The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-27

Avenue
! confirmation of fact. That there are war
ring elements Ia which certain vested
I property rights are represented Is entire
( ~ true, and the POST Intelligencer several
: weeks ago predicted theatrical entangle-
nent which the past week has developed
I into segregation OF interests, IN which w.
NJ. Russell. with a record or conservative
/ catering TO the amusement tastes or the
! public has stood against the ambition OF
I Cal Heilig, who has sought 10 secure
I control OF both local theaters. IN Mr..
/ HeIlfg's laudable desires there has been
! an adsuixture of influence that mas found
its vent IN the younger manager way or
doing. and which has allied Itself 20 the
present antitrust or anti-combiRe move
that a number OF attractions have organ
ICED 4 comparatively fun statement OF
which was published IN the dramatic col
umns OF last Sundays Post-Intelligencer.
The situation up at the popular price
playhouse does not al all suggest an ex-
odus on the part of the existing interests.
| In yesterdays Post-Intelngencer, as well
as in previous issues OF the paper since IL
first anticipated the war, which Is possibly
enc Of words only. there have appeared a
number of statements from people who
have had things TO say on the matter Yes
teraav afternoon Mr.. Russell who has
possibly a great personal interest IN re-
viewing the affairs Of the Third Avenue
theater. inasmuch as its last season or
prosperity has been owing to his manage
ment furnished the Post-Intelngencer
with a chapter Of the history of the place
which is now the bone of contention be-
tween the contending factions. According
10 Mr.. Russelfs statement the Third Ave
nue. theater property was sold during
Sheriff Woolery's administration. on the
moraIng of February 70. 1894. between
and o'clock The property was pur-
hxr A Yav. Na
Amusement Company. At that time there
was no organization in existence. but one
vas effected the following day In order
70 acquire title. The stock was he'd by
Laramie Mayer for the bank and Messrs.
! Bronson. Meserve and Mayer were elected
directors. and Mr.. Coriray was named as
the manager and given a share Of the
stock. Mr.. Cordray appointed Mr.. Russell
as resident manager and custodian OF the
property. TIE Merchants National bank
paid the back bills and the salaries of the
employees by checks drawn by Mr.. Russell.
who signed Mr.. Cordray's name. When the
bank failed and Mr.. Baker was appointed
receiver. he notified Sir. Russell Of the
fact and the manager furnished the re-
caiver with an inventory of the property
and the assets of the house based on an
appraised valuation furnished by a the
atricai man at that time playing at the
Third Avenue theater Then Cordray and
Mr.. Baker resumed business opera tons
under the old dictatorship. During the in
term between the banks failure and Mr.
Bakers appointment as receiver. Mr. Rus
sell paid out OF his own pocket several
hundred dollars 10 keep up the credit OF
the house. Al this time all of the book
ings Of the house were made by Mr.. Cord
ray. IL was during the summer and there
was practically no income from the house
until the fall of 1895. Mr.. Russell allowed
zafn 70 in hat
and accounts might be met, and also put
considerable money from his private funds
into the payment OF obligations owed by
the corporation. The house. during the
season Of 1864 was paying expenses. but
I'm February Of 1896 Mr.. Baker let out Mr.
Cordray Mr.. Russell rendered his resig-
nation when this happened. but Mr.. Baker
asked him 70 remain, appointing him as
manager Up 20 the summer OF 1875 the
house prospered. PLAYING the attractions
that Mr.. Cordray had booked.
During June ard July OF last year the
house naturally ran behind. but It's inan-
cial standing was maintained. Following
Mr.. Russeirs appointment as manager
came the only opportunity for him 70 AL
the time for the succeeding season and TO
run The house according 20 his own ideas.
Az the time the stock company system was
aba rdoned and tbs house was turned into
a combination theater, the Post-Intefll-
mending X as wlss. The result verified the
prediction. ard the theater has made
money.
Last June Mr Baker went East. armed
with letters % Introduction from Mr.. Rus
soil 20 the .eading theatrical men and
booking agents " New York. Upon his ar
rival there he negotiated with the Amer
lean Theatrical Exchange TO Furnish the
Third Avenue theater with ten attrae-
"a Ia
change however. failed entirely 70 send
anything. ard Mr. Russell after July OF
1855 was compe led 20 book I'm the attraC-
tions for lsss-9T which are now playing
here and which have made the pace pop
Mar fc~ the several months of the season
already passed. "a well ga those that are
sttl 70 come. Mr., Russea already has q
number Of valuable contracts for next
season. some o. the tirue that ~ has fiAsd
rUnniuE I'D 70 January. IS2&. He has also
contracted for several return engagements
% companies that have played here dur
ing the present season. among which ara
Town Topics" the A. Y. Pearson com
pany and others that have made distinct
sucrsEscs here
These attractions that Mr. RuSseg1 Res
booked wptEd not - 70 the Seattle the
atsr under any Consideration. and vester-
dav ~ received tho contrasts fur Lincoln
] Carter's Heart 81 Chicago uow pay
lllE 81 NTSf-1 s3t1 t1ffsf&. Nj. tllS<f~t rsfTT-
uends ire stand taken by the Post-Jnts,-
AEeuce- i1 relation 20 she shifting 81 an
Giences from an established popular price
house % 2 the8te~ where regular prices
have been maintained. The case 81 che
Grover corIs many. w1i~A was erusGe4t.y sggC-
cessfaf az ghn Th57i Avenue ;heate~
wnt-a Mr.. HfItE aec8r-3 FOR the Tacoma
theater and tFe N7~Quam Grand taeater
in Portland. was cited as ease IN point.
In Tacoma tire Growers Lsd very badly. l1
PORT ard they e,osed their engagement
before !ts c7-n 0'%ft1n. owing - bad N7Ist-
ness. Leonard Grover hirase< wrote .
NJ Eassea last geek saving tnat TIE lat
teTs sdviCe was right. they we're IN eas
wrong house.
NJ Russell does rot an1ea- worried. bat
SAYS IN connection wtth the Eer@raa excite
neat attaching - the Sorai theatrical in
te~esfs tast TIRE past ssc,cessFu1 winter -
the first csance 10 has rad ~ hook tbs
house In thls Ee Was h8Tss5iea Pps~3 ~
NJ Hakews sas,I-s 20 f. time or secure
attractions fsr tgs hoGse. NJ. Baker be-
lag a man wirsoaf any exoerfence % tAe-
atrteaI dealings. Ila ASA says t9af the
statement nsds By NJ EfesfE IN Portland
t5at ire S-sat*le Iheata~ had maze wEoneY
e 1sl< was abs1r8- Tae s-npioyes ar5sns
tee i1eaaf~ hare complained at tse ah-
sss1ce - zttTaeEsass aa5 ar asse1ce % In
c--ue. &r. kEsse4 has hxan advised by
= member - BIS friends % anncance aim
SCI IS . candidate Eor TIE position o. Eos-