The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-11-28
Familiar Fact are Back.

The crowd at the Grand opera house
last night was unique for the great
number of strange faces and exception
ally large for the uncertainty of the
opening of the theater due to the at
tempt right UP to the last minute of
members of the city council to keep the
place closed because certain require
mentS had not been met with regarding
the absolute safety of the building.
But matter Of gossip between cur
tains among the regular theater de-
voices was the temperance of many
Of the people who were play-goers when
the Grand was open years ago, who
stopped their attendance rather than
risk their lives in the Crawford fire trap
on Kansas avenue. But still a more
pertinent matter was observed, and
decidedly good omen for Crawford &
Kane, the great number of faces en-
tireIy new to the Topeka theater-going
public. DOubtlessly there are a great
many people in Topeka who will now
begin going to the Grand regularly
who never or only occasionally went to
the Crawford.
John Parks is one of the men who is
fond Of the theater and who formerly
was a regular goer. For more than
wear, until last night. with but one eX-
ception, Mr.. Parks has not been in
Topeka theater. 1T has been fully that
length of time" said Mr.. Parks today.
Il took a chance in the Crawford to
hear Nav Irwin recently but that was
!
While I didn't think much of the show
last night I was glad that the Grand
has been opened again. 1t was a little
chilly and muSty there last night, but
understand Mr.. Crawford has a GOOD
manv more repairs to make. We have
I been practically ostracised from going
to the theater in Topeka of late years
| because of the unsafe condition of the
| Crawford. The thine that struck me
most forcibly last night was the num-
| Der of new faces in the audience. I
| never knew before that there were SO
| many strangers in Topeka. I think tnat
/ people are coming out of their holes and
will begin going to the theater again
| since the Grand is open. certainly am
| glad to see it.
c. B. Merriam said ''I went to
the Grand last night. I have not been
/ inside of the Crawford for more than
year 1t is mighty fine to think
of the house opening up again, and
/ it recalls old days The show was ex-
| ecrably poor. I knew very few people
| there last night. Tt is an altogether
! different theater-going crowd. I sup
pose lots of people viii begin to go
/ to the Grand who have refused to go
! to the Crawford"
/ Guy Adams said today: while I
/ have been at the Crawford a few
/ times, my brother Charles has not
! been there for some years. We both
attended the Grand last night, and
are mighty glad to see the house open
! up again The show was mighty bum.
/ I didn't know many Of the people
there. So many of the faces were
/ strange. It evidently means that a
good many are starting to go to shows
again in Topeka"
L. S. Woolverton said: 'I have not
been inside of the Crawford but two
or three times within the last three
years. but I went to the Grand last
night. It is ever so much better than
the Crawford and its opening meets
with the approval of the people in the
/ city. There were good many strange
faces in the audience"
J. c. Mohler who with his wife and
a number of friends occupied a box
said: ST have not been in the Craw-
ford for several years. I like tht
/ Grand much better. It is much nicer
and safer. I am glad to see it oper
again."