The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1900-06-14
Larson's New Theater Opened to
Large Audience of Appreciatiye
Citizens.
A SPECTACULAR PERFORMANCE
The Most Brilliant Gathering Ever Held in
Yakima-The Theater Meets With the
Approval Of All-"The Evil Eye"
Was All Right Coming
Attractions.

Larson's theatre was opened to the
public under most suspicious circum.
stances on Monday evening. When the
box sheets were Withdrawn from Briggs
& Dams music store at & p. M, Monday,
the receipts from the sales of reserved
seats and boxes amounted to over 1920
and as there were about 100 reserved
seats then unsold. which were disposed
of at the theatre, the total sales including
ceipts up 10 fifteen or sixteen hundred
dollars. This is wonderful showing for
a small city, and while proving to Mr..
Larson the appreciation in which he is
held by the citizens for his enter prise
in building and dedlcatipg such splen-
did temple to Thespis, also demonstrates
that under the conditions which now
exist North Yakima, in professional
parlance, is "good show town" and
stands ready to patronize worthy enter.
tainments.
theatre was begun in October 1899. A
ten thousand dollar structure was con-
templated but the building as it now
stands cost half again as much. The
plans were drawn by j. S. Pearson, of
Des Moines, Iowa, and A. E. Howard
was the builder. 1t 10 generally pro-
nounced one of the most complete houses
of entertainment in the Northwest and
in some respects excels any of them. w.
F. Powell had the contract for the plas-
tering while the interior decorations were
made under the supervision of E. F.
Croker, late of st. Paul, but who has
located permanently in North Yakima.
Sheridan Jenkins has the designing OF
the scenery and he is now engaged In
painting drop curtain which will be
work of art. The building is 7Oxl0O
TT. with stage room of 3Ox7O It. 1t has
seating capacity for 1000 people and
the building is magnificienty illuminated
by $50 incandesent lights, controlled by
switchboard that was designed for this
house by Geo. Arrowsmith, the electri.
clan. The theatre staff consists of A. E.
Larson, proprietor; F. H. Hunter, treas
urer and Robert J. Quinn, stage mana.
ger.
The opening of this place OF amuse-
ment has long been anticipated with
much pleasure by the citizens of Yakima.
Mr.. Larson corresponded with the man.
agement of number of troupes OF high
standing, including the John Drew and
the Nat Goodwin-Maxine Elliott COM
panies, in hopes Of securing the best for
the opening night, and finally decided
| upon Chas. H. Ysle's spectacular play,
'The Evil Eye, or the Many Merry Mis-
haps Of Mid, and the Weird Wonderful
Wanderings of Nod" 1t was highly
! recommended by the Eastern press and
public in general and was the only one
of the troupes prominent in public favor
that could be secured for the date de-
cided upon for the opening.
The audience was undoubtedly the
largest and most brilliant that ever gath.
cred in Yakima and the dressing was
| revelation to many. Many of the ladies
were in full dress and hundreds OF the
costumes were especially designed for
this occasion. The gentlemen, too, ex-
celled themselves and dress suits that
had not been aired for some time were
| brought out on Monday evening and as
sisted greatly in making up an attractive
ensemble. There were no vacant seats
and the boxes were crowded to their ca
pacty. All were in good humor and
disposed to be pleased with the efforts
made for their entertainment, and they
encored the Walla Walla orchestra,
, which had been secured for the perform
ance, as we'll as the various features pre-
sented on the stage.
| 1.-The Evil Eye" is no exception to the
rule OF spectacular plays and has only
enough plot to form the framework for
the introduction of songs, choruses,