Great Falls tribune., 1922-02-19

with view to making an investment
may have become prejudiced against
place which was experiencing phe..
nomenal growth but could not afford
an opera house. OF course these are
only supposed cases which may have
no foundation in truth. but it should be
remembered that trivial causes some
times bring on disastrous effects.
Realization of the Idea
Though the question of building an
opera house was frequently discussed,
nothing definite was done until last
May. (1S91D when III. O. Chowen called
Il meeting of the leading citizens of the
city. including Paris Gibson, I. z. Col
lins. A. f. Dickerman. c. NJ. Webster,
!. II. Mcknight, J. Bookwalter, Charles
Wegner. Ira Myers, DIR. Cruteher and
many others, to take some pronounced
action on the matter. These gentlemen
then decided to organize stock com
pany with capital stock of SlUeAn
and commence work on the building az
soon as possible. On the twenty
seventh of the following month the
articles OF incorporation were executed
and the idea had become reality. The
stock was taken by Great Falls people
exclusively, giving the company cor
rect title of home which Of itself Is
something every one should take
pride in.
"The following officers were elect
ed: President. III. Q. Chowen; vice
president Ira Myers: secretary-treas-
/, urer. c. NJ Webster. with strong
board of directors. After deciding to
erect a house in keeping with the
rity's present and future prospects
the company voted to secure the ser
vices of some well known eastern
architect TO prepare designs and spe-
cifications for suitable building which
could never be considered Il mistake.
With that end in view Oscar Cobb of
Chicago. who bears the name of erect
ing some of the best opera houses in
the west was consulted. lie came
here in the early summer and after
obtaining an idea concerning the wish
es of the company promptly designed
and submitted plans for house that
would cost Il trifle over 10000. They
were accepted and soon after the
ground was broken for the foundation
of the new Thespian temple. BY the
middle of September the building was
well under way and the end of Oc-
tober saw it enclosed Since then
the work on the interior progressed
rapidly up to yesterday morning when
the finishing touches were put on.
What 1t Is Like
'The dimensions Of the opera house
are 115x60 and from the front it looks
like n four story building. The front
and % feet on each side are of cut
stone. The balance Of the walls are
Of brick AS is customary with build
ines of that class the rear containing
IL biubar than bo ut
tanning the auditorium. Two cupolas
surmount the roof, improving the ex
terror appearance Of the building and
affordng suitable means Tor ven
tilating the stage and the body of the
house. The grand entrance has above
il IN attractive porte cochere of iron
and iron ornamentatons. This reaches
to the curbstone of the street and will
become great convenience in stormy
weather, besides making an ornament
to the front.
"Two large double doors of heavy
plate glass open into the tile floored
yestibule, which is finished in oak and
handsomely decorated. On the right
there is private office for the man
ager and on the left commodious
box office. The latter is provided
with an extra ticket window. where
those who wish to- sit in the gallery
nay procure tickets from the entrance
to the gallery stairway, which is sep
arate and distinct from the grand en-
trance The ceiling of the grand en-
trance is ornamented scratchwork. done
in olive and is worth admring. for
there are few pieces of decoration so
unique in the state.
1.-TWO heavy oaken double vesti-
bule doors lead into the foyer Of the
house Wide stairways on each side
connect with the balcony. The wood
work Of the stairways is the finest
quality of stained oak, furnished by
Smith and Wyman of Minneapolis.
which gives them an appearance of