The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-07
ANOTHER BIG IHEAItR ROW.
JOHN CoysfDIyE AND THE MILLAR
BROS. INVOLVED IN 1T.
IS Lease on the Peoples Theater
and VIII Dust the Present Proprf-
etors Feb. I-They viii Fight.

There is d new theater row on in this
city. JOHN Considine. who is called
Statesman" and the Miller brothers. who
al present have possession of the Peoples
theater at Second avenue south and
Washington street, are involved in IL.
and the courts VIII likely pe dragged into
IL before settlement Is effected.
Consiaine was proprietor Of the Peo-
pies theater froa The time OF its birth
eigsl. years ago until al ordinance was
passed during ex-Mayor Phelps admins
tratlou divorcing variety theaters from
their wineries and beer dlspensaries.
Times were not especially lively and bust
ness dropped TO such a low point that
Constdine went cut Of business here and
into more trouble In Spokane.
One or two men with theatrical bees in
their bonnets tried to keep the Peoples
theater above water. but It was no use
and at last IT was given over 10 the rats
and cobwebs Hobos found an entrance
and soon had the boxes, where wine had
flowed freely 81 the days % 1889 converted
into sleeping apartments. With the rass-
ing OF each day came an additional layer
OF dirt and filth until the old cellar clsn!-
ted by The name Of ''theater'' resempled
. place where pigs hold forth 1t re-
nlained Ia that condition until last Sep
TENDER. when Nose Goldsmith and the
Mlllar Bros, who used TO travel with
Primrose a. West, called upon the agents
who had charge Of the property end Sc
cured IL for theatrical purposes. Gold
smith says: 1T was simply question ct
how much rent We would pay for the
place. The agents did rot care to give a
written lease, but agreed to give Us a
yer bal lease az SI25 s. month for eleven
months. Cnder the conditions We tcok
the place and went 70 work. We ana de It
into theater. but 10 do that had 10 spend
between s., 009 ard 81 Go Carpenters
work alone cost $50, plumbing 500. paint
ing ard papering 500. scenery 500 and
SO 10 have an entrance made on Second
avenue south. We also had 10 put in gaS
fixtures and electric wires. These are
Only portion Of the expenses Incurred.
We have been making Improvements con-
tinuaIly. and, in fact are compelled 10 in
order 10 keep the place IN proper cordi-
ton. When the recent heavy rains came
We were compelled to shut up the then ter
and put In a new floor"
TIE present pr0prletors thought that
with the influx OF Klondikers in the spring
they would be able 10 make some money.
Then John w. Considine appeared on tha
scene and IN a few days a story reached
Goldsmith that Considins was trying to
get lease on the theater and force Mil
lar Bros. out OF business One day he was
told that Considine had started for San
Francisco TO get a lease from the owners.
Goldsmith took the train December q
and reached San Francisco just In time
TO learn that Considine had actually Sc
cured two years lease from a. T. Bar
uett and Mrs. Schlessinger, owners OF the
place. at $50 month.
The present proprieters of the theater
say Considine misrepresented things 10
the San Francisco owners. Consi3ine viii,
it is said. attempt 10 take possession Feb
ruary l. Miilar Bros. say heir lease,
while only a verbal one, covers period
of eleven months, and that they will fight
any effort Of the Statesman" 20 get PCS
session of the theater.