Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-27

Promoter of Rock Islands New Theatre
season, and the tn, roughness with
which every detail for the comfort
and delight of the patrons was looked
after was characteristic of the man
ner in which the entire work of or
Sanization. planning and construction
as IL has been carried ON by Theatre
Promoter George III. Johnston.
If there were skeptics as TO the sort
of house that has been under way
for these long months they were CON
vinced last evening. As the audience
filed in Explanations OF admiration
were heard on all sides. The color
and plastic designs on the walls, cell
ings and proscenium, the pleasing
and artistic drop curtain and apron
the diffusion of lights. the comfort
of the seats and the cGrpeting of the
aisles all came in for share Of APP
preciative comment. But when the
curtain was raised and the play be-
gan the greatest surprise of all was
in store Every member of lhe audi
encc of nearly 1,4OO people that filled
Parquet and balcony and gallery
found himself able to see and able to
hear without the necessity of
strained attention. The acoustic
properties of the house were found to
be perfect.
Crowd Well Handled.
The doors opened for the first time
to the public at 1880 and for over an
hour there was a steady influx of peo-
pie. Carriage after carriage unIoaded
and ladies and gentlemen in evening
dress were ushered quietly. but quick
ly to their places. When at last the
parquet and balcony were filled ana
there were few vacant seats even in
the gallery, there was gathered per-
haps the most brilliant assembiage
ever seen i'm Rock Island. There were
present not only Rock Island people.
but number from Moline and Dav-
-enport and from other surrounding
cities. who came as guests of the box
and seat subscribers. Among the
visitors were Judge Foley of Lincoln.
Ill, an associate of Mr.. Johnston in
theatre building. who is financially in
terested i'm the new theatre, and STAN
ley Schaffer and John w. Williams,
of Hamilton. O. The latter gentlemen
are planning to build theatre in
Hamilton.
Those In the Boxes.
The occupants of the boxes were:
A--Mr. and RMS. Charles McHugh
and daughter, Elizabeth; Mrs. George
II. Rim. of Chicago; Miss Berryhill,
of Davenport; j. Slater Montrose, of
Peoria, and John L. Stafford, of this
city.
B-Hon. Ben +. Cable, daughter,
Miss Suzanne. and son, Philander,
and Miss Postlewaite.
Chr. and Mrs. Phil Mitchell and
sons, Ben, Ardo, Leon, Robert and
+ red Mitchell. and Mrs. Harriet Judd.
D-Mr. and Mrs. l.. s. McCabe and
daughters. Mr.. and Mrs. Warren
H.Reel<, and Miss Chamberlin.
E.Hon. and Mrs. f. w. Hurst, Ben
and Miss Alice Keator. b. ID. Buford.
of Chicago, and the Misses Lucy and
Blanche Buford.
F-Mr and Mrs. F. G. Allen and
Miss Margerie Allen, Mr.. and Mrs.
George Stephens, Mrs. Huntoon, Miss
Grace Huntoon and George Huntoon,
Of Moline.
Nv. \. RosenficId, Mrs Julia Iios-
enfield. Miss Irene Rosenficld.
Miss TilIie Ottenheimer, of Rock
Island; Miss Nellie Leonard, of Dav-
export. and Miss Myra Bloom, of
Iowa City.
G-Mr. and Mrs. Wadsworth and
Miss Mary Wadsworth, Mrs. Hill and
Miss Eggleston, of Davenport, and
Miss Comegys and Miss Bailey, of
Rock Island. 80
House Given Good Test bn
The bright costumes, the foNaers
worn by the ladies, the scentet61 ut
mosphere and the strains OF thesGGer-
ture rendered by Bleuer's full orches-