Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-26
I'm NEW THEATRE
The Illinois to Open Its Doors to
the Public This Even.
ing.
OF A LONG DESIRE
Are You a Mason?" the Attraction
Holders of the
Boxes.


to the public tonight for the first
time, the initial performance to be
Leo Deitrichsen's refreshing comedy.
Are You a Mason?' The reservation
of seats in accordance with the num-
bers secured by subscribers at the
drawing conducted at the Harper
house, began this morning at
o'clock at Lloyd's, and is passing off
without a hitch.
Society will be out in force tonight,
many coming from Moline and Dav-
export. some as guests of Rock
Island friends.
The box holders are: Box \.
Charles McIIugh; Il, Ben II. Gable; c
and q. Phil MITCHELL; ID, l.. McCabe;
+, J.. w. Hurst; f, +. &. Allen MO
line); II, w. \. Rosenfield. AS u re-
suit of a slight misunderstanding i'm
the disposition of the boxes T.. c.
Denlmann, one of the purchasers.
consented to the cancellation of his
name from the list, and was promptly
refunded his 500 by Mr.. Johnston.
Before the curtain rises Chairman
Medill, of the general theatre commit
tee, will make n short address.
G. III. Johnston, builder of the the
atre, accompanied by Mrs. Johnston
and their guest, Mrs. Hudson Still
well, arrived this morning from St.
Louis to attend the show this evening.
No Standing Room.
Mr.. Johnston has made every pro-
vision for the protection and accom-
mediation of the public, in the way of
police, tiremen, carriage calls, etc. !
He gives the assurance that nobody |
will be admitted tonight for less than
$40. The box office will be closed and |
no standing room will be sold. thus |
avoiding Overcrowding of the house. |
This is Rock Islands night" said |
Mr.. johnson, land no pains Will be
spared to please those who have con-
tributed to the enterprise. ! Will not |
permit any advantage to be taken of
them by the selling of tickets, either
in excess of those subscribed or at
less figure. l think when the people
see the Illinois they will say 1 have
kept my promise. and that is all
want them to say"
Success After Lengthy Agitation.
Tonight's event will be the culmin-
alton of long-directed effort to Sc
cure for the city that which it was so
much in need ola modern play |
house. The question was agitated |
for several years by the Argus. The |
services of Mr.. Johnston. known to |
be king pin among the theatre pro- |
moters of the country, were enlisted. |
His plan seemed the only feasible one. |
4 theatre project in itself does not |
invite investment in n town the size |
of Rock Island. The only way. there
fore, to get the new building was on a
basis of n $4,000 opening night sub
scription, or so seat and 500 each
for the boxes.
Rock Island Clubs Part.
1t is to be said TO the credit of the
Rock Island club that one of the first
things that organization did upon it's
formation was to take up the the
atre enterprise. and its committees
have been unceasing in their labors
since its contamination, its for
mer president, +. w. Bahnsen. and
the present executive officer, Il. j.
Nedill. having been particularly prom
inent in their identification with the
Through the club came
the cooperation of the Retail Mer-
chants association and the Tri-City
Labor Congress, and the first general
theatre committee included the pres
idents of these last named bodies,
George III. Kingsbury and +. c. Berry
respectively. Various other COM
made up of the leading men
of the city, put their shoulders to the
wheel when the sale of the seats was
begun. Out of these committees,
when the subscription list was filled.
was selected a general committee to
act with Mr.. Johnston in making the
a reality. This commit
tee consists of +. J. Medill, G. II.
+. c. Berry, Charles Nc
Hugh. Phil Mitchell, j. j. La Velle,
DR.. r. NJ. Pearce, w. n. Rosenfield, II.
p. Simpson, +. A. Head, Walter John
son. j. S. Leas, w. ii. Edwards and
+. II. Guyer. OF this committee Mr..
Medill is chairman and Mr.. Kings
bury secretary.
While this committee met from
time to time throughout the con-
struction. ana has passed upon all
important matters pertaining to the
and furnishing, it designated
a building committee, which has been
in close touch with the details, and
consisting of II. ]. Medill. George III.
Phil Mitchell and w. II.
Edwards.
Is Modern House.
The Illinois is a modern ground
floor theatre and in all its appoint
ments is the best in the state outside
of Chicago and, barring the Auditor
ium and Illinois, IL takes back seat /
for none there. The new house has
been fully described heretofore in
these columns on a number of occa-
sions Its name, as is known. was
selected by n popular voting contest