Omaha daily bee., 1910-03-05

RNR ~ l
good, honest hail
behalf OF the Burgess & woodward
Theatrical company, lessees and managers
Of the new playhouse. He paid high tribute
to w. j.. Burgess, who is the resident man
ager Of the Brandeis. He reviewed the his
tory OF Mr.. Burgess connection with the
various theatrical enterprises Of Omaha
There has been a man chosen to manage
this house who is most thoroughly fit.
1 doubt II one Of his equal might be found.
This man came to Omaha nineteen years
ago. beginning with tho theater at FIT
teenth and Farnam streets with L. NJ.
Crawford down to the time when the firm
Of Woodward & Burgess built the Bur
wood he has been connected with Omaha
theaters.
After Mr.. Burgess first Omaha theater.
the Boyd. burned, he leased the Academy OF
Music and that burned. He then had the
Empire theater on Douglas street, which
he managed until he and the late w. A.
Paxton. Jr, caused the Creighton. now the
orpheum, to be built. He then secured the
Boyd and we afterwards built the Bur
wood. Now wo have this, the most beauti-
full theater In the west. 1 consider this
NA HAANh AhdlAIlEh nllu ~
fill this position.
II have been connected with w. ].
Burgess for seven years and when he sold
his interest in our affairs a few years ago
he promised me then he would not again
engage In the theatrical business except
with mi as a partner.
w still control the Boyd. in which we
will have stock companies for two years at
least, but to this house we will bring only
the best plays.
1T is appropriate this evening that we
have the name Of a man who devoted
almost his entire life to a~rt-Charles Froh-
man-and I trust you may be able to show
your appreciation of his shows so he will
be glad to send others"
Those Who Planned II.
Mr.. Woodward took occasion to give
credit to T.. p. Barnett of the firm, Barnett,
Haynes & Barnett of St. Louis, architects.
He said that the theater followed out the
ideas of Mr.. Barnett. He also compli-
mented John Latenser, local architect who
has had the work in charge, as well as
others who have been instrumental in build
Ing the beautiful playhouse.
The citizens of omaha should feel
proud that they have such a strong and
progressive firm, which would bring about
the building OF this great structure. This
is the greatest effort this firm ever at
tempted and 1t is dedicated to a name
which will go down to the ages as a house
hold word in Omaha.
Credit must also be given to the people
Of Omaha, who demand art and support
It, and although dedicated to the name of
Brandeis, 1t is really to the people of Omaha.
r This is the best house, the best dressed
, house and the handsomest house ever as
sembled in the west"
/ Beautiful Interior,
= The theater was on It's first night COM
{ plete in all Of its splendor, perfect and
. finished in every detail. With the audience
/, seated a picture OF rare brilliancy was
presented. Walls OF golden subdued tints in
!, panels of rich broeaded tapestry, deep
: messy carpets Of bullion galoon, the dain-
1 ty tracery of exquisite design in marble
: and plaster, a wealth OF illumination made
the background for rows of handsomely
, CARRIED spectators. There was much Of
/ brillianee without ~garishness, richness
without ostentation,
: The interior in the style of Louis XVI.
I enliyened with here and there a touch of
modernness. gave expression to all the
beauty that the heritage from French art
could give. The courts OF Louis could
hardly surpass in elegance the spectacle
PANeNAN~A AADN "oHN ~ NHN AhN1NCA bNdu-
, tiful.
30 great was the public interest in the
event that hundreds gathered about the
entrance and along the street to see all
: that was visible from the outside. The
Onlookers gathered an hour before the
house began 10 fill and fingered until long
after the program Of the evening was un-
der way. The motor cars and carriages
that brought the first night audience to
: the theater lined the streetE for a block
around in all directions.
In the lobby OF the theater gifts of
flowers to the people behind the enterprise
were displayed in protuslon and added to
make the ensemble most beautiful. The
: floral tributes were all OF the magnificent
order in various designs and consisted
OF huge horseshoes, clusters Of azelias,
Jack roses and American Beauties and vio-
let's and lilies Of the valley.
Among the larger gifts TO ]. l.. Brandeis
. s. Sons and TO woodward and Burgess
y were those sent by d. ]. O'Brien, Charles
Grotte, Albert Morrison, Mr.. and Mrs
Herman Cohn, the department manageri
OF the Brandeis stores, Leo Goodwin, the
. Omaha Electric Light and Power company
y johnson & Bilz, managers of the Gayety
and MOgy Bernstein.