The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-17
The NEW OPERA HOUSE.
Two Plans Under Consideration for
the Construction efa First Class
Play House.
One site il on Sixth Avenue and
Main, the Other on Jack
son Street

rhs Bosrd Of Trade Working on One an
Rapid Transit Syndicate On the Other
General Theatrical Nsws.
The matter Of providing = new oper
house for Helena has reached . promlslnI
degree Of agitation and if this is oontinus'
few wesks it 10 probable that the worl
will be under way BY spring. Manager =
G. Mcdonald Of the new opera house =
Great Falls was in town a few days las
week to sound our business men and CAPT
talists on the organization of q company
He was SO encouraged that he will return =
Helena this week to continue thu work. HI
saws that he will learn definitely within
short time whether the money 70 bnild vii
be subscribed. A. M. Hotter has made
very liberal offer to subscribe and 1t may
be if a new house is built soon, 1t will be Or
Mr.. Holter's property fronting on Sixth
avenue and Main street. Mr.. Mcdonald
SAYS it is 4 mistaken idea that 100000 IL
needed for the construction of q house
creditsble to the city. He is doubtlesl
right in thinking 100000 or even less suf-
ticient to furnish q magnificent place OF
amusement, n combining q first-ciass
theater and an auditorium. A
from the Board of Trade will report on
Mr.. McDonald's proposition. 1t is learned
that his management of the Great Falls
opera house is entirely satisfactory TO both
theater-goers and stockholders. He pro-
poses now to establish . circuit in Montana
under his direct management and will work
to have houses in Butte and Helena.
There is yet smother plan for the con-
struction Of an opera house, which gives
great promise Of an early fulillment. The
movers in this latter enterprise is q syndi-
cate composed of the most largely inter
ested in the Helena Rapid Transit com
pRny, and some New York people. These
gentlemen believe that the site Of the pres
ent opera house, in connection with the
vacant lot adjoining. offers the best solution
Of the problem. and they are in communi-
cation with Mrs. @. Ming, with the view of
purchasing the property. If Mrs. Ming
figures are anywhere near right the deal
viii be closed immediately and work com
menced. 1t is the plan to organize a stock
comFany and give all those gentlemen in
Helena who are willing to aid such an enter
prise the opportunity of subscribing to the
stock. Manager Remington is interested
with the Transit company in their opera
house plans to the extent that he will do all
he can to bring it to a successful issue,
and will have the first call on the lease OF
management Of the house. The idea is tc
have the auditorium ready for the convsn.
tions in the summer. -
1t is strange that John Mcguire, with hiE
prestige in the northwest, his many warm
friends and his commanding reputation
among theatrical people, does not come te
Helena and devote a few weeks of hard
work to the new opera house. For years
Mcguire has been tbs theatrical king of thi
country. and he held his position because
He lost the key to tho situation when h,
failed to renew his lease on Ming's. Las
string Mcguire came to Helena, and will
the assistance of u few friends, almost sue,
ceeded in making the proposed new house &
sure thing. He might do as we'll again if
he would tear himself away from the
Establishments Of Butte for a few days.
MIR. Maguire, by the way, will soon give
an illustrated lecture on the Poetry OF Ire.
land, in Butte. 1t is quite needless to say
that it will be successful. It has been {
~favorite study of his for many years and il
ID pTODHUlG budb 10 "uA III luOHUAl1h IL
more conversant with the subject. It il
hoped that he will appear in this city,
where he will be welcomed by q very large
audience.
TIL prosperity of the country is watched
with great care by theatrical people. II
speaking of the west the Dramatic News
says: The professional business last yea
was not up to former seasons in the west.
The good attractions did very we'll, but the
light-weights did not do much more thar
rate even, and in a good many cases made
a losing. Too many:theaters, n too many
attractions Offering but little interest, was
the cause. The crops were very large
throughout the west, which helped matter
materially. and there is a large proportion
Of the grain vet to be marketed. Tha
small storekeepers throughout the western
county allowed their stocks to run dow1
to the very lowest margin, and the prospso
of the farmers again having some money tt
spend caused the dealers to stock up gen.
orally, which started the iobbing ant
Wholesale trade and enabled T. great man,
merchants and bankers to materially re-
duce their previously heavy line of dis
count, SO that GU the whole the general sit
uat!on is greatly improved and the pros
poets for the coming year in q bushes
way very fine indeed. An enormous acre
age Of grain has been sown, and the weathe
has been SO propitious that an imnens
harvest this year is practically assured
Ihis will be felt strongly to the great adj
vantage of all kinds of business during tn
coming year, especially to the theatrical.
An eastern exchange in speaking of tn
champion of the world. John l.. Sullivan
and Duncan B. Harrison, who appear q
Ming's opera house noxt Friday and Satuy
day. Jan. % and %, says: John l.. Sullivan, th
champion %pugilist, made his first appear
ance IN this city as n legitimate actor at til
Peoples theater last night in Duncan |
Harrison's sensational drama cnlle
"Honest Hearts and Willing Hands,'' an
taklng into consideration the limited tin
he had to prepare himself for his new d,
parture, he acquitted himself most credi
ably. He was at a disadvantage for tt
reason that the audience had come only
see Sullivan, and whatever he did, no ma
ter how trivial, was the signal for applaui
from the house, which was frequently il
timed and likely to be embarrassing. II
part, that of a young Irish blacksmith
suits him to a dot. and rs the auth,
wisely furnished him with no lor
and tedious speeches, there is no t,
made Upon his deolamatory abilities. BIZ
he delivered the lines that belonged to tt
part with an ease and nnturalness that we
surprising, and if he were to be Judge
EimDlv mon his perFormance Last piot