The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-05
OPERAHOU NEEDED
Popular Movement Started for
Its Early Erection.
MANAGER LockE's STRONG PLEA
Miss Juch's Manager Tells What the
People Miss-AIl Invited to sub
scribe to the stock.

Last evening the movement for the
building of a new opera-house received a
fresh impetus.
At the close of the first act of ssTann-
hauser,n the ushers distributed among the
audience envelopes bearing the following
legend:
Read the enclosed.
Every resident of the city invited to cooperate
in the immediate building OF new ope-a-house.
Inside of the envelope was a stamped
envelope addressed to the L. H. Griffith
company and circular, stating that the
Seattle Grand Opera-House Company,
through its agents, the l.. III. Griffith
Realty and Banking Company, offers the
public an opportunity of securing shares
of stock on most favorable terms
and easy payment, with the right TO vote
on the selection of site. 1t also states
that Manager Hanna has made arrange
ments by which this house will be assured
the best travelling companies for the next
ten years. Every citizen is invited 10 take
ten shares for himself and ten for his
family, and every lady TO take five shares
for pin-money. Mr.. l.. I'll. Griffith has
agreed to take general management of con-
struction and arrangements.
The subscription blank embodies an
agreement to subscribe certain number
of shares of the capital stock, of the par
value of 500 each, and TO pay for such
stock as follows, to-wit: Fifty (50) per
cent. of the par value on a date TO be
specified, and ten f10) per cent. of the re-
manning fifty (50D per cent. on the first
day of each succeeding month until same
is fully paid. All payments to be made at
the Office of the the J.. III. Griffith Realty
and Banking Company, ia James street,
Seattle Washington
When the curtain had fallen in the first
act, Charles Z. Locke, the director of the
Juch company, stepped before the foot
lights and said:
Ladies and Gentlemen: At this, the close of our
engagement, wish, in behalf of Miss Jueh and
OF all the members, to thank you for your gen
erous support OF our performances. such en-
tnusiasm is very gratifying TO US ALL
But have one complaint to make, and
know OF no time better than the present for
making it.
When we were here year ago. we PLAYED in
the Armory, under great disadvantages. When
II would be impossible to do anything in the
ArInory, but nevertheless we accepted the con-
ditions and did our best.
Then we were promised that If we would come
IN year We should find superb new opera
house.
Ladies and gentlemen. here we are laugh
teri
Now 1 submit in all fairness that Seattle de-
serves better tbeater. As an illustration of
your railway station some twenty tons of scenery
for mounting these operas which we have not
been able to set up on this stage,
iou are sitting in not very comfortable seats
Add to these dlscomforts the fact that the
ehoruses and solos cannot be properly sung
here, and that the orchestral effects are spoiled
you are paying for what you do not get. That
you 90 not receive the benefit of first-cass per-
formance is in no way the fault of the company,
but rather of the citizens of Seattle.
i'm hab tarfS nd
now you have about $4,000. [Applausel In two
years more you expect 100000. They viii need
s sa sTaetas now and at may as wei,
in behalf of Mr. Smiths scheme to build or Mr..
Jones, but in behalf of dramatic and musical
art Such house would be an education in
THESE branches, just as your public schools are
in theirs.
So earnestly hope, and Miss Juch earnestly
hopes.-she is. may say parenthctieally, now a
Seattle real estate owner with pride in this city
tApplausel-that when we come Manager Hanna
can say: Here is a stage worthy of the opera
worthy of Seattle [Applause.l
A great deal of interest was shown in
the enterprise, and the members of the
new opera-house company expressed a be-
lief after the performance was over that
there would be general popular sub
scription, SO that the site can be voted on
and the building completed by midsummer.
Mr.. Locke said: THE long and short of
il is, that you must have an opera-house.
Every city needs one, and in an amuse-
mentioning community like yours, there
is no better investment for money. An
opera-house will pay"
A number of sites are being considered.
The most reasonable proposition comes
from Judge J. r. Lewis for his residence
property, 10 feet square, at the northeast
corner of Third and Cherry streets. Other
sites under consideration are: Third
street and Iesler avenue, 120 feet square;
the old courthouse site; Third and Pine
streets, 120 feet square; Fifth and Pike
streets, l20 feet square. Other propositions
will be received before the stockholders
are ready to vote on the question of site.