Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-11-16
MUNICIPAL THEATER.
Michigan City Provides n Pay
house For the Public.

United States Is the CalLS pt. recently
opened in the llourishing city of Cal.
umct. Mich. Calumet has a population
of fu.UOO and is the center OF a rich
copper mining industry in the extreme
northern part of the peninsula of that
state.
This thcatcr Is monument to the
enterprise and lihcralty of a stirring
inland city-a place which the frayed
hut naughty actor of ShakCspparran
parts would call provincial town. says
the Chicago Times-IIcrald. 1t is not
playhouse merely Subsidized by the
municipal government. 1t Is owned
by the city. was built by the city and
is now being conducted hy manager
in the city'S employ. The profits. if
any. will 30 into the city's sinkin.
fund. When attractions are unprolit
able from financial point Of view the
deficit will fall upon the city's broad
shoulders and be borne without a mur.
mur. The mayor. too. will act in his
official capacity rs censor of prurirnt
plays, should that step become ncccs,
sary.
1t was formally opened to the pub.
lie about two months ago. the attrac.
ton on this auSpicious occasion being
a comic opera company. which was
taken to the hustling northern town by
special train from Milwaukee ana re.
ccivcd by the representatives of the
municipality with bands playing and
banners flying.
Some travelling men from Chicago,
New York. Boston and other big
towns, who happened to be in Calumet
that night were in dOnht rs to
whether evening dress would hc the
proper form NJ the rhcatcr'S opening
performance. They knew. of course,
that it would be y great event hut
some of the eastern gentlemen predict.
Cl that many miners would be in cvi-
dcuce. wearing blue jumpers and their
paufS tucked in the tops of their COW.
hide boots These smart chaps were
sadly mistaken. One of the natives.
In confidential mood. told the travel
ing mrn lo uupark their dress suit "aSrS
IL they expected to he "in the swim"
tlar night They did as they were
told aud wrr" mighty glad of il, for
It proved to he n fun dress affair for
both ladies ana gentlemen Calumet
does vol approve Of back numbers in
any r"SpCct
This thratcr cost the taxpayers of
the city over 100000. but no one ever
heard grumble in connection with
the expense. 1t was erected as wing
or addition to the new city hall, which
is Just now being finished. and the out
lay of money was no question so long
as the town got what it wantrd-a
playhouse that would reflect credit on
the towuSpeopleS wide awake enter
prise and artistic Judgment The or
chestra chairs cost $40 each. The front
door hinges cost $50 a pair All fur
nshingS are of the best
As Il result the thcater is pronounced
by competent critics to he one of the
hAndSompSt and most artiStically
equipped examples of amusement in
this country The whole structure
W ulfI IiNiu'IfN NV wy nan, II ''llI'
of brick. with handsome stone trim
mingS II is three stories high, with n
tower. the architectural characteristics
belonging to the Italian renaissance
1t covers half a square near the center
of the town. AS to the thpater's di
mpnSions. the following facts are Of
interest:
Seating capacity. 1900; height Of
stage, 60 feet: width of stage G6 feet;
dvp;h of stage IS feet: distance to fly
galleries, 80 feet; distance between
grdprs. 4S feet.
There are two balconies. or. as com.
monty known. a balcony and a top
gallery.
The theatcr is regarded by these peo-
pie as a civic necessity: hence they
have provided means for the amuse-
mrnt Of all at the common cost. Be
cause the thcatcr is delight they are
net blind to the fact that it is also one
Of the most potent influences for good
or evil IN the lives of community.
They argue that it is the shame, the
tallt, the CRIME or tne state, lual lne
thpater is ever Il school of immOralS
They have undertaken to show by eX-
ample that it should never be left Who'll
ly to private interests, as it now is. and
permitted to teach. as it so often does
by example if not by precept, infamous
and atrociDuS things. The city or the
state should be jealously mindful for
the true good of those institutions
which have power to touch the hearts
of the people.