The purpose of this study is threefold, (1) to describe the major physical characteristics of theater structures located in communities located along the four trunk line railroads chartered by Congress in the Land Grant Act of 1856, (2) to classify theater structures, dependent upon design and construction, within three categories, general utility halls, opera halls and opera houses, and (3) to record the important changes that took place in the development of theater structures during the time period. The study concentrates upon the outstanding structural characteristics, decorative motifs and theatrical equipment. / Each of the theater structures is discussed by focusing on the following data: name and population of community; cost and size of structure; type of construction; name and location of architectural firm; exterior architectural design; location of the hall within the structure; description of ancillary areas--lobbies, restrooms, etc.; size of auditorium; seating design motifs; source of illumination; proscenium size; stage size; stage equipment; scene painters and safety features. / Included in the study are twenty-seven general utility halls, twelve opera halls and nineteen opera houses. General utility halls were public rooms located on the second and third floors of business buildings. They were multi-purpose social halls used for dances, bazaars, sociables, suppers, community meetings and theatrical productions. They were rectangular rooms with portable chairs arranged on flat floors and illuminated by gas or kerosene lamps. Small poorly equipped stages usually had primitive lighting systems and a minimum of scenery which ran in grooves and consisted of rolled drops. / Opera halls were rooms in upper stories of business buildings designed primarily as theaters. They had seating capacities ranging from five hundred to twelve hundred, and usually had flat floors, portable seating and single balconies. At times private boxes were installed near the proscenium. Dressing rooms were constructed on the stage or in close proximity and dimming systems were sometimes employed with gas light. Stages were of moderate size. Scenery ran in grooves. / Opera houses were usually ground floor theaters designed exclusively for theatrical productions. They were often built with stone facades of elaborate design. They had well designed and expensively furnished lobbies, retiring rooms and auditoriums, permanently installed opera chairs on sloped or tiered floors, large and well equipped stages, double balconies, numerous built-in safety features and experienced scene painters creating the original scenery. Later opera houses had electricity and scenery flown from fly galleries. / The general design and construction pattern of theaters progressed from general utility halls to opera halls and subsequently to opera houses. Design and construction features of the theaters were generally quite similar to theaters built at about the same time elsewhere in the Mississippi River Valley. Exterior design followed already familiar architectural trends. Interior design and decoration continued well established and popular modes. Stage construction reflected almost universal practices. The incorporation of improved ancillary areas and safety features were part of an overall improvement in theater design found throughout the Midwest. / The bulk of the resource materials for the study was drawn from community newspapers, county and community histories, city directories and local maps. The prime sources for these materials were the libraries of the communities involved and the libraries of the state historical societies of Iowa and Nebraska. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 42-01, Section: A, page: 0021. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--The Florida State University, 1981.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_74383 |
| Contributors | ALLEN, REYNOLDS KEITH., Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text |
| Format | 486 p. |
| Rights | On campus use only. |
| Relation | Dissertation Abstracts International |
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