, this work
was carried out first. When it was completed
the walls were removed to tie the
new boxoffice-lobby area into the theatre
plan, and work began on the remodeling of
the old boxoffice and lobby into travel
agency space.
Orchestra and balcony seating capacity
of the Empress is 678. No change was made
in the balcony seating arrangement, but
the mezzanine lounge was somewhat reduced
in size in order to provide for a
ladies' pwwder room and a room for the
usherettes.
The Empress is a first run A house, with
a drawing radius of 20,000 plus the resident
military personnel and members of construction
crews in the summer.
CREDITS; Chongeoble program equipment: Wagner
letters, Sealuxe frames • Carpeting: Korogheusian
• Air Conditioning: Trane Climate Changer • Seating:
Heywood-Wakefield • Stoge Equipment: RCA
Synchro-Screen • Dimmers: Superior Electric • Owner:
Lathrop Co. • Manager: Dan Redden.
10 The MODERN THEATRE SECTION