The weekly herald. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 1906-19??, 1907-04-25
CLOSES THE
OPERA HOUSE
The Last Performance Tonight
After Sixteen Years Of
Service
CFrom Saturdays Daily1


for six years, closes to open no more
Monday a force of workmen will be.
gin tearing up and rebuilding the
second floor OF the building for use
as offices.
Although the opera house as It is
now has been made the subject OF
much criticism on account of It's
cramped quarters, and unsatsfacto-
ry arrangement, 1t has been a valu-
Fable institution in the town. I'm
tn the growth OF the town too great
ly increased the demands, the opera
house met the needs OF Amarillo for
place for public meetings, 1t has
been used for conventions, revival
meetings, political gatherings, cele-
brations, school entertainments and
mass meetings Of citizens. Senator
Charles A. Culberson, then governor
of the state of Texas, spoke to the
people from the rostrum here when
in his second race for the COVER
norship, Governor Richard B. Hub
bard spoke in the house on several
occasions and scores OF other men of
more or less note have appeared be-
fore Amarillo people in the old
house.
As a theater 1t has been visited
by all the minor companies that
come into the Southwest and OF late
years some of the better repertoire
companies have been Drawing the
discomforts of its fittings in order
to play in Amarillo, which has made
and kept from the first, reputation
as a good show town. j. II. Wills,
was the first manager of the house,
and managed 1t in connection with
his business as secretary 10 the
stock company that erected the
building. For the last several years
Henry Elliott has been the manager.
OF all the companies that have
appeared in the house, however,
there are few that can be classed
with the company that will give the
farewell appearance tonight. j. A..
Wolfe, and his band of players are
the highest class of dramatic enter
tainers that come to Amarillo. Their
productions call for studied art and
the work of individual characters is
made to be the expression of good
taste.
John A. Wolfe, the manager Of
the company, is one of the few theat-
rical men in the smaller companies
who are making a decided and con-
sistent effort to place dramatic en-
tertainment of genuine merit in the
reach Of people outside of the cities.
Although born and reared in the
east, he has become part of the de-
velopment of the west. He is now
principal owner of new theater in
Ration, N. NJ, and is part owner Of
two other new houses.
His first visit to Amarillo was
eight years ago when he came here
with the Noble Stock company, one
of the Oldest and best known OF the
typical small town companies. With
the Noble company he continued as
leading man until three years ago
when he began his career as manager
by taking part of the Noble company
at their reorganization in Amarillo
and going out as manager Of 1t. Mr..
Noble took the part Of the company
which included the band and orches-
ira and Mr.. Wolfe, true to his own
convictions in the matter, took the
company of players that were to go
on their own merits without the as
sistance OF boisterous" specialties"
and the blare of brass band with
which to attract audiences His ven
ture with his company of players
proved cuccess, and since then the
popularity of the company has stead
lily increased till he name itself is
an asset of known value.
On several occasions during his
present engagement here, Mr. Wolfe
has made the statement that unless
other men came to the front with
plans for a new and adequate play
house for Amarillo, he would take
an important part in the enter
prise himself Such proceeding
would meet with great approval in
Amarillo, but the indications are now
that the needed theater will be built
in the near future by local capitl
II the work is definitely started with
in a few weeks. Mr.. Wolfe offers to
lend material assistance in securing
bookings for next season. After the
close of the present season Mr.. Wolfe
goes to his home in Pennsylvania for
a short rest and then on to New York