The Glasgow courier., 1915-12-17

Ask anybody in Glasgow what Cor
pheum" means. They will immed-
lately tell you that it's the name of
the name of the best little show shop
in the state; probably not the most
magnificent, nor the largest, but to US
in the metropolis of northeastern
Montana it means cosy little thea
ire, where you're always welcome, and
always see good, clean photo-plays
and more than everything else, you
can feel "at home" The people of
the city appreciate the efforts of the
management to bring the best shows
here and the crowds that fill the lit
tie theatre every evening are just
compensation for putting Glasgow
in class with the larger cities of
Montana when it comes to showing
the latest and best motion pictures.
Few people realize the difficulty
and the long chances taken by the
manager of a theatre in small town
in exhibiting an expensive picture.
There are many things to contend
with that the public never thinks any
thing about; and many small thea
tres have been compelled to close be-
cause the patronage would not war
rant the class of pictures they were
showing. For instance, the weather
may be bad and the theatre crowd
dwindles down to few of those who
will venture through rain and snow
to see a picture; then there may be
another public entertainment in town
that cuts down the crowd and the
nights profits are shot to pieces; and
there are numerous other causes that
might be mentioned that make the
managers life anything but merry
one.
But obstacles of this nature are
"pie" for Manager Arthur J. Bishell
of the Orpheum theatre. Not only
does he bring the very best pictures
now being produced in the United
States to Glasgow, but he gets the
crowds, too. Night after night the
people of the city visit him in his
little theatre. Probably one reason
for the good attendance is that "they
always come back" But there's a
reason for their Coming back" and
that's because they are satisfied with
the entertainment. If they did not
like it they wouldn't come back, but
! they do, and there you are. Some of
the big feature pictures have been ex-
hibited in Glasgow before they were
shown in many of the larger cities.
There must be a reason for this.
If Manager Bishell hears of some
thing good that the people here would
like to see, that's all there is to it.
and the people are satisfied. And
keeping them satisfied has developed
an organization of "Orpheum Boost
ers," that is composed of practically
every man, woman and child in the
city"
Pleasing the public seems to be sec
.ond nature with Bishell. He keeps
his hand on the public pulse and never
misses the mark. And the public is
a queer ANIMAL 1t may be well
pleased and praise you one night, and
the next turn around and "cuss" you.
But "Bish." the head mogul of the
Orpheum, is careful in the selection
of his pictures he knows what the
"Orpheum family" wants and every
body is happy.
Now few words about the Milk
River Amusement company, the or
ganization Of business men who own
the Orpheum theatre in this city. In
March, 1914. this company, of which
A. J. Bishell is secretary and treas
urer. purchased the newly completed
theatre from T. c. Penny. They paid
a big price for the theatre here, but
they figured it was worth it, and
Manager Bishell has proven during
the time he has been here that it was
no "lemon." The company extended
its field Of operations, acquiring the
Orpheum theatre at Malta, and then
taking still another step to control
the picture business in Northern
Montana, by purchasing the Orpheum
theatre in Chinook. Mr.. Bishell acts
as general manager for all these the
tres and in all the cities where there