The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1909-01-20
LOUIS JAMES COMING
His Advances Man Tells Mark Hanna
Story and Recalls Early Days
ia Fargo.

II met an old gentleman on the train
coming out of Seattle couple of weeks
ago." said Branch O'Brien, advance
agent for the distinguished actor, Louis
James, who is to present Ibsen's "Peer
Gynt" at the Fargo operahouse next
Tuesday evening, at the Waldorf last
night" who was making his first trip
east in twenty years. His name was
Oxley, and when he learned 1 was as
sociated with Mr. James he told me
a yarn which / win repeat as nearly
verbatim as can recall it,"
In the early days of the late Senator
Hanna's ownership of the Euclid ave-
nue. operahouse in Cleveland, ii was
a great failure as a theatre, owing to
the uncertain policy pursued by Its
local manager. Booth might be there
one night and a prize fight the next
Or there might be couple of nights
of a queer variety show and then a
few nights of the classics.
Louis James had been booked for
week in Shakespearean plays, and
some bombastic dramas like Virginius
or The Gladiator. He was so sure of
doing poor business that when Dun
can Ross, the old-time professional
athlete made a cash offer for the thea
tre on Monday night, 1t was taken, and
James and his company went to San
dusky or Oberlin for that evening, while
Ross and a gang of prize fighters and
wrestlers held the operahouse stage.
Hanna had been out of the city. but
returned on the Monday evening in
question, his train arriving about o: 80,
and when he passed the operahouse In
his carriage the street was packed with
people seeking admission Hanna was
so astonished at James drawing so
large crowd that he stopped his car
riage. Joined the throng and went to
his private box, where he sat through
two hours OF wrestling and prize fight-
ing, and growing angrier every minute
Just before the end of the enter
tainment the manager walked out be-
fore the curtain and said: Gentlemen
have great pleasure in announcing
that Mervin Thompson of Cleveland
and VIM. Burke OF Chicago, will fight.
ten rounds next Friday night in this
theatre When the applause had sub
sided Hanna stepped to the front Of
his box and holding up hand for at
tention, said: Gentlemen. Mr.. Thonn1
son and Mr.. Burke may fight ten
rounds next Friday night there was i
pause. and then Hanna fairly roared
But not in this house,"
Mr.. O'Brien, by the way, has not
visited Fargo since the season Of 1892
sS, when he managed the cou1panv
headed by Miss Phosa McAllister from
the Pence operahouse at Minneapolis.
The old Fargo operahouse, managed III
A 8. Capehart was located on
Broadway, now occupied by the stern
block. and the opening occurred April
10, 1882, the initial performance being
the Colleen Bawn, followed during the
weeks engagement by productions az
Married Life, The Veteran, Dora, Lon
don assurance, AS You Like II ana
East Lynne. The folIowing Jantlarv
Mr OBrien made his next ana last
visit prior to the present invasion
when he came in advance OF the Iatn
John Mcguire, of Pacific coast fame
and on Jan. 30, Mr.. Mcguire gave
performance IN aid Of the local fire de-
partnent Of which M. A. Brewer was
chief.
Mr- ~, ,Brfen acknowledges irl 81 grace.
ful manner his astonishment at the
wonderful changes I'm Fargo. ana saws
MS pleasure Is only rnarred bv the an
senee of the late Major Edwards. ana
'Colonel Irons, leaders AZ thai ts,na i,
the journalistic field. to whom he was
'sn1e ehhasi Tor psanffnld nosarfaaies