An 18-inch round disc, resembling a record album and etched with images of small clouds, rotates slowly. Supplying the finishing touch, a stereopticon machine is held on a side balcony of the theatre. When lit and twinkling, patrons can feel as if they are indeed outside of a huge castle, awaiting a royal performance, passing the time by stargazing. Within the hanging ceiling, 88 small holes are fitted with 10- and 25-watt light bulbs. Utilizing the radiance of colored lights, the sky changes scenes from sunset to dusk, from dawn to sunrise. The Hershey Theatre "stars-and-clouds" ceiling is suspended from the roof. Theatre FeaturesĪtmospheric ceilings were a hallmark of early 20th-century theatre design. The overhead proscenium arch is inspired by the design of an ancient canal bridge, such as the noted Bridge of Sighs. At times, the theatre's six-ton fire curtain is lowered, displaying an amazing water color picture of the city of Venice, with the Grand Canal flowing past the Doge's Palace. The sides of the auditorium appear to be the outer walls of a Byzantine castle, complete with balconies on windowed towers. Prominently mounted above the stage is the winged lion, the symbol of the city of Venice. ![]() In the orchestra, or main level of the auditorium, the Hershey Theatre theme is fully revealed: the audience is transported to the grand style of Venice, Italy. Two German artisans labored for two full years to create the beautiful blue and gold pin-point mosaic design leading to the main floor seating area. The inner foyer's "canopy of gold" arched tile ceiling was patterned after St. The ceiling is filled with bas-relief images of sheaves of wheat, beehives, swans, pastoral scenes, Apollo and Assyrian war chariots, attracting patrons' eyes to the beautiful art above. Four different types of marble, both imported and domestic, shape the walls and exquisite series of arches. The floor is laid with polished Italian lava rock. From floor to ceiling, the tile area is breath-taking. The beauty of the architecture and the workmanship is evident from the moment the doors open into the Hershey Theatre Grand Lobby. The largest are over thirty feet tall others are smaller than a child's finger. The theatre's Aeolian-Skinner organ has over 4,000 pipes. When next visiting the Hershey Theatre, count the number of lions that the architect placed throughout the theatre. ![]() Nearly 600 skilled workers, unemployed due to the Great Depression, found work as part of Mr. From its inception, the theatre was designed to be a beautiful place for Central Pennsylvanians to gather and enjoy a wide assortment of entertainment. Hershey's "Great Building Campaign" of the Great Depression, which also produced such Hershey landmarks as The Hotel Hershey®, the Hersheypark ® Arena, and the Hersheypark Stadium.ĭedicated in September, 1933 during the town's (Hershey, PA) 30th anniversary celebration, the $3 million Community Center - and its star occupant, the Hershey Theatre - soon became center stage to the world's leading performers and shows. Emlen Urban drew the plans for the Community Center Building in 1915 however, it was built between 19 as part of Mr. The magnificent Hershey Theatre® was conceived by entrepreneur and philanthropist Milton S. ![]() "The more beautiful you make something which people can see and use, the more enjoyment they will get out of it."
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