This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/YCB.2ACI/555.3 Message Board Post: NOTES: TAKEN FROM LAKE CHARLES AMERICAN PRESS THURSDAY OCT. 20, 1949 GIVEN CLEAR WEATHER AND TOO MUCH DAMPNESS UNDERFOOT SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED TO ASSEMBLE IN FRONT OF 225 BROAD STREET AT 6 O'CLOCK THIS EVENING FOR THE FORMAL OPENING OF MR. AND MRS. W.L. PATERNOSTRO'S NEW LYRIC THEATER. TWO SPECIAL MAN-ON-THE STREE RADIO PROGRAMS WILL FEATURE THE OUTDOOR PHASE OF THE FORMAL OPENING, FOLLOWING WHICH THE FIRST SHOW TO BE PRESENTED AT THE NEW THEATER WILL START INSIDE. FOR THE OPENING, THE PATERNOSTRO'S--WHO ALSO OWN THE PALACE AND DELTA THEATERS HERE--HAVE SELECTED "WHEN A GIRL'S BEAUTIFUL," BILLED AS A "WOLF'S EYE VIEW OF THE MODEL AGENCY WORLD." CONSTRUCTED AT A COST OF MORE THAN $350.000, THE NEW THEATER HAS BEEN TERMED ONE OF THE MOST MODERN AND ORIGINAL IN DESIGN THROUGHOUT SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. IT WAS BUILT BY T. MILLER AND SONS FROM PLANS DRAWN UP BY GABRIEL AND REAMES, LAKE CHARLES ARCHITECTS. NAMED IN CONTEST NAMED THE "LYRIC", BY MRS. DORTHY M. SHOTWELL AFTER A LOCAL CONTEST WAS CONDUCTED, THE NEW THEATER'S DESIGN FOLLOWS THE NAME'S THEME THROUGHOUT ITS DECORATION. THE HUGE NEON SIGN IN FRONT OF THE STRUCTURE IS TOPPED BY AN IMMENSE REPLICA OF A LYRE, AND MUSICAL NOTES LIGHT UP ALL AROUND THE MARQUEE AND SIGNS. THE SAME MOTIF IS CARRIED OUT ON THE THEATER INTERIOR WHERE LYRE-LIKE LIGHTING FIXTURES CAST AN INDIRECT LIGHT OVER THE PASTEL-SHAPED WALLS, AISLES AND LOBBY. COMPLETELY FIRE PROFF, EVEN TO THE HEAVY VICTORIAN CURTAINS WHICH SET OFF THE STAGE AND SCREEN THE BUILDING IS AIR CONDITIONED AND HAS SPECIAL ACCOUSTICAL ARRANGEMENTS WHICH REDUCE NOISES AND INCREASE THE AUDIBILITY OF SHOWS BEING PRESENTED. SEATS 1,500 APART FROM THE DESIGN AND EQUIPMENT OF THE BUILDING, THE PATERNOSTRO'S ARE PARTICULARLY PROUD OF THE SEATING ARRANGEMENTS AND OF THE SEAT THEMSELVES. CONSTRUCTED TO SEAT APPROXIMATELY 1,500 PERSONS, THE THEATER'S APECIAL SEATING SYSTEM IS AIMED AT INCREASING THE COMFORT OF THE SHOW-GOER. THE INDIVIDUAL SEATS ARE OF A SPECIAL SOFT SPONGE RUBBER, COVERED WITH UPHOLATERING LEATHER. OTHER FEATURES AIMED AT THE COMFORT AND CONVIENCE OF THE PATRONS INCLUDE A FREE TELEPHONE SERVICE, IN THE LOBBY AND A SODA FOUNTAIN AND CANDY COUNTER. ELECTRICAL WORK ON THE THEATER WAS DESIGNED, MANUFACTURED, AND INSTALLED BY THE LAKE CHARLES ELECTRIC COMPANY. THE AIR CONDITIONING , WHICH WAS FURNISHED AND INSTALLED BY THE AIR CONDUIT COMPANY, CONSISTS OF TWO 40-TON UNITS WHICH ARE INDEPENDENT OF EACH OTHER, ASSURING CONTINUOUS SERVICE OF AIR CONDITIONING AT ALL TIMES. THE PAINTING WORK WAS DONE BY BREAUX AND SONS, AND THE PLUMBING BY D.L. JOHNSON, BOTH OF LAKE CHARLES. HOPE THIS HELP GOOD LUCK, STACEY