The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-01
Many Good TrOupes Promise to Shun
Evans Opera House.
A LETTER TO JOHN MAGUIRE
His New York Agents Refuse to
Book Attractions for Anaconda
Till Better Accommoda-
lions Are Furnished.

the middle of August or beginning Of
September, until the end of the follow
ing May.
Anaconda since its babyhood. so to
speak has depended on John Mcguire
for its legitimate amusements. He has.
If not always to his own profit, to the
satisfaction of all DESTROYS of having
legitimate and elevating amusements
in this city. where families could con-
gregate with advantage, most certain
ly carried to the extreme point his
anxiety TO furnish the best and uneX-
ceptionable class of dramatic attrac-
tions. SO that taken all i'm all no 9TH
err town i'm the West of Anaconda's
growth has ever been favored as this
city has been in the past.
1t is simply marvellous to look back
and read over the list of dramatic and
musical celebrities who have through
Maguire's management favored Ana
conda during the past decade. There
was always one drawback. however
the lack of proper accommodations for
both artist and audience. In the early
years this state of things was excus-
able and some of the countrys great
est artists-Lotta, Clara Morris, jan
auschek, Trebelli, the great English
contralto, Clara Louise Kellogg. and
world wide, taking everything into con-
sideration, simply wondered at the
magic growth Of place then not more
than a few years old. and naturally
supposed that i'm the regular course of
events that as churches and schools
would be built their helpmate in all
that tends to a higher and more intel
lectual life. a home for the MUSES.,
would surely find a place
The years have come and gone.
Everything has been well provided for
the advancement and attractiveness of
Anaconda but a theater. There is no
resting place here for the Thespian UNI
less he comes with a car load of fire
works. bloodhounds. or some extraor-
binary fakes TO attract successfully
public attention.
Ii has been more than rumored that
the better class of attractions come
here under protest and have been do
ing so for the past three years on ac-
count of the miserable accommodations
afforded them. They say with justice
to themselves that they cannot appear
with advantage. Everything lacking
which should be found i'm even a half
way respectable theater. The contracts
have however. been signed each pre-
ceding year with the hope that the
coming season would witness the open
ing of a theater worthy of Anaconda
and worthy of the superior class of at
fractions which favor IL by their pres
ence This state of u ings is at last
brought to a sudden ending. The fol-
lowing letter explains itself:
mo. 25 West 3Oth St. n. Y,
Feb. 21 1896
Mr.. John Mcguire:
Dear Strive are sorry to inform
you that we. as your agents, are COM
PEELED to decline acting i'm such capac-
ity for the future unless you discon-
meet your Anaconda and Butte book
ings. We need not remind you that it
was only by promises of a new theater
being built each season since 1892, that
companies could be induced to sign
contracts for Anaconda"
Instead of any improvements i'm that
direction. the place called an opera
house has. by several years usage and
evident neglect, become notorious as
being now the worst theater or hall i'm
the entire Northwest The New York
agencies have been duly posted by their
several clients that under no circum-
stances will they play Anaconda dur
ing the ensuing season.
I'm booking Frank Mayo for you we
are now at a standstill. as he positive
~ declines to play i'm the present house
at Anaconda. Mr.. Pearson, manager
of the White Squadron, declines; Ro-
land Reed is most emphatic: Sol Smith
Russell will sign contracts for Butte
and so will Goodwin. but will not APP
pear in the present hall at Anaconda
In trying To further your interests re-
garding the placing of companies at
Anaconda. we have incurred the dis
pleasure of our best patrons as they
were given TO understand that a new
theater would be built for each com
ing season. Until therefore you have a
proper theater for the better class Of
attractions. we reluctantly request you
OH EN.U
your Anaconda interests until more ia
vorable circumstances would enable us
to do justice TO travelling mana gers
Thanking you for past favors we re-
main, yours truly,
Myers & Mcguire,
Dramatic Agents"
No comment Is necessary on the
above. 1t means that this prosperous
city. after the present season. which
ends during the month OF May will.
unless steps are taken 10 better the
present state OF things. be at the mercy
of the itenerant transformers who
Dlay the crossroads and water tank
stations Of the great highways. Well.
what is Anaconda going 10 do about IL?
The only answer to this question that
an enterprising city like Anaconda can
make Is that a new opera house will
be built. Buildings like this do not
grow: they are not products OF nature
but OF enterprise and capital The peo-
pie most interested. then. are the ONES
VINO should push IL along. AS a specu-
lation alone the money interest is small.
but as an investment for the public
good, for the credit Of the city the in
come will pay higher rate OF interest
than any other scheme that has been
preached
Anaconda has simply outcrOrwn
Evans opera house. which has been FOR
years the medium of entertainment
When that place was built IL was a
daring venture. many prOpnesied il
would be "A losing speculation. But its
promoters proceeded with a spirit OF
enterprise that is needed once mor, In
order 10 give the public teh proper ac-
commOdatiOn. In those days Evans
opera house was the pride Of the young
city and, as II Is laid by as an out