The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-09
Mr.. CRAWFORD BALKS.
Says He Won't Make Repairs at
the Grand.

None OF the changes recommended
by the investigation committee to be
made in the Grand opera house will be
made. and in case the city council. at
its meeting this evening, votes to close
the house, l. M. Crawford says he will
go into the courts to delay the action
until such time as the Crawford is
ready for use again, but how the Craw-
ford can ever be made safe may appear
to be pretty serious problem.
Mr.. Crawford told Fire Marshal Will
marth Friday that in case the investi-
cation committee did not require too
much expenditure in fixing up the
Grand, the necessary repairs would be
made, and the Grand would in the fu-
come to town. But the committee has
required too much. Roy Crawford said
this morning:
I'VE would like to put our big shows
at the Grand. But we can't afford to
fix up that house. 1 know that Kane
and I won't fix it. L am pretty sure
that Mr.. Mulvane won't care to put in
the money necessary to fix it, in case it
is decided that he owns it. And l don t
| think Mr.. Quinton will fix it. So there
you are. Nobody wants to fix it up.
1t will actually cost more to fix the
Grand as the committee has directed
than it will to fix the Crawford. We
would not only have to put in new boil
ers. but new pipes throughout. The
pipes are all rusted out. 1t would also
cost a lot to put in city water for fire
protection"
L. M. Crawford said when asked in
regard to repairs on the Grand: THAT
is something over which I have no con-
troll. 1 don't own or lease the Grand.
But we want to use the Grand in it's
present condition until the repairs on
the Crawford are made. If the city
council undertakes to close up the
Grand, we will be Obliged to resort to
| legal measures to delay such action,
not because we want to be hostile to
the city, but simply to protect the the
atrical companies with whom we have
contracts. from. loss" It is therefore
pretty evident that Mr.. Crawford is de-
termined to use the Crawford to the
exclusion of the Grand.
l. NJ. Crawford left today for st.
Louis. He will return to Topeka about
the middle of next week. He has gone
to look after his st. Louis theaters.
The Odeon was closed yesterday by the
st. Louis authorities with other leading
playhouses, because it failed to come
up to the requirements of the building
law. The Crawford however, was not
closed. Mr.. Crawford was much
pleased at the situation this morning.
.'The lightning doesn't always strike in
the same place, anyway. They condemn
ed nearly all the st. Louis theaters Fri
day except the Crawford. The Odeon was
condemned, but as l do not take posses
sion of the Odeon until next month, the
present managers will have to stand the
expense of fixing the house up in ac-
cordance with the laws. I'm glad they
condemned it now instead of later on
Before leaving Topeka Mr.. Crawford
entered into a contract with t. H. Lesch-
er to make changes in the Crawford
opera house under the direction of Fire
Marshal Wilmarth and CITY. Engineer
McCabe. Mr.. Lescher will begin work at
once and it is expected that the house
will be ready for occupancy within three
weeks, that is, as ready it can be
made