The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-10-22
Wv 18TH every provision for safety
MA which city ordinance could
Wv exact, or a careful manage
ment devise, with every de,

fined notwithstanding on SeVenCn
street, between Hennepin and Nlcoliet
avenues, as the newest and most strlk-
ing evidence of the fact that Minneapo-
lis is assuming more and more OF !
metropolitan tone. 1t is a monument,
too, to the faith that outside capitalists
have in the future, of the city a and to
apolis designers and artisans, for the
projectors original plan of employing
Minneapolis genius, labor and material
thruout has been strictly adhered to.
Thus the new Orpheum is in the broad
est sense the product of Minneapolis IN
dustry, and it is an achievement to be
proud Of.
"Orpheum'' is still bit of riddle
to Minneapolis. In the eleven other
cities which form links in the cross
the-country chain of Orpheum circuit
playhouses, it has trademark signlti-
canoe. Once year, however, for many
seasons an Orpheum vaudeville company
has delighted the playgoers immensely
as week 8 attraction at one OF the
Minneapolis theaters: Its coming re-
quired little bill posting and newspaper
advertising to fill the house at every
performance. The company which owned
this attraction has built in Minneapolis
q magnificent palace of vaudeville, ex-
clusively for the production of ffty-two
attractions just as good as the sample,
and ao thu go esS ana that Is why " Is
''orpheum'' Trademark.
It is said that in colonial days bar
rels of -four shipped from Virginia stem
ciled washington - passed the. market
without inspection George Washington s
trademark sufficed. "Orpheum' is a
SYNONYM for EXCELLENT when applied
TO the ssx of the sT rss TheR
shop In San Francisco, Los Angeles,
yer, st. Joseph, Chicago, St. Louis, Gin
cinnati and indianapolis the name IS
trademark with 8 meaning which Min
The character Of the Orpheum's Invest
1nent here is such as to indicate that
the management spends all the money
required to produce the best results
The Minneapolis theater has a superior
situation, is one of the most imposing
structures of the town and is OF the
very best construction.
"Orpheum makes good for all that
the public has been able to see and
hear of the new theater. 1t is to be
one Of the show places of the city in
a double sense. The front is a com
bination Of terra Gotta, pressed speckled
brick and glass, into an example of
harmonious architecture. The electric
sign, the novel iron and glass hanging
portico, the big illuminated clock face,
the plate-glass front Of the single store,
are all attractive bits of an effective
whole.
It will be found that the interior is
similarly effective. 1t is luxurious and
perfect in it's appointments, satisfac-
service of the employees will be of a
very high order, from the box office
to the stage. Ushers and attendants
will be in uniform, gentlemanly and
ladylike in their relations with the pat
rons Of the house. For the attractions
nothing more convincing can be said
than that they are the peer of any
thing which has appeared under the
Orpheum name in Minneapolis. The
companies are of the very highest or
der of vaudeville art and are made
up of features secured by diligent
tries of Europe.
Something New for Northwest.
The Orpheum theater is something
entirely new in the northwest. 1t is
the home of refined vaudeville only.
Its success will depend not on magnifi-
cent scenic effects and spectacular
staging, but on the merits of the indi-
vidual players. 1t will be open every
afternoon and evening at 2:l5 and
S:l6 clock.
OuCllduS6dUlG II1CcS.
The Orpheum circuit has uniform
prices for admission, high enough to
preserve the dipnity Of the house and
yet within the reach of all classes of
patrons. The highest charge is so cents
afternoons, % and Is cents. Expert
ence has shown the management that
if the high tone of it's attractions and
the excellence of the house service to
the public is maintained, the response
Is high-class audiences.
The tale Of how the Orpheum came
to Minneapolis would take a long time
to unfold. The rapidity with which it
has taken possession is one OF the mar
say that for years back the Orpheum
company has had it's eye on Minneapo-
lis as future link in it's chain Of show
towns. Arrangements were finally com,
pleted for securing q location. F. B
Henderson Of New York, superintend
emit Of construction, came to Minneapo'
before deciding to build here. He found
a good and enterprising people and
that the prospects warranted the ven
ture. He came again with Morris Mey.
erfeld, Jr., Of San Francisco, president
Of the company, and Martin Beck OF
Chicago, general manager, and the prop
erty was bought at cost of $4,000
This expression of confidence was fol
lowed by orders to architects, contract
ors, decorators, scenery painters anC
furnishers, which meant an expenditure
Of about 100000 more. Following the
tracts as possible within the facilities
of the town were let in Minneapolis
Local architects were employed. Min
neapolis. contractors, and, so far a:
could be, workmen living in the city
were used on the construction. mas
much as the company expects the sup
port Of Minneapolis, it felt in honor
bound to make as much of the prelim
mary expenditure of money here a:
could be conscientiously done and with
correct results.
Builder Knows His Business.
Superintendent Henderson s first re
port to the company was so favorable
that the management has taken unusua
interest in the progress of the construc
the Minneapolis Orpheum. Orders were
given to the architects, KEGS & Colburn
to conform absolutely with the city or
dinance covering theater construction
and even to 90 beyond it's limitations il
providing for the safety of the theater
goers After the completion of thu
foundation work. G. E. Bray O.
New Orleans, manager Of the st
Charles theater, was sent on to su
perintend the superstruction. Whe1
the time approached for reopen
ing the New Orleans theater Mr.. Hen