The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-19
OPERA HOUSE TROUBLES.
The Difficulties Between Manager
John Mcguire and Ex-Mana-
ger John c. Remington.
Each Flatly Contradicts the Other
in the Matter Of Rendering
Statements.
Bennington Says the Accounts Were Pre-
scented, Mcguire says They We're Not
MI. Newmans Record.

The difficulties between John Mcguire, of
the Montana circuit, and his local manager
in this city, John @. Remington, have cul-
minated in Mr.. Remington's retirement.
For several weeks the relations between
these gentlemen have been somewhat
strained and recent occurrences have not
tended toward settling matters. Mr.. Ma
guire has released his local manager in
Butte and hereafter he will take personal
charge of both theaters. As lie usual the
same attractions are booked for both thea
ters on different dates. Mr.. Mcguire will
alternate between the two towns during the
coming season, but will make his headquar-
ters in Helena where the larger part of his
business is done. He has four months to
settle the debts on his Butte house for
which he has been offered $4,000. The in
cumbrances amount to about $11, 600. He
says that he certainly expects to retain the
ownership and management of the theater
in Butte, and he will also manage as before
the opera house in Helena. His lease on
this house expires March l, and it is
VT y too Be- ssas t. Mall ts sast wht
had bill Of '$212 for insurance
attached the lease some time ago and it was
advertised by the sheriff to be sold yester-
day. Mr.. Maguire went to the sheriff Of
fee yesterday and settled the bill. He has
also paid large gas bill and dos other &C.
return from San Francisco. He says that
he assumes the personal management of
the Helena and Butte to economize be-
cause he owes considerable money.
The difficulties between Mr.. Remington
No -
oording to the statements of both gentle
man. They fatty contradict each other on
several points and there is no love lost be-
tween them. To go back a little, the bust
ness relations between these two men be-
gan more than year ago where Mr.. REM
minstrels an organization in which Mr..
Mcguire was financially interested. Rem
ington left Mcguire upon an agreement to
take the management of the house in this
city upon salary. He came here year
ago in June and remained until he left for
. trip east concerning, which more will be
said. Remington's management of the
house was very satisfactory to the theatre
cal public and to Mr.. Mcguire.
The patrons of the house were always cour-
teously treated, and the attractions were
the best ever presented in Helena. Mr..
Mcguire, by reason of his situation in San
Francisco and because of his long expert
ence and wide acquaintance among theatre
cal people, was enabled to give Helena a
liberal list of excellent attractions. That
these we're appreciated is shown by the ex-
Oellent business last season. The audiences
better satisfied. MIR. Remington, who is
thorough gentleman as we'll as an attentive
and capable manager, made many friends
both for himselfa the house. On the sur
face everything went smoothly, though Mr..
Remington claims that he found many diff
Hrn1tinc 6nrinn tho The rapairfu Of
the house were often attached, and it often
happened that there was not enough money
in the box to pay rent. To settle these diff
6culties he says he was often obliged to bor-
row money on. his own responsibility, es
we'll rs put up his own funds. During this
time Mcguire was in San Francisco, where
he was one of the lessees of the Grand
opera house. This was losing VEN
ture to all. To meet necessary ex-
penses Mr.. Mcguire was often obliged
to telegraph to Mr.. Remington for funds
which were promptly forwarded when pos
sible. Both agree that the local manager
returned prompt reports after all entertain
ments until June2. Last spring Mr.. Ma
guire retired from his San Francisco inter
ests and returned to Helena and Butte, Mr.
Remington still continuing In charge OF
the house in this city.
It is necessary here to divert to the Hell
ena career of a young man briefly known te
some Of our citizens az Tony Newman. MIR
Newman came to this city last winter repre-
senting himself az salesman of II. w
Bell d Co.. soap manufacturers, OF Buffalo
Hebecame acquainted with Mr.. Remington
and represented that he was salesman OF
some experience. The result was part
nerehip between the two gentlemen in the
merchandise commission business under
the firm name of Newman 4 Remington.
money to start the firm in business with
the understanding that Newman was to sell
the goods, the profits to be divided. MIR.
Remington says that while good sales were
made he never received a dollar from New
man though he put up various sums at
result Of the venture, Mr.. Remington says
that Newman owes him $500. Newman
undertook the management of kranich's
grove and succeeded in getting $3.50 out OF
Nick Kessler on an agreement to use kes-
sle.'s beer. Newman was pleasant fellow
ances in this city. He spent plenty OF
money and lived At high gait for some
time. He left town last month saying tina,
he was going down the road to Fargo on
commercial trip and would return in weel
or 60. i appear: that ne went to st; Pau
homo. Newman and Remington roomet
together in the Iron Front. MIR. Reming
ton q few weeks ago decided to take a tri]
east on business, and for recreation to hi
old home in Canandaigna, N. Y. He lef
the local management in charge of Mr.
Lawrence DAILY, though he said nothing t.
Mcguire about his departure. Mr.. Rem
inRton says that it was by no mean
necessary to advertise his trip to tn
people of the town. He owed nothing an
was on his own business. He says that
never knew of Newman's departure until
short time before the train left. They har
pened to travel together by chance. Abou
q week after these gentlemen left rumor
began flying about that they had skippe
the town. It was learned that Newman ha
taken Kessler in, but no place could b
found where Remington was owing a dollar
His friends were greatly surprised when NJ
Mcguire came over from Butte and sal
that he had received no statements frol
Remington of the attractions at the oper
house since June 2. He could not tell no
much was owing him until the books wei
examined. It appears that the bool
have not yet been examined. When NJ
Remington's return to this city was warm
welcomed by his many friends. He W.
not only greatly surprised but was vel
indignant over the reports that had BET
circulated concerning his departure. I
found few that believed he started with tt
intention of not returning, and he was pa
ticularly angry with Mr.. Mcguire for mai
ing the statement that NO statements of Il
entertainments after June had been turl
ed in. After Remington had been in TOW
. few days Mcguire came over from Butt
The two gentlemed did not come togeth
until Yesterday afternoon when long CO
eultation vas held. Mr.. Remington open,