p.

by CHARLES IRWIN

ire -

tradition
IN

THE CREST

OPENS NEW AVENUES

he Crest Theatre, heralded as the pre-fashioned completely first world's showhouse, went into operation in Long Beach, Calif., last week to the accom-

PLANNING

.fZ

painment of razzle-dazzle usually reserved

for a Hollywood opening. Indeed, the film capital's great were there, production executives and stars alike. The spotlight was held, however, by Charles P. Skouras. presi-

dent of National Theatres and Fox West Coast Theatres, who inspired the building. Except for the concrete foundation, the entire theatre was fashioned in the factory and assembled at the site, even to wall decorations. The house seats 1,164 and its owners claim for it all the good points of a theatre built by ordinary means, and more.

Theatre Can Be Moved Its frame is of steel and its panels of gypsum. No plaster whatever was used.
builders,
tion.

assembled

Construction is so designed, say the that the structure can be disand moved to another loca-

THE AUDITORIUM: The

80 feet in width.

Fiberglas walls and ceiling.

Crest Theatre auditorium, which seats 1.200 persons, is 152 leet in length and The photograph shows the unusual decorations, the strip and concealed lighting and No plaster is used in any part of the theatre.

Engineers from Henry J. Kaiser's organization worked with those of Pox West Coast Theatres to develop the Crest, and they expect before long to make similar theatres available on a production-line basis. Construction complies with metropolitan building

and sanitary

regulations,

Skouras said. Within three weeks after the foundation had been poured and construction started, the theatre's skeletal shape was filled out and assembly of the remainder of the house proceeded rapidly. The building took
129 tons of structural steel. Trusses prefabricated in the shop and cut down for ease of transportation were locked into place with bolts and nuts. According to the designers, the frame provides maxiprotection against earthquakes which

deep corrugation. The roof is said to be able to carry all types of loads, including snow, and to be protected against deflection and sagging. The material is likewise safe from corrosive influences, say its developers. It took four men six days to complete the roof. Space between the foundation and beams at the top of the side wall is divided by girds and wall paneling fitted to them.
exterior is of fluted steel which gives walls a variety of vertical shadows. walls are placed on the inside. They are interlocked by tongue and groove and also fastened with bolts. The panels are reinforced with wire mesh at the time they are prefabricated. Eighteen hundred panels of the material went into the side, front, back walls and all partitions. The ceiling is of fluted metal with baked

enamel

finish. Erected in sections, it is supported by steel brackets instead of being bolted into place and is rigid enough,
it is

said, to be
it

put

up

in

walked on. Pour workmen one week.

The
t.'.e

Gypsum

mum

sometimes shake Long Beach.

A V-beam roofing called Galbestos tops the theatre. Extra strength is provided by
enport,
in the

elevated section of the stadium seating layout sits on a structural steel frame covered with fluted steel and over this the concrete floor was poured. To comply with building restrictions, all exposed structural steel is fireproofed with precast gypsum, which is bolted into place and covered with Galbestos to protect the gypsum from weather. Gypsum panels, interlocked in tongue and groove fashion, divide the lounge, lavatories, manager's office, usherettes' rooms, projection room, and air conditioning and heater rooms. The theatre tower, soaring to a height

The

with neon lounge.

lighting

The decoral

A portion num wall

of

the foyer

showing

the

decorations, lighting and coverings and the entrance door.

The

MODERN THEATRE SECTION