The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1909-02-26

With all the inspiration of new
theater-splendidly beautiful-a clever
play, presented by a capable company,
and a large and fashionable audience,
the dedication of the new Harnois
to the enjoyment of Missoula's people
was fully as fortunate as even Mana
ger G.. A. Harnois could have wished.
There We're "Ohs" and 'Ahs" of de-
lighted admiration as the men and
women of the Garden city took their
seats last evening and had what was
for many of them the first oppOrtun-
ity to thoroughly inspect the new
theater-the most artistic in Montana.
In the audience there were many we'll
qualified to judge as to the arrange
ment, the elegance, the innate charm
of the model theater. In the audience
were many who had, at one time or
another taken their places in some
of the largest and best theaters in the
United States and in Europe. These
people-very naturally-compared the
Harnois with what they had seen in
other cities, in other states, in other
lands, and the Missoula house suffered
not at all. AS large as some the Har-
noiS is not, but large enough for Mis-
sOula is the new theater, and it's fin
ish, its furnishings, its properties, it's
arrangement. it's acoustics, and, above
all, its comforts, are not to be ex-
celled anywhere. To a city three
times the size of Missoula the Har-
nois would be a great credit; to Mis-
soula it is monumental memorial
to the persistence of one of her citi-
zens and the hearty cooperation of
the rest
The memory of the old Unon-after
last night one is licensed to refer to
what was once Missoula's only play
house as "old"-had a share in the
opening of the Harnois last evening.
It's principal part in the celebration
for that is what last evening really
was-was in the memory of the 1900
people who filled the new house, but
the speakers, Mayor Keith Judge
Evans and Manager Harnois, men
toned the old place incidentally.
There We're no tears; it was a pleasant
funeral.
The Speakers.
The first speaker, Mayor j. NJ.
Keith, told of MissOula's first theater
"a livery barn converted to Thespian
uses and situated where is now the
city hall. He told of the successor to
the livery barn in its new capacity |
and of the building of the Union thea
ter, to accommodate a state conVen-
ton in 1896. He referred to the life |
of the Union and congratulated Mr.. |
Harnois and Missoula on the new.
Judge John M. Evans, speaking in |
behalf of the chamber of commerce, |
told of the connection of Missoula's |
business men with the building of the |
theater, with the construction of "as |
find anywhere in the country"-"th |
fruition of our hopes.'
Brief was the talk made by Charles |
A. Harnois. He told of his promise, |
made three years ago, to give this city |
a good theater. Tonight, I think I
have accomplished that object" he |
continued. Tonight I present to you
as good a theater as there is between
st. Paul and the coast"
Mr.. Harnos thanked his friends;
the newspapers of Missoula
for their aid in building the theater,
and asked their continued support,
ito help make it what it should be,
the best theater in the northwest"
"Brewster's Millions"
It is safe to say that never has the
Harnois theater seen a better pro-
duction than "Brewster's Millions" as
headed by Robert Ober as "Montgom-
cry Brewster" and June Mathis as
Peggy Gray" 1t would probably be
just as safe to make the above asser-
tiOn a year-five years-from now.
history in Missoula will
be dated from the opening
OF the Harnois and "BreWster's Mil
lions" Mr. Ober is a finished actor;
he knows how to get the most out of
a part rich in possibilities, but in no
branch of the actors art, in no part
of stagecraft is he superior to his
leading woman, Miss Mathis. Miss
Mathis is not unknown in Missoula
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