Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-08-19
Rock Island "Reminiscences
The STAGE.
The Stage.

/ for years, and after the Negus building
had been finished a rumor got into cir
culation that the building was insecure
and that rumor settled its fate, as no
one was ever able to get any body into
it. A very popular comedian and
great favorite with all the old time
! theatre patrons. Walter Bray. being the
! only one that ever could get anybody
al all to go up in Negus hall. In course
| Of time the little theatre was disman-
| tied and / believe it is now being used
as a lodging house.
| Construction of Harper Theatre.
About this time Ben Harper had
| begun tearing down the old build
| ing that to many Rock Islanders TO
their sorrow will ever be remembered.
The bank of the Federal Union had
occupied the corner store and when il
! failed many and many poor family
in this city lost all they had for years
been saving. With Mr. Gingles. the
carpenter: Mr. Holmes, the architect,
and Mr. Harper. the general overseer,
the building progressed finely. and in
little while was nearly completed, Mr..
Harper personally attending to every
detail
When the building was far enough
advanced TO admit the beginning of the
stage. the very best theatrical mechan-
les obtainabIe were set to work with
instructions TO make everything first
class, and, everything was first class
as theatrical things were done in those
days. the frames of the flats that now
adays are made of inch stuff were
made of 115 inch and all were NOR
tised by hand, the groves and in fact
everything appertaining TO the stage
were made of double strength; the
cOrdage used in raising curtains.
groves and other things were all dou-
bic strength, the writer having often
asked Mr.. Harper why such heavy ma
terials were used. his reply always be
ing that it made double assurance OF
the safety of the building.
The Opening Attraction.
Knove and Twombly. the scenic ar
lists. had soon finished and the opening
night was at hand. and Mr.. Harper had
secured Marie Roe in concert as the
opening attraction, the price beng
$3.50. The concert was very artls-
tic performance. but the attendance was
small Then came a long list OF the
gilt edge attractions of the day. Tony
Pastor. Emma Abbott. and in fact all
that was worth seeing then in the mar
ket. About this time an enterprlslnS
manager conceived the idea of produc-
ing Gilbert and Sulliyans comic opera,
"PinafCre." composed OF material
In 4
cboirs of Chicago. and the Chicago
Church Choir &C. c. c. was organized
and scored one of the greatest sue
cesses of that time, great success
because SO far as stage business was
concerned they all were amateurs. vi
course their musical training was
great factor in their success, but sun
their performances were almost Won
derful. when one considered the ma
tariaI ont of which they had been pro
ducad They came from Chicago to
Rock Island and gave one OF thelr per
formauces to one Of the largest houses
aver within the walls of Harpers thea
ire. The Chicago Church Choir company
was among the first to introduce comic
opera in this country, and in their caste
were Jesse Bartlett Davis. Sommers,
Wade. Barnabce. and a lot of others
who have become famous in the comic
opera field.
Mr. Harper RetIres.
Mr.. Harper tired of the management
of the theatre and retired and {. {.
Kneu became the manager OF the
house. and he died few years after
Then came J. e MOntrOse, who sue
cessfully managed the house for five
wears. AT the expiration of the lease
Bleuer's band became the manager OF
the house. with Charles Bleuer IN
charge They retained the lease but
one wear. and then Charles Bleuer and
Steve Miller became the managers I'M
iii the new theatre was built, when the
old house was turned into CONNER
cial house.
Through all these years | have been
connected in some capacity or other III
ALI these changes. and when the I'LL
uois was opened | went in there IN
charge of the house and ticket othce,
and remained until the end of April.
Since then have been entirely out OF
the business. but still keeping line on
all the good things that ever and anon
are being presented TO the public.
AUGUSTUS c. MILLER.