Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-31

ser and a very clever soubrette Tin
those days soubrettes were called
chambermaids) who remained with the
company the entire season. Alice
Oates. David Hanchett. Gardner Coyne,
c. w. Couldock each followed the other
as the stellar attractions, and all to good
business. This woman, Elite Hender-
son, became very popular here and her
connection with the party was very
material in prolonging the engagement
After their departure there was little
doing in the theatrical line for long
while. All classes OF business were suf-
fering from the effects of the panic and
there was no money for show business.
and. in fact, no money for anything
else, and times were very hard. There
being scarcely any money to do bust
ness with. the merchants resorted to
the extremity of using tickets reading.
This is good for 10 cents" or other
amounts within the dollar limit. The
war of the rebellion opened and condi-
lions at once began improving. Darts
han had been built and theatrical bust
ness had again begun. and among the
first attractions at Darts hall was the
Scouts of the Palms. with Buffalo
Bill, julie Keen and the big-hearted
Major Burke. This show became the
foundation of the great business now
owned by Buffalo Bill. julie Keen and
Major Burke are still with the show
now in Europe.
4 Theatrical Family.
AT that time we had a theatrical
family in town. Orlando Brare and
Mile Abbey. and several amateur per
formances were given, chief among
them being a performance of hpaley
them being a performance of the play
of Douglas, in which our old friend, L.
NJ. Within, very creditably played one
of the leading parts. About this time
some one whose name l cannot now re-
member, built a little variety hall on
First avenue on the ground where
Riley's gas-ftting and plumbing shop
stood, and a good many, both amateur
and professional. performances were
given there.
THE old Island City hotel had been
remodeled and rechristened the Rod
man house, and Mr.. Hutchinson had
become it's manager. After running
awhile, on the morning of Oct. %. 1869.
it burned down. and the present Harper
house now stands on that site. About
this time the elder Mr.. Negus began
the building of Negus hall on the
ground just north of the building own
ed by Mr.. Astor and now occupied by /
Bowman & Reed as a laundry.
Mr. Negus built a very nice little
hall, capable OF seating about 500 peo-
pie. with very good and well equipped
stage. The building was erected on
ground where q livery stable had stood
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 anybody into
it. A very popular comedian and great
favorite with all the old-time theater
patrons. Walter Bray, being the only
one that ever could get anybody at all
to go up in Negus hall. In course of
time the little theater was dismantled,
and believe it is now being used as a
lodging house.
Construction of Harper Theater.
about this time Ben Harper had
begun tearing down the old building
that to many Rock Islanders TO their
sorrow will ever be remembered. The
bank of the Federal Union had occu-
pied the corner store. and when it fail
ed many and many a 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 genial overseer.
the building progressed finely, and in
little while was nearly completed,
Mr.. Harper personally attending 10 ev-
cry detail