The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-04-24
THEA Run
FOR PUBLIC
From Tuesday Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily.
RIVER FALLS, Wis, April q
proposition theatre from which no
pecuniary benefit is received; in fact
one from which all the profits revert
to the public. Rather unique, ISM it it !?
But such is the case in River Falls,
Wis. s 49,. T. .s 5z... .5125s
/ Back Of this unusual condition is a
history, one involving the upliftt of the
theatre and one in which public-spir-
tied men relinquished al thought of
personal gain for the sake Of their
home town. ri
Years ago N. A. Thelander built a
town hall for River Falls. It was a
typical town hall, just a fiat room fit
ed with chairs, no platform; just such
a one as can be seen insmany towns
the size of River Falls. j The attrac
tons that came, to the hall were de-
'cidedly amediocre. Sometimes they
were worse than that. :. Even Uncle
Toms Cabin Companies 4or 7"East
Lynn" aggregations are not enthusi-
astic about showing in towns where
there isn't even a stage on which to
display their Little 'Evas or heart
;thrillers. - ! ~
OF course E. A. Sothern and Nazi-
nova aren't in the habit of making
River Falls, but some Of the town men
wondered if they couldn't improve To-
cal theatrical conditions. For a while
no feasible plan could be discovered
as the not to be disputed fact always
remained that theatres of any pro-
portions have never paid in small vii
lagos. Very often investigation prov
ed that the town halls were poor bust
ness investments. But this didn't dis
courage River Falls men. Somehow
there is real spirit there, as many
local enterprises can prove, and this
spirit conquered over any "wet blan-
kets."
Social Center Movement.
The social center movement was
just beginning to sweep in full force
over the country at this time, and the
River Falls men though their prob
ems might be solved by some adap-
tation Of this sociological plan. Still,
the underlying thought of social CEN
ter work was merely to bring the
home people together and provide
what entertainment might be at hand.
It didn't exactly answer their needs.
Light was thrown on the situation
by proposition to have some sort of
j cooperative plan whereby the peo-
pie could have theatre with good at
fractions, and also benefit by the pro-
ceeds made therefrom. AS "a result
of this idea sixty-six of the most en-
terprising men contributed $66 and
borrowed $3.50. This was sufficiently
large sum to induce Mr.. Thelander to
sell his hall. A corporation was
formed without stock. The main ar
ticle Of the corporation provides "that
no one can receive pecuniary benefit
and that. all money made over and
above actual expenses must revert to
public purposes"
Right Kind of Spirit.
Real philanthropy that, isn't it? A
public spirit that makes town?
OF course, the scheme seemed Uto-
plan, and there may have been doubt.
ers, but the directors Of the associa.
ton, C. F. Winter, R. w. Freeman, w
Vannatta, R. L. Williams, w. G. For.
tune and Warren P. Knowles proved
that they intended to live up to THEN
agreement.
Here are the results of the plan
After operating for two years the
house has made sufficient money tt
have big stage built, with attractive
curtains, modern sets of scenery ane
an adequate electrical board. A new
heating system has been installed, ant
what is most wonderfultof an, nthert
are roomy dressing rooms,5: electric
lighted, which prove to be a never
ending surprise to the players who arr
booked to appear there.
A Modern Theatre.
Next year the front portion Of thu
hall is to be rebuilt, when it probabl.
will lose it's appearance of the OF:
town hall" and assume that of :
modern, small-town theatre. O:
course, there are other plans on foo
to keep up better standard, but III,
association members are delighted a
the practical manner in which thei
dream worked out.
The most important change has beef
in the quality of the attractions, goo<
plays by competent companies, al
clean and wholesome if they are no
The stars whose names are flashed ii
electric lights outside the metropoli
Ian theatres There is never anything
in the plays to which even Anthem,
Comstock could object, and this alon
is enough Of a reward for the me-
who made the play possible.
Have Movies There.
And there is another side to tn
story. In the nationwide influx Q
the movies" River Falls was no
neglected. but the "movie" was locat