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TO REBUILD THE FUNKE.

IT WILL BE MADE A NEW OPERA HOUSE

A Decision Reached Yesterday to Completely Remodel the Theatre and Make It Modern in Every Feature

To be Changed at Once

This apparently a season of theatre building in Lincoln, and THE JOURNAL is authorized to state that the Funke opera house is in it. The clamorous demands of the public for more seats for the Marine band concert on Tuesday evening ended the discussion about certain improvements that has been going on for some time between the manager and the owner of the building. It was seen that more room must be had, and at once. Yesterday Manager McReynolds and Mrs. Funke reached an agreement, and Mr. McReynolds authorizes the statement that work will begin about the middle of June on extensive alterations and improvements. The changes will be almost as radical as those made when the house passed into the hands of Mr. Funke seven years ago.

The Funke is a good enough house in the main, its only defects being a low stage and the back of an upper gallery. It is proposed to do away with both of these objections by adding another story to the building. This will give room for a new gallery and raise the girders over the stage to a height that will permit the use of the largest pieces of scenery without the slightest difficulty. The interior will of course be rearranged extensively, two sets of boxes on each side, new double plush seats in the first four rows of the dress circle, new scenery and new frescoing throughout being the principal new features.

It is the intention of the Funke estate to make this house equal to any demarids that may be made upon it by the people of Lincoln. The cost of the improvements will be from $25,000 to $30,000 and it is designed to have the new theater in the readiness for a new opening early in the coming season.

It is known that the original plan adopted by Mr.Funke when he rebuilt the old Centennial opera house called for a fourth story and an additional gallery. The walls were considered strong enough for the additional weight, but the owner was persuaded that it would not pay him to put in the money required for the extra height. The growth of the city has been so much more rapid than what was expected that it is now necessary to rectify that mistake. The people are assured that when the house is finished in accordance with the new plans there will be no more complaint that it is not large and elegant enough for the city.

TO REBUILD THE FUNKE.

IT WILL BE MADE A NEW OPERA HOUSE

A Decision Reached Yesterday to Completely Remodel the Theatre and Make It Modern in Every Feature

To be Changed at Once

This apparently a season of theatre building in Lincoln, and THE JOURNAL is authorized to state that the Funke opera house is in it. The clamorous demands of the public for more seats for the Marine band concert on Tuesday evening ended the discussion about certain improvements that has been going on for some time between the manager and the owner of the building. It was seen that more room must be had, and at once. Yesterday Manager McReynolds and Mrs. Funke reached an agreement, and Mr. McReynolds authorizes the statement that work will begin about the middle of June on extensive alterations and improvements. The changes will be almost as radical as those made when the house passed into the hands of Mr. Funke seven years ago.

The Funke is a good enough house in the main, its only defects being a low stage and the back of an upper gallery. It is proposed to do away with both of these objections by adding another story to the building. This will give room for a new gallery and raise the girders over the stage to a height that will permit the use of the largest pieces of scenery without the slightest difficulty. The interior will of course be rearranged extensively, two sets of boxes on each side, new double plush seats in the first four rows of the dress circle, new scenery and new frescoing throughout being the principal new features.

It is the intention of the Funke estate to make this house equal to any demarids that may be made upon it by the people of Lincoln. The cost of the improvements will be from $25,000 to $30,000 and it is designed to have the new theater in the readiness for a new opening early in the coming season.

It is known that the original plan adopted by Mr.Funke when he rebuilt the old Centennial opera house called for a fourth story and an additional gallery. The walls were considered strong enough for the additional weight, but the owner was persuaded that it would not pay him to put in the money required for the extra height. The growth of the city has been so much more rapid than what was expected that it is now necessary to rectify that mistake. The people are assured that when the house is finished in accordance with the new plans there will be no more complaint that it is not large and elegant enough for the city.