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The Varsity Theatre .The North Shore's New Super Movie House OPE~ ED THUHSDA Y, DECE~1BER 23, 1926 VARSITY REPRESENTS UTMOST IN MODERNITY New Theater Opening Thursday Sets Unique Standard in Magnificence Th~ latl: :--t mikst<lll(; i11 n(lrth :-lwrv l'ro gre~s Chateau Courtyard Is Varsity Auditorium achiencl Thur_..;cla,· \rith the for111al opening oi the new Varsitv theater, Shennan a n·ntH· J. nd Church ::,trcet, E,·an.-ton. Planned pri111a rily to Jll"fllll Otc EYanston' s po:-;iticJn ;t.., lmh oi the north shore amtl. emcnt w0rlcl, tht Varsity displays an indi,·idu;d type of beaUt\' in ~layhouses with its unique treatment, design, ch:cora tiun". 1'urnishings and equipment . Represents Chateau Courtyard ""a" I The auditorium proper is planned to n:p r<·se nt the courtyard of a French chateau of magnificent coloring and rare charm. On each side arisc repre...,c ntatic1n . nf the outer walls of a beautiful castle against a clear blue sky. lts mas-.in: :-tonc\\·nrk i:; rclin·ed ht:re and then~ b,· vmbra;-;ure s over which h:1.ng rich!~· c-olored a\\'ning..; held hy chcm~· :--pt·ar~ . It s tmrd and buttre sse~. g;til~- ~mblazoned wind()\\'S and irregular ~ k~· line h:1.n rl·lid in the brilliant rc·<,i oi red tile ex t(' nding out int n th~· au dit (·riunl . and in its cklicate balconies beh ind . · T h c cn t1 r t y a r cl :' r h L' I ill' c1 i t n· a t me nt i;-; L'Xtt·JHlL·rl !11 the :--l:t!!l' . the pro-.ceni11ln arch vf'ivctin · a Clllltinuati<ln <·i th(' rkdvatt ;t~ul j,,,.IJJill!! a m;t-~in· archt·d t·;t t ";, ,. ,., i: lt 11 itl!! ILtL! . . ;lllc\ l'l"llll< ·ll- . _ \ Jl<l:ilt·r t.::t,. a'xninr.:. -lliJltlrtcd l1_,. t·L()n~: -.;wa!·~. i:dl-. ~r;t,·l'iul ly 11\t·~- tll, t,,P <·i 1:1, Jll .. ti·'!l pirtu:·e Sl'rl'l'll. :tllr\ ill !Hl!: -idt·~ :ir,· JlllJI:illtlt't) \\· indo \\· . . tl:r,,u~h \\~li,·:l· ~ ··l~ r"'l'C'Ultlrt·d 1 it.:!lt- iaitlth L!hll'lll'r. .\ t inkrral-.. aJ,,n!! 1:1v ,,;11<·~· t':l;ttL·:tu \\all-. art· 1' I a<' t' d ri t·hl·-' "- r' ·l ll!~lt l:lntt·rn:-. intri~·att· <·i <k-.iL!'l.- \\l1ich -.ht·d a ~~~it ~--:· J, "' (WL' r the dull j,·(lr~· and gold '"all'.· Like Sitting Outdoors _ . The L~~liql:e illu . ion that the :·1s1to~ to the n~w Varsity theater is seated within the courtyard of a French L- ~~.tl~·:l. u "1th It s_ colorf~t l sur,r,ound~ngs,. 1s created 111 the decoration and outfitting of the playhouse whi-ch is offitl.tll_ <·JlUH'd th1, n-enmg. l he \ ar;o;tty repre~ent:; the no.rth shore's first elaborate venture in movie p_layhouses. I Noted Scenic Artists Leo Terry, Capitol Lighting Sche1ne of Create Varsity Setting Theater Organist, J l arsity Expresses ln kl'cpin ,~ " ·ith the character of work Comes to Varsity Early French Era dc1nandL d ll\- thc builders of the \-arF\qui-.ilt' :11111 di tinc ti,·c lit!hting fc·at tlr1·- . dl'-i" IH'd l'~Jll'r iall~· to . h:1.n;10nizc \\ith : 1'v ill ~ ~ ·:·i,. r dccoratinn..;, arc a 1· va~iw.!· ]·:t~-: til th(· \· ;,r . . it~- theatl'r's \'II ll: i Il lt' n t. Tllt· ill1 nin;llit1ll i 1 t.ll· :tttcli tor ium pr, 'lH r j, t rv:ttc'd in . . 11!..:!..!·t·..,t i1 111 of an ('arly. h viH-·1 pvriud . a nurlL' bntern t_,.PL' oi f1xtml· cn;11nekd in bright ('t,j<,r' hl' inl!· lb t'l!. ()11 t!Jl' llll'ZZlllline fln <t " ·1 t'llnlhinatictll 0i \~ L' nrtian r olorcd l'l'ht:tl and nwtal. fini:--lwd in Frcnch !..;'<tl d \\ ith applied Drt'"den flm,·crs. t<·rlll" harlllnniou..; cnntra...,t to thc \Yall adtll'l111H'I1b. Tn tl1e l()hlw :1. modern Tt:1.lian dr;-;ign \\'a..; use<( the metal \\-Nk flni . . hcd in told iron :l.JHl :1.ntique ,e:old. The dcc;i,e:ners and makers 0f the lighting fixtures supplied them for the new Palmer lwuse in Chic:1.go and haw prepare-d de::;ign . fl1r the big new Strwnf; lwtcl there. I Th e illu :- inn oi ~ it in!! nut-(li-cJr,or. in the L·hatl';tu rourt,·ard i:- t·nlanrccl by t hv man-e ](lm litr.h t i ng l'ITe rt..