Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-11-10
OPERA HOUSE TO BE CLOSED
Passing of a Popular Place of
Amusement.
Opened in 1870, - Ehentre Has Been
in 20 Years the Scene Of Many No.
table Performnnccx--tcnso
for the Step.

ne emu Oh the present month Will WIZ
ness the closing Of the Howard Opera
House as a place of entertainments This
act is the result of conference between
the present lessee of the place. Mrs.W. i.
" alker, and the merchants doing business
on the ground floor and is done because
it seems to be for the financial interest
OF all concerned.
For several years. during the rise in
insurance rates, 1t has been evident that
the merchants could wen AFFORD to pay
the Home for Destitute Children, the cor
roration which now owns the building,
the amount received for the lease of the
auditorium and close it, thereby so re-
dCcing the insurance rates on their stocks
that they would save money from year
to year. This was possible because OF
the high rate placed by insurance COM
Ianies on everything III n building occu-
pied IN part as theatre. But it was
recognized that city Of 10000 people
heeded place for entertainments and
no action was taken IN this direction IN
til the ncw Strong theatre was com.
pletcd. 1t being admitted that that place
met all that burlington required as a
theatre. Mrs. Walker and the merchants
In the clock hal LITTLE difficulty in reach
other words, she has sold her lease of
the auditorium which did not expire until
June of 1906. at n price entirely salts
factory to her, while The merchants cX-
pect to save in their insurance more
than the amount paid She had already
booked some 40 attractions for the win
ter and is now cancelling the dates Of
all those that were coming after Novtin-
ber 80.
The Howard Opera House was built
by the late John !. Howard to tll n
long-folt want in Burlington Cor a modern
amusement hall. and for % years it has
served its purpose wen. 1t was opened
on Monday February -, 1879 with the
first performance of grand opera i'll Ner-
mont The tu,ding WIS filed with n
cultured and fashionable audience and
/ the S;rakos.h Opera company, one of
the leading musical organizations of the
cay, presented Donizettis Lucia lie
Lan'mermcor. with Maria litta as Lucia.
The following evening the same company
enve VorGis III Trovatore," with Clara
Louise Kellogg and Annie Louise cary
as the stars The event was a matter Of
much interest al! over the state AMI the
Free Press. in an extended notice of the
!
core of the largest and best halls in
/ the country
*. Is. Walker was the first manager,
/ acting as Mr.. Towards agent Mr..
Howard subsequently gave the building
to the Home for Destitute Children and
FOR q number Of years all rents have
gone to that institution. X. y. Walker
and his son. w. X. Walker were for
| ho Of he linn,
and l6 wears ago tine latter assumed the
, mana cement. Shortly after his death in
1895 his widow took the lease and has
held it Until the present time Mrs.
Walkers management has been of such
RECOGNIZED as one Of tie best business
wOr.on in thc city. the llamatic prClcs-
sion at the same time regarding her rs
one Of the shrewdest theatrical managers
in the country. Tho class of entertain
ment provided by her has been remark
ably good when Burlmgton's somewhat
isolated location, as regards other cities
Of its size, is taken into consideration
She will retire from active participation
in the providing of amusemOts with the
best wishes OF thousands of her patrons
who VIII at the same tine regard the
i closing of the Howard Opera House as
the loss Of an old friend.
For the past six Years Arthur n, johns
has acted as treasurer of the house and
been connected with the advertising de-
partnient. In those positions n ha.
Teen uniformly courteous and faithful
to his trust and has made mary friends
who v i'll wish him fun measure 81
success in whatever position he mas
W ~ will n N
, business interests in burlington and af
ter trip to California and the Soutl
Will continue to make this city her nome