The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1912-12-27
SOME HISTORY OF THE
FARGO OPERAHOUSE

The destruction by fire of the Fargo
operahouse last Sunday morning,
marked the passing of on institution
which has for the past nineteen years
been closely identified with the busi-
ness interests and social life of the
metropolis of the state.
Shortly after the great fire in June
1893, B, Hagaman informed the Fargo
Board of Trade that he would build
modern theatre. to cost not less than
$4,000 exclusive of the site, if the
citizens would give him a bonus of
$500. The proposition was promptly
accepted, and a committee of three,
consisting of Alex Stern, G. c. Schuy-
Ter and L. S. Champine obtained sub
scriptions from the citizens to cover
the bonus. Architect Geo. Hancock
was chosen as a committee of one TO
go to Chicago and present the matter
to Mr. Hagaman and within a few
hours after his arrival wired the deal
closed and to begin eXcaVating at
once. This was on Oct. 18, 1898.
The house was completed early in
the following year, and was formally
opened Feb. IA, 1894. under the
management of c. P. Walker of the
q long lease Of the property. The
opening attraction was Emily Banker
in Glorianna, the engagement being
for two nights, Feb. IA and Is. Nearly
all of the main floor seats for both
performances were sold at auction BY
the Board of Trade committee, the
prices ranging from 81 to IS. The
audiences were composed of people
prominent in the business, profession
and society circles of the state and
city.
Manager Walkers staff at this time
included Winn Hooper, treasurer; A.
o. Rupert, musical director; Nels Mat
son, ticket taker, and George Blake,
were A, 8. Rupert, director; Geo.
Bowron, solo vioIinist; A. J, Schir-
mann. violin; A. V. Du ValL flute;
Herman Leusch, clarinet; Arthur
Wales. horn and xylophone; Warren
A. Stickley, trombone; Hoken A.
Lensrud. bass; James Butts, drums;
Chas. G. Baernstein, pianist. OF the
above members there remain only A.
O. Rupert. c. G. Baernstein and J. n.
Rupert. Mr.. Rupert has furnished his
orchestra at this house until the
spring of 1909, when he became i'll and
turned the orchestra over to A. j.
Stephens, the present director.
The overture for the opening night
was as follows:
overture nc hSItS HLOIaASI -. . :"
.....,..........,.. Chabrler
a. The Darkies F'rolic .......... Bray
b. Concert Polka ........,..... BROOKE
Valse-My Memories $500. .Waldteutel
Xylophone Solo-Concert Polka ......
Among the boys of the usher force,
who have since become prominent IN
business circles were: Fred Porrltt'
Allen Osborn, Will Edwards, Earle
Fleming. Ernest Carey, Guy Stanton
and Jack Weir. Otto Morrow was
water boy and Sidney Baernstein
opera glass boy.
The theatre was purchased by
Walker Bros in June 1902. and they
erected the store and apartment block
adjoining it in 1904. Previous to this
they had been activity extending their
theatrical interests by acquiring leases
of the leading theatres in Winn1peS'
Grand Forks. Brainerd and Crookston'
Later they purchased the Metropol1ta1
theatre. Grand Forks, the most costly
and beautiful playhouse in the state.
In 1906 they built the Walker theatre
in Winnipeg, investing $350,OOO in the
building and adjacent. property. The
Walker is by far the finest theatre In
Canada. 3. -.
BY recently acquired interests in
the Regina theatre, Regina, and EN-
plre tnGaLre, odShdtoolA' IilS w oitHS.S
control. with the, exception OF Cal
gary and Edmunton, the first class
thea tres in all the principal cities be-
tween MINNEAPOLIS and Winnipeg and
between Winnipeg and vancouver.
They are now considering an offer
of a controlling interest in modern
theatre to be constructed in 1913 in
the last named city.
The Walker Booking bureau at
Winnipeg controls the bookings for
about 100 theatres in other cities OF
| Minnesota, North Dakota and west
ern Canada.
A list of the principal plays and
PLAYERS seen at the Fargo operahouse
| during the past nineteen years will
recall to it's patrons many delightful
The following are some of the prin-
cipal stars:
Lillian Lewis, Kate Emmett, Ida
Van Cortland, Kate Putnam, Nellie
McHenry, Marie Wainwright, Nine
Rhea, Fanny Rice, Mrs. FEslSe, Mod
Mrs. LIE Moyne, Rose Coghlan, Kath-
ryn Kidder, Henrietta CrosmaI,
| Florence Roberts, Rose Melville, Ro-
selle Knott, Isabel Irving, Lillian
| Russell, Mrs Leslie Carter, Viola AL
! len, Sarah Truck, Olga Nethersole
Grace George, Mary Marble. Edna
| Wallace Hopper, Nance O'Neil Mrs
Patrick Campbell, May Robson, Ma
i dame NaziInoya, Blanche Bates, Mar
garet Anglin, Margaret Ellington, Vfr-
| ginia Harmed, Maxine Elliott, Mary
| Mannering, Kate Claxton, Effie Ellis.
/ Ter. Effie Shannon. Edwin Mayo
Thomas w Keene, Dan Sully, Louis
4 James, John Griffith, Fred Warde
James O'Neill, Richard Mansfield, Jos