The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-06-01

winter. Thus, while it may DO said tina
the season includes but nine months, il
Helena it lasts the year around. The star
actor and his nomadic supporters will soor
HE themselves away to the seaside and
mountain resorts and country boarding
houses to recuperate for the trying work Of
another season. They are fortunate indeed
if they have sufficient piasters to nav pres.
sing debts and board bills until the curtain
again rings up in August. At least this is the
testimony Of one well. known manager who
liberality of actors and the usual failure tc
look out for the future result in depletion
Of his purse when it is very necessary that
it should be fairly we'll filled.
The theatre-goers of Helena are to be
congratulated on the success of the season,
No city in the country has had better the
been very literally patronized. The thea
tre-RoinR population Of Helena is much
larger than in cities of twice its size. Good
attractions always draw large audiences al
evening performances, while the matinees
are said to be wonderful, for the size of the
paying circuits in the country. few years
ago it was customary with managers to 90
through on the Southern Pacific, play Cali
fornia towns, San Francisco and Portland,
and return to the east by the Union Pacific.
When the boom dropped in Lower Califor-
growth Of Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, Mis-
another field. Managers now 60 over
the Central Pacific to California.
and return by the coast and Helena over
the Northern Pacific to st. Paul. Butte ID
still on the side track, though it is usually
considered in the northwestern circuit.
Anaconda and Bohemian are other growing
towns in this circuit. The business in Hell
ena this season has been one hundred per
cent. better than ever before. because of
the many excellent attractions brought here
by Manager John Mcguire. There are
other reasons for this fattering increase.
Under the personal management of Mr..
Remington patrons of the theatre have
been we'll cared for at all times and have
always received the most courteous treat
ment. The past season has demonstrated
more than ever the necessity of a fine new
opera house. Capitalists are usually afraid
to take hold of venture of this kind be-
cause opera houses in general are not pay
ing Investments. Ming's opera house, how
ever, is as good an investment as any capt.
talist could ask for, both to the owner and
Manager Mcguire. Possibly the subjoined
figures may in measure prove the truth of
this statement.
The house was formally opened on Sep
tember 16, by Patti Rosa and company in
Margery Daw. Three performances netted
81, O69 though the attraction was by no
means of the best. This was followed by
the Chicks farce comedy Of which two per-
formances were given, the receipts amount
ing to 1852. The came the popular City
Directory company which opened October
18th, and gave three performances includ-
matinee. It was the best entertainment
of the kind during the season and was fully
appreciated as the receipts, 81, 1915, tes-
tify. Milton Mobiles and company appeared
on the evenings of October II, %, "a, in
from Sire to Son and Love and Law, the re-
ceipts for the three performances amount
ing to $l,852. Helen Blythe with the as
Sistance of very poor company played in
standard dramas on four nights beginning
November 18th. The performances drew
$1,2S2. The next fine attraction was the
famous Liberati and his band which gave
three performances, including matinee,
on Nov. %. The sale of $1,7O5 showed that
Helena fully appreciates really fine musi-
cal organization. Charlotte Thompson's
week of drama, beginning Nov. %, brought
81, 292, which sum was largely in excess of
Leavitt's Spider and Fly, which gave three
performances opening Dec. 2, was the first
spectacular attraction of the season. It
was good show and drew $1,66275 from
the audiences. One of the PROTEST per-
formances of the year was the presentation
OF The Burglar by the Grlsmer- Davis Co.,
which played four nights to $l,b73. Next
came Mckee Rankin and company in the
Runaway wife. Two performances brought
$73S. The following two performances Of
Minnie Madden on Dec. II and
is Melted SLIPS. The next doubtful
attraction at Ming's was the Bandman
Shakesperian festival. TIE tragenian was
amount of $1,382.75. The box sales
amounted to $432.75. All of the eight per.
formanccs were very bad. The new year
opened with week of Katie Putnam in
repertoire of eight plays. This will be re-
membered as the coolest week Of the year.
ceipts amounted to $2,714.25. The perfor-
were excellent and pleased large
audiences. Fred Warde and company
gave the only high tragedy. of the
season. The receipts for three perform
a e,9 beginning Jan. q, amounted to 3d.,
Davy Crockett on Jan. 80, 81 and FEB. l. ana
matinee was also given. The receipts were
81 ,683.35. The Georgia Ministries gave a
very fair show of the kind on Feb. 10. Ia, Is,
and q matinee. These performances
brought $1,7sl. The ever popular vernona
Of Feb. % and March l. The receipts for
these and matinee reached $1,53s.
John 9; Murphy. played Kerry Cow on
three nights and at a matinee. Four per-
formances brought 1857. This figure will
be much lower when Mr.. Murphy again
sisltb deleua. Inc great event OF the year
was the Juch season Of grand opera. The
receipts for four performances reached
the dattering figure of $5,527. The singing
Of the stars was magnificent, but there was
an absence of the much advertised scsnic
effects in the staging of the operas. The
next attraction was the Great Metropolis,
which drew $1,ON.bO from four perform
ances. beginning March 20. The Bunch
IF Keys WAS played the following
three nights to ,Sl,O87.25. Maggie Mitchell
appeared in favorite parts on the evenings
IF March ~, Is, 20, and carried away her
share of 81 $50. Two of the very best per- |
Iormances of the season were given by Sol |
smith Russell in A Poor Relation. The
business was very large, the receipts amount |
ng to $1.3l375. Mr.. Days company OF
;lever comedians played An Arabian Night |
md A Night OF on April 8 and 8. Both |
we're among the most finished and |
pleasing performances of the year, |
nut the receipts amounted to only
Fs9a. -Four very bad perform
lnces of the Tin Soldier were given
we're given beginning April TO- The re-
'eipts were 81, 9.35. This was the only
company of the season that found its way
INTO the local courts. jos Haworth gave
'wO performances OF Paul Kauvar on April |
a and u. These drew es0l.5O. james