Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1900-12-27
ALL THATIT COULDBE
G. n. Johnston's Muscatine
Theatre Viewed by Rock
Islanders.
TIE OPENING PERFORMANCE
Promoter of Local Enterprise
Does More Than He
Promises.
TIE OPENING PERFORMANCE

The opening of Muscatine's new
theatre, which was erected by Pro-
moter George H. Johnston, who has
in hand the Rock Island project, took
place last evening with the presenta-
ton of james A. Herne's superb
play. Shore Acres" by the same
admirable cast that recently gave the
production at the BuTtis. Ia order to
acquaint themselves with the way
that Promoter Johnston does things
a commit of Rock Island citizens,
composed of F. w. Bahnsen, of the
Rock Island Club; DR.. r. NJ. Pearce,
Of the theatre committee; Ex-Mayor
L. j. Medill, +. II. Guyer, Otto Huber
and j I. Stafford, together with
Robert Swan, of Moline, at
tended the performance. Others who
had planned and hoped to go were
detained by unavoidable circum-
stances. the Rock Islanders returned
this noon, delighted and enshu i
astic over the theatre and all that
pertains to it. They learned from
Mr.. Johnston that he is in communi-
cation with his ticket seller, j. b
Arthurs, who is already known in
Rock Island, with a view to reopening
the canvass here with the first of the
year. MIR. Johnston also informed
the committee that, while w. ID.
Ament was the present manager of
the new Muscatine theatre, Cham ber-
lin, Kindt & Co, lessees of the Bur-
It's, were endeavoring to secure
it, and were li6ewise seeking to
induce him to build for them
q theatre in Moline. so that it
may be gathered from this that if the
people of Rock Island are so neglect
full of their city and their own inter.
ests as to pass the present opportu-
nifty by, other cities may profit at
their expense. Mr.. Johnston is de-
termined to push his PROJECT through
here. but the people must do their
part fully from now on.
Rock Islanders Express Themselves.
The ARGUS has already given de-
scription of the theatre which Mr..
Johnston has provided for Muscatine
and has told how far ne has exceeded his
promises and the anticipatious of the
people there. The Rock Island citi-
zeus who saw with their own eyes
last night may do their own talking:
DR.. +. NJ. Pearce: Delighted! /
should say / was The theatre is a
dream-and yet it is not dream. 1t is
beauty and in all the essentials and ap-
pointments n dream, but as a matter
of fact it is the real thing. Therefore,
it is no dream. 1t is an opera house
that would be a credit to a city many
times the size of Muscatine-Or Rock
Island either, for that matter. MIR.
Johnston does all he says he will and
more. Everyone in Muscatine will
testify to that fact. Ii Rock Island
does not take him at mis- bargain the
city will miss the opportunity of its
life >
L. II. Guver: The building and
site are worth every cent of the $50
600 they cost and no citizen of Mus
catine need begrudge his contribution
toward its erection. | am confident
Mr.. Johnston will do the fair thing
by Rock Island"
Otto Huber: The building was
far beyond my expectations aud the
people of Muscatine are mole than
satisfied. The interior is finished in
plain but pleasing style and the ar
rangement is the best. The commit
tee were accorded every consideration
at the hands of Mr.. Johnston"
+. w. Bahnsen: Tine new theatre
building at Muscatine is well worth
the cost, which was $50, 900, includ-
ing the site. President Monroe, Of
the Muscatine Commercial club, made !
a short address before last evenings
performance, in which he spoke of
Mr.. Johnston and the work he has
done in Muscatine in the highest
terms. 1 am confident that he will |
do the handsome thing by Rock Island |
if given the opportunity.
I. j. Medili: The people of Mus
catine are highly pleased with their |
opera house and say that Mr.. John
ston has done great deal more than
he promised to do. The opening was |
a great success, all the seats in the |
house being occupied. -
j. L. Stafford: The acoustic ar
of the house is perfect and
every seat is so placed as to afford a |
perfect view of the stage. Mr.. John |
ston more than fulfilled every prom |
Use made before the building was
erected, and there is nothing but |
praise for him among the people of |
MuzpatiOp -