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Utah Theater Opens Thursday as a New House


Ogden Standard Examiner, 23 October 1917, page 9

When Ogden people enter the Utah theater on Washington avenue, Thursday afternoon, they will realize that the city has another show house which is a distinctive attraction.  The new house will be opened o that date by Manager A. J. Fyhn and a warm welcome will be extended to everyone.

The Utah theater has undergone complete repairs and renovations during the past few weeks and has been turned into one of the most attractive and comfortable moving picture theaters in the city.   New systems of heating, ventilation and lighting make the show house up to the last word in modernness and the seating arrangements will prove a distinct fascination for people to comfortably sit and view a screen show without craning their necks.

Pipe Organ.

The interior decorating and the installation of an immense pipe organ are also features which will add to the beauty and attractiveness of the theater.   The new organ will produce 678 pipe combinations and is said to be a work of masterly skill as a musical instrument.   In addition to the pipe organ an electric orchestra which is way above the average mechanical orchestra will be installed so that a variety of music may be offered.

One thing which the management of the Utah theater is proud of is the fact that all of the material, all of the workmanship and all of the spirit which entered into the making of the new theater are Ogden.  Except the few pieces which had to be shipped into the city from factories in the east, the furniture, electrical fixtures, workmanship, musical furnishings and decorating were furnished by Ogden firms and Ogden people.  The C. H. Say company installed the heating system, the Ogden Electric Supply company furnished the lighting effects and fixtures, the Ogden Furniture company furnished carpets and the Boyle Furniture company the draperies.  Amos Larson has been working over a month on the interior decorations and they have aroused much favorable comment.

Unique Heating System.

The heating system is unique and efficient.  It is automatically regulated so that an even temperature will be maintained at all times.  A valve will close if the room is too warm and will open if the room is too cold.   There are two sewer connections in the lower end of the house so that the floor, which has a considerable slant, may be washed regularly and sanitarily.  The ventilating system is an especial improvement.  Forced draught fans push clean, pure air into the building, and forced suction fans draw used air out of the room near the ceiling.  This system will furnish a continuous supply of clean air to the house at all times.

Big Drop in Floor.

The floor is one of the improvements which will make this house distinctive.   It has a drop from the back to front which will permit theater patrons to view the film in perfect comfort.  The floor has been lowered six feet near the front.   The screen is also raised to a height sufficient to allow a perfect view from all parts of the house.  From the screen to the first row of seats the distance is so great that anyone occupying these seats will view the picture in comfort.  The room has also been lengthened thirty-five feet.

The seating capacity of the new house will accommodate 600 patrons.  The seats are new and cushioned and there is plenty of “leg room” between the rows.

Lights Indirect.

The lighting system has been worked out on the semi-direct plan and will furnish sufficient light in the house to show every face in the audience but will not hinder a perfect view of the film.

In the interior of the house are six artistic windows which were made by the Ogden Art Glass & Mirror company at considerable expense.

Manager Fyhn has secured some of the very best motion pictures in the United States for the attention of this patrons.  In the opening matinee of Thursday Harold Lockwood will appear in “Paradise Garden,” a film extensively praised.  Clara Kimball Young will appear next in “Magda,” one of her excellent portrayals. Following these films are a number of others of like merit.