- a ncl tl1r ctilinc:- treatm en t oi the theater. On· rlll'ad i.., a cerulean l>lue :- k\' \Yith t\\inkling st:1. rs, f10ating fleecy -d ouds and a delicate crec;cent moon which sails slowly o\·crhead durin~ the performa nrr, its rising an cl :-;ctti ng being so timed that it slm\'1,- fades from Yiew behind th e chateau j{t--t at the clme of t he perform a 11 c e, a distinct i\'C~ inn m· :1.tion in theater decoration . There is innovation, too, in the treatment of "the atmospheric console" of the great Geneva organ, which is 'sunken and rises to Yicw during organ numbers. On the console a miniature French cha tcau. turret s, windows and alL risr s from a rugged . tone base. The entire decorative scheme has the predomin:1.nt tones or dull ivorv and gold relieved by spbshrs of soft.blues, reds ancl delicate greens. Thc spacious lobby, entered from Sherman avenue, lrads into a .r ichly-carpeted twent~rfo0t fo~·e r extending across the theater's "·idth. Rare articles of Yertu, richly colored yascs and beautiful paintings adorn the foyer -\valls; and deeply-cushioned divans and chairs, rare rugs of heavy pile and a massive crystal chandelier poised in the center sity the;tter.-much stress \Y:l.S laid up on proper :-;ta~e scttings and scenic \Ynrk. \\'ith thi~ in mind, contract for this \\·ork \\':t.; a" arcled to the Sosman & Landi :-. l' o. This company has bee n in L'Xi-tt:lll'C since 1R7R ancl manv of its arti-.t :; and mechanics h;we I"Jr.actically :-ptnt t hl'ir liHs in cknloping their art. Among the notabk~ connecte-d \\'ith thi ;-; organization arc Thomas G. ~f o;o;es. president, and Frcd R. ~!egan. :--ecretar~· aiHl tn·asurcr ~f r. ~f o:-.e:--' first '"ork in theatrical ..,cenic painting began at the old Mc\~ ickcr theater building. Among his rarl~· works were the painting of the :-;cenic effects for the fir st Pinafore compan~· that "·ent " ·es t of Chicago. Follo\\'ing this ~fadame ~l ojes ka secured ~f r. ~loses' services in painting the complete productions of Marie Antoinette, ~facheth and Marie Stuart. 1\ot l0ng after this ·Madame Bernhardt commissioned . ~lr. ~foses to . paint the scenic 'effects for her production of 0f J. \\'ell in the ceiling complete an J uclas. ensemble that for l>C':l.nty and elegance The more m o cl ern professionals, any of the comparc fa:rorahl~· with \Valker \Vhiteside, vVilliam Brady, large Chicago theaters. :\ spacious lounge. reached from the Grace . George and others also engaged foYer by a marble stairway, is a feature him for the painting of their produco i tlll' mezzanine floor, and adjoining tions. ~~ r. Mo. es is also a landscape paintthis are roonl\· and comfortable rest er 0f well earned repute. His landroom~ ancl boudoir conYeniences for scape paintings arc well known from \Y011len patrons. ITrating ancl nntilating systems, pra- Maine to California and are nearly all jecti0n h0oth and other mechanical recognized as ma terpieces. His work details haYe been as carefully worked has been exhibited at the Art institute out as those 0f hcauty and convenience, of Chicago, the Art institute of Grand making it a distinctly different theater Rapids and each year at the Salamafor F,yanston and the north shore gundi club in New York. Fred R. Megan, secretary and treasJ tO\YI1S. l,e11 Terry. former organist at the Capitnl tl1cater, Chicago, one of the iort' tl H·:'t t h cat c r onranists m the country, pre sided o\-el:- the console ni the gi:1.nt G<.:ncra organ which is :;c, Yaht:l.hlc a part of the new Varsity theater. equipment. ),[ r. Terry ha s " ·on recognition as a n · ritablc ma:;ter of the largest type~ of so-ca ll ed "unit" organs. He com:::; to EYan:-;ton from the Capitol, one of the most pretentiom outh side theatcr:-; in Chicago, " ·here he has been playing· since it s opening several years ag0 and where he has enjoyed an abiding and wide popularity among it~ 11atrons. He is both a concert organist of rare ability and a composer, originating his O\Yn organ solo novelties and specialties. He is pc.ssessor of a fine lyric tenor voice and ,aries his unique specialties by singing some of the numbers. He is also a humorist, reputed for his genuine Irish wit and sense of humor, and for his plea~ing personalitY. · In "cueing" big pictures of the sort that Will be shown at the Varsity, Mr. Terry in a master, his interpretations twinkling with bright tricks and antics, and in more serious moods he plays with equally deep feeling. urer of the Sosman & Landis Co., spent 30 years as director of art with the Kansas CitY Scenic Co. He severed this connection at the outbreak of the war and had charge of the building and equipment of the Liberty theaters in all cantonments, in this country. 'I j, ,